Provided below are the frequently asked questions pertaining to the Cowboy100. From the application process to general program questions, we hope that we’ve covered all topics in between. If you still have unanswered questions, please do not hesitate to contact us directly at (405) 744-7552.

Nominations and eligibility

• Can I nominate myself for the Cowboy100?

  Yes, you may nominate yourself and your organization for the Cowboy100.

• Do I need to apply every year for the Cowboy100?

  Yes. Previous Cowboy100 honorees will be automatically nominated, but all companies must complete the application process every year. To minimize the time spent reapplying, each year the online application site allows companies to create a user account and save previously submitted information.

• Should I still apply even though my company’s growth may be small or negative?

  We encourage all companies to apply every year regardless of annual performance. OSU and JTaylor recognize growth can become more challenging as companies increase in size.

• What is the Blazing10 and how is it relevant to the Cowboy100?

  The Blazing10 list is designed to celebrate honorees with the highest top-line revenue of the years being measured.  While the Cowboy100 celebrates growth, the Blazing10 honors top-line revenue, another important measure of business success. 

• I would like to nominate someone, but I am not sure if they meet all the criteria. What should I do?

  If you know of an OSU graduate-owned or OSU graduate-led business that may meet the criteria, do not hesitate to complete the nomination form. OSU will send the nominees an email and then can determine whether or not the criteria are met.

• How do I nominate someone?

  Visit Cowboy100 to complete the nomination form during the nomination period of August 1, 2023, through October 31, 2023.

Application specific

• What is a Primary OSU Cowboy Leader?

  • OSU Owned means a graduate of OSU or a group of graduates from OSU must have owned 50% or more of the company for the time frame being measured. OSU-Led means a graduate of OSU serving as CEO, President or Managing Partner. OSU Founded means that a graduate of OSU founded the company and is still employed at the most senior level of management (C-Suite) if not serving as CEO, President or Managing Partner. Vice Presidents may also be considered acceptable leaders for the purposes of Cowboy100. 

• How are the company growth results calculated? How is the Cowboy100 list determined?

  For each applicant, JTaylor will calculate the company’s compounded annual growth rate (CAGR) in revenue for the time frame being measured. After compiling the calculations, the companies will be listed by percentage of growth rate from the highest to the lowest. The 100 fastest growing companies will be named to the OSU Cowboy100. Read more about Compound Annual Growth Rate.

   

  Growth Calculation Example: A company that has the following:

   

  Year 1 of 3 years being considered = $1000 in revenue

   

  Year 2 of 3 years being considered = $2000 in revenue

   

  Year 3 of 3 years being considered = $1900 in revenue

   

  would have a compounded annual growth rate of 37.84%

   

  To calculate the CAGR:

  1. Divide the revenue at the end of the 3 years being considered by its value at the beginning of those 3 years. For the example above that is $1900/$1000.

  2. Raise the result to an exponent of one divided by the number of years. The number of years used in Cowboy100 will always be 2. In our example above we are calculating growth from the END of Year 1 of the 3 years through the end of Year 3 of the 3 years.

  3. Subtract one from the subsequent result.

• What is “revenue”?

  JTaylor bases growth calculations on net business revenue for a set time frame each year. Net revenue is meant to be net sales or sales minus returns. For a professional services business, it would be gross revenues minus any write-downs, returns/allowances or discounts. Generally, this is the equivalent of amounts reported on Line 1c of a business tax return (Form 1065, 1120, or 1120-S), Line 3 of schedule C filed with form 1040 or Line 12 of form 990. Neither W2 nor Statutory Employee income/pay should be submitted as part of business revenues.

• Should the company list all of the Primary OSU Cowboy Leaders?

  If a company is owned in exactly equal percentages by more than one OSU graduate each of those owners should be listed. In all other situations, the most senior leader or majority owner who is an OSU graduate should be the one listed and this person will be the individual announced as the Cowboy leader for the company during the Cowboy100 Gala.

• What qualifies as most senior management?

  Most senior management consists of the highest-ranked positions within the company’s organizational structure (for example, chief officers, owners, founder, president, managing partner, etc.)

• Do I need to list all of my degrees from OSU?

  Yes, for primary OSU leader/owner please list all degrees completed at OSU.

• What if the name of the college has changed?

  Please see below as the names of colleges have changed through the years.

   

  • College of Arts and Sciences: (Previously known as College of Osteopathic Medicine)
  • College of Education and Human Sciences: (Previously known as College of Education, Health and Aviation - College of Human Sciences - College of Human Environmental Sciences - College of Home Economics - College of Osteopathic Medicine - Center for Health Sciences)
  • College of Engineering, Architecture and Technology: (Previously known as College of Engineering)
  • Ferguson College of Agriculture: (Previously known as College of Agricultural Sciences and Natural Resources - College of Agriculture - College of Veterinary Medicine)
  • Spears School of Business: (Previously known as William S. Spears School of Business - College of Business Administration)

Required forms

• What financial and company documents are required for the application?

