50+ Companies Make Growth List as Startups Outpace Established Providers
By Chris Larson | August 13, 2026
Image by Free-Photos from Pixabay | CC0
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This is an exclusive BHB+ story.
I truly wonder how many behavioral health companies will be on the Inc. 5000 list next year. Every year around this time, we examine the business media’s definitive list of America’s fastest-growing private companies. Each year, I see more behavioral health companies reporting notable growth figures. This year is no exception. I count 52 companies dedicated to the industry, a new all-time high. Last year, that number was 45.
The basic investment dynamics of behavioral health have remained consistent in recent years. There are critical access challenges to services and imbalances between demand and supply. However, the impact of changes like the One Big Beautiful Bill Act and autism therapy spending rationalization is just now being fully realized. The Inc. 5000 list considers revenue over a three-year period ending in 2025.
Nonetheless, there are likely shifts in the industry’s fast-growing companies, including notable absenties. Only time will tell. You can access the full Inc. 5000 list here.
In this BHB+ Update, I will:
- Analyze who made and didn’t make the list this year.
- Discuss trends among those on the list.
- Present the complete list of 52 companies at the end.
Big Companies Not on the List
Several industry titans or regular Inc. 5000 participants did not appear in the 2026 list. This doesn’t necessarily signal a problem, but it raises questions when equal conditions aren’t met. Marketing and advertising budgets can be reduced during leaner times, and startup-like growth rates are typically short-lived.
Trends Among List Members
The Inc. 5000 list is a marketing tool for participating companies. Many fast-growing startups in behavioral health are focused on specific niches like:
- Autism/IDD treatment
- Psychiatric care
- Substance use recovery
- New development and M&A
These trends suggest a shift towards specialized services and strategic partnerships.
The Full List of 52 Companies:
(Here, you would list the 52 companies mentioned in the text, formatted as a bulleted list.)