Criteria & FAQ

Who can be a part of the LSU 100?

The LSU 100 celebrates the success of LSU graduates and recognizes the impact of LSU on the local, regional, and national economies. Companies are confidentially ranked by the companies’ compounded annual growth rate.

Criteria:

The company must meet all four of the following criteria:

  1. The company must have been in business for 5 years or more as of December 31, 2023.
  2. The company’s revenues must have been $100,000 or more in each of the calendar years from 2021 – 2023.
  3. The company must be LSU Tiger-led or Tiger-owned for the program time frame of January 1, 2021 thru December 31, 2023.
  4. The company and its Tiger Leaders and/or Founders must act with high integrity and operate in a manner consistent with the values and image of LSU. To demonstrate the values and image of LSU, one should
  • Accept responsibility for their actions;
  • Hold oneself and others to the highest standards of academic, personal and social integrity;
  • Practice justice, equality and compassion in human relations;
  • Respect the dignity of all persons;
  • Respect the environment, uphold the law, and respect the rights and property of others;
  • Contribute positively to LSU as well as to the national and global community.
What does it mean to be LSU Tiger-led or owned by LSU Tigers?

The company must meet one or more of the following three criteria:

  1. LSU owned means a graduate of LSU or a group of graduates from LSU must have owned 50% or more of the company for the time frame being measured.
  2. LSU led means a graduate of LSU serving in a C-Suite, President or Managing Partner position.
  3. LSU Founded means that a graduate of LSU 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.

LSU reserves the following rights: (1) To independently verify that nominees and honorees meet all criteria, (2) Reject any nominee for any reason, (3) Remove an honoree company from the LSU 100 list for any reason, and (4) Modify eligibility and requirements as needed without notification.

Provided below are the frequently asked questions pertaining to the LSU100: Fastest Growing Tiger Businesses event. From the application process to general program questions, we hope that we’ve covered all topics in between. If you still have an unanswered question, please do not hesitate to contact us directly at (225) 578-0089.

Nominations/Eligibility

Application

  • What is a Primary Tiger Owner or Leader?

    A Primary Tiger Leader is any LSU graduate who meets one or more of the following criteria:

    1. LSU owned means a graduate of LSU or a group of graduates from LSU must have owned 50% or more of the company for the time frame being measure.
    2. LSU led means a graduate of LSU serving in a C-Suite, President or Managing Partner position.
    3. LSU founded and led means that a graduate of LSU 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.

  • How are the company growth results calculated? How is the LSU 100 list determined?

    For each applicant,  EisnerAmper (official accounting firm) 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 LSU 100. To read more about “Compounded Annual Growth Rate”, click here.

    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%

    How to Calculate CAGR

    To calculate the CAGR :

    1. Divide the revenue at the end of the 3 year period being considered by its value at the beginning of that 3 year period.  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 LSU100 calculations will always be 2.  In our example above we are calculating growth from the END of Year 1 of the 3 year period through the end of Year 3 of the 3 year period.
    3. Subtract one from the subsequent result.

  • How is the LSU ROARING20 list determined?

    The companies that comprise the LSU ROARING20 will be the twenty highest revenue generating companies from all of the companies that apply for the LSU100 that year.

    The LSU100 are the top 100 companies ranked based on growth.

  • What is “revenue”?

    The LSU100 official accounting firm 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, expenses or discounts.

    Neither W2 or Statutory Employee income/pay may be submitted as part of business revenues.

  • Should the company list all of the Primary Tiger Owners or Leaders?

    If a company is owned by more than one LSU graduate each of those owners should be listed.  In all other Tiger-led situations the most senior leader that meets the Primary Tiger Leader requirements  should be the only one listed and this person will be the individual announced as the Tiger leader for the company during the LSU100 gala.

  • What qualifies as most senior leadership

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

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

    Yes, for the primary Tiger leader/owner please list all degrees completed at LSU.

  • What if the name of the college has changed?

    Please see the chart below as the names of colleges may have changed throughout the years.

    CURRENT NAME :  College of Art & Design (Previously named College of Design; School of Environmental Design)

    CURRENT NAME:  E. J. Ourso College of Business  (Previously named College of Business Administration)

    CURRENT NAME: College of Human Sciences & Education (Previously named College of Education; College of Humanities & Social Sciences)

    CURRENT NAME: College of Arts & Sciences (Previously named Manship School of Mass Communication; School of Journalism)

    CURRENT NAME: College of Science (Previously named College of Basic Sciences; College of Chemistry & Physics)

    CURRENT NAME: College of Music & Dramatic Arts (Previously named School of Music)

    CURRENT NAME: Paul M. Hebert Law Center (Previously named Hebert Law Center)

    CURRENT NAME: School of Medicine; School of Allied Health Professions

    CURRENT NAME: School of Veterinary Medicine

  • What if I forget my username or password?