  An official copy of Company (business) registration with the Secretary of State in the State and/or Country (equivalent if the business is operating outside of the United States) that the business was registered in. This document must include the official registered name of the company and the year of company establishment.

   

  Financial Documents:

   

  One of the following three forms is required for the application:

  1. Page one of the company or companies tax returns (indicating total business revenues), or

  2. Audited, reviewed or compiled financial statements, or

  3. Revenue verification form signed by the company’s external Certified Public Accountant attesting to the revenue.

  Note: The same form of documentation must be submitted for each of the three years (2020, 2021 and 2022, or the fiscal years completed therein).  In certain circumstances, additional portions of the return may be required.  JTaylor will contact you if additional information is needed to calculate revenue in a manner most comparable to the rest of the pool of applicants.

   

  Company revenues cannot include W2 or Statutory Employee income.

• What format should I submit the required financial forms?

  Financial statements should be submitted in a PDF format (preferable) or hard copy.

• What if the company’s revenues for prior periods have been restated?

  If the company is a previous honoree and revenues for each of the two most recently submitted years have been restated, the company should submit documentation supporting restated revenue amounts for prior years.

• What if the company’s accounting method has changed from prior periods?

  If the revenues reported in prior periods have changed as a result of changes in the accounting methods, the company should submit documentation supporting restated revenue amounts for prior periods.

• What if the company’s financial information is not reported in U.S. dollars?

  Any revenue reported in foreign currency will be converted to U.S. dollars using the Yearly Average Exchange Rates published by the IRS for the applicable year without regard for fluctuations in the exchange rate throughout the year or when the revenue was generated during the year.

• Do I have to submit the required financial documentation online?

  No, although that is the most secure way to do so.  To securely upload financial documents online you can (1) Utilize the document submission link in the confirmation email sent to you by OSU after the acceptance of your application, OR (2) utilize the JTaylor document submission link provided on the Cowboy100 website. Alternatively, you can  mail the documents to JTaylor at 4800 Overton Plaza #360, Fort Worth, TX 76109. Attn…Cowboy100. Note: Items mailed to JTaylor will not be returned.

General Program Questions

• What is the purpose of the program?

  The Cowboy100 is a celebration and acknowledgment of the achievements of OSU graduates that highlights the value of entrepreneurship and its positive outcomes from OSU alumni, students and the state of Oklahoma.

• What is involved in the application process?

  The application form is fairly simple. Nominees provide answers to several questions related to the criteria, check several boxes and attach documentation to verify revenues. Confidential financial documentation is sent directly to JTaylor. For more information on JTaylor, please visit http://www.jtaylor.com/.

• When will the Cowboy100 be released?

  Honorees are typically notified in mid-January or early February with the alphabetical list being released to the public shortly thereafter.

• How are the Cowboy100 honorees recognized?

  OSU personally notifies each Cowboy100 honoree of their award and at that time invites them to the Cowboy100 Gala and Company Rank Countdown. Each company will be individually recognized at the celebration event.

• What if we are unable to attend Cowboy100 Honoree events?

  The Cowboy100 is a tremendous experience to celebrate the honoree’s success. All honorees are encouraged to make every effort to attend the Cowboy100 Honoree Gala. If you are unable to attend, we encourage you to send a colleague, board member or company representative; however, attendance at the Cowboy100 Honoree Gala is not required.

• What is the dress code for the Cowboy100 Gala Event?

  Dress code for the Cowboy100 Honoree Gala is Cocktail Attire.

Use and Publication of Information/Confidentiality

• What information will be released?

  OSU will publish the list of the Cowboy100 companies being honored. The list may include the name and location of the company, city/state, name(s) of the primary OSU-leader(s), rank and year founded. JTaylor receives confidential revenue information and this information will not be shared, published or otherwise released. There are other possible opportunities for your name/company to be featured in articles and news releases. Revenue information is never released. OSU Leader contact information may be shared with the OSU entities, institutes, departments or divisions that are Cowboy100 partners or sponsors.

• How can I be assured of confidentiality?

  JTaylor is the independent accounting firm for the Cowboy100. Nominees send their financial information directly to JTaylor, and they tabulate the results. After all confidential applications are processed, JTaylor provides the ranked list based on the percentage of growth of the 100 companies to OSU.

• Where will the information be published?

  The Cowboy100 list of honorees will be publicized on this website, OSU media/press releases/newsletters and possibly by other outlets. There are opportunities for feature articles in other publications. Confidential revenue information will not be published. The only statistical information that will be released will be the rank. Honorees may also be interviewed for news articles. During the application process, honorees may be asked to consent to media release allowing for their name and location of the company, name(s) of the OSU-leader(s), and year founded to be published and for photography/videography at the Cowboy100 events. OSU Leader contact information may be shared with the OSU entities, institutes, departments or divisions that are Cowboy100 partners or sponsors.

• Will my company's financial information be released?

  All confidential information will be submitted directly to JTaylor and will not be released to OSU, OSU affiliate or anyone else.