    If you are a prior year applicant, please email [email protected] to obtain your username. Please follow the instructions below to reset your password.

    • Click on the APPLY link on the LSU100 website
    • Click “Forgot Password”
    • Enter the email address associated to your prior year LSU100 application
    • Check your email to change your password

    *Remember the username is not your full email address, the password is case sensitive, and the reset password email may be in the spam folder. For any other account inquiries, please contact Natalie Ritter  at [email protected]

     

Required Forms

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

    Official copy of Company (business) registration with the Secretary of State in the State and/or Country (equivalent  if 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 year of company establishment

    Financial Documents:

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

    • Page one of the company or companies tax return (indicating total business revenues), or
    • Revenue page as indicated on audited, reviewed, or compiled financial statements, or
    • Letter from the company’s external Certified Public Accountant attesting to the revenue.

    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 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 company is a previous honoree and previously submitted revenues have changed as a result of changes in accounting methods, the company should submit documentation supporting restated revenue amounts for prior periods.

  • Do I have to submit the forms online?

    No, you can submit the forms either by (1) email to [email protected] or (2) mail to EisnerAmper LSU100, 8550 United Plaza Blvd. Suite 1001, Baton Rouge, LA 70809 (3) fax to 225‐922‐4611, attn: LSU100.

General Program Questions:

  • What is the purpose of the program?

    The LSU 100: Fastest Growing Tiger Businesses identifies, recognizes, and celebrates the 100 fastest growing Tiger-owned or Tiger-led businesses in the world.   The LSU ROARING 20 recognizes the 20 highest revenue generating companies from all those that apply for the LSU100.  In addition to celebrating the companies’ success, the LSU 100 and LSU ROARING 20 provides a forum to pass lessons on to the next generation of Tiger entrepreneurs.

  • 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 applications are sent directly to EisnerAmper (official LSU100 accounting firm).

    There is no charge to apply.

  • When will the LSU100 and LSU ROARING20 lists be released?

    Honorees are typically notified in late August or early September, with the alphabetical list being released to the public shortly thereafter.  The ranked countdowns will occur at the Celebration Gala.

  • How are the LSU 100 and LSU ROARING20 honorees recognized?

    LSU personally notifies each company if they earned a rank on the LSU100 and/or the LSU ROARING20 and at that time invites the Tiger leaders to the LSU100 and LSU ROARING20 Celebration Event and Company Rank Countdown.  Each company will be individually recognized at the celebration event.

  • What if we are unable to attend LSU100 and LSU ROARING20 Celebration Gala?

    The LSU100 is a tremendous experience to celebrate honoree’s success. All honorees are encouraged to make every effort to attend the LSU100 and LSU ROARING20 Celebration event. If you are unable to attend, we encourage you to purchase a ticket for a colleague, board member, or company representative; however, attendance at the LSU100 and LSU ROARING20 Celebration event is not required.

  • What is the dress code for the LSU100 and LSU ROARING20 Celebration Event?

    Black Tie Optional – Suit or Tuxedo, Cocktail or Long Dress

Use and Publication of Information/Confidentiality

  • What information will be released?

    LSU will publish the list of the LSU100 and LSU ROARING20 companies being honored. The list may include name and location of the company, city/state, name(s) of the primary Tiger-leader(s), rank and year founded. EisnerAmper (official accounting partner) receives the 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. Tiger Leader contact information may be shared with the LSU entities, institutes, departments or divisions that are LSU100 partners or sponsors.

  • How can I be assured of confidentiality?

    EisnerAmper is the independent accounting firm for the LSU 100 and LSU ROARING20. Nominees send their financial information directly to EisnerAmper and EisnerAmper tabulates the results. After all confidential applications are processed, EisnerAmper provides the ranked LSU100 and LSU ROARING20 lists to LSU.

  • Where will the information be published?

    The LSU 100  and LSU ROARING 20 company lists will be publicized on this LSU100 website, LSU 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 Tiger-leader(s), and year founded to be published and for photography/videography at the LSU100 and LSU ROARING20 events. Tiger Leader contact information may be shared with the LSU entities, institutes, departments or divisions that are LSU100 and LSU ROARING20 partners or sponsors.

  • Will my company financial information be released?

    All confidential information will be submitted directly to EisnerAmper and will not be released to LSU, an LSU affiliate, or anyone else.

THE LSU 100 & LSU ROARING20

The LSU 100: Fastest Growing Tiger Businesses recognizes and celebrates the 100 fastest growing LSU graduate owned or LSU graduate led businesses.

The LSU ROARING20 recognizes and celebrates the 20 highest revenue generating LSU graduate owned or LSU graduate led businesses.

Nominate      Apply Now