Inc. Magazine Spring 2026

Jul 16, 2026

Uploaded by Eliana

A Spring 2026 issue of Inc. featuring founder interviews and business leadership guidance, covering topics such as the ROI of AI, startup regional growth, sales targets, customer service, hiring, modern venture capital, free-trade policy impacts, enterprise AI, and customer lead-generation strategies. Includes highlights from companies and leaders across technology, manufacturing, hospitality, and entrepreneurship.

LanguageEnglish

CategoryResearch & Report

FormatPDF

Pages108

Reading Time4 h 32 min

AccessFree to download

G N I V O M The AI Visionary You Need to Know page 72 PLUS: IS GANTRI THE FUTURE OF U. S. MANUFACTURING? DELIGHTING CUSTOMERS WITHOUT BEING A DOORMAT HOW CLAY MADE LEAD GEN FUN Bend the World to Your Will Luana Lopes Lara persuaded investors and regulators to embrace Kalshi’s audacious business model. Fresh Strategies for Managing Complicated Employees Travel smarter with IHG Business Edge Atwell Suites Fort Worth—Alliance Area Hotel Indigo Stratford Upon Avon With 20 IHG hotel brands in 6,600+ destinations your next stop should be joining IHG Business Edge. This complimentary program, built for small and medium-sized businesses, gives you access to exclusive benefits, guaranteed hotel discounts, and fast track to Silver Elite status after your very first stay. Scan to join today Spring 2026 84 Gantri founder Ian Yang. A Note From the Editor How founders are thinking about the ROI of AI. 5 Inc. Regionals These cities are emerging asthe new engines of startup activity. 15 7 Ideas Mrs. Meyer’s founder Monica Nassif on why you need daily sales targets. 20 Founder Group Chat Tips for providing awesome customer service without being a doormat. 22 Exit Interview How Coterie’s Jess Jacobs landed a billion-dollar deal. 26 Spending Power Tour the ultimate tricked-out founder home. 29 Marina Khidekel The dos and don’ts of making your first hire. 35 ShumanGhosemajumder These are the tasks you shouldn’t useAI to do. 39 NEW! Dave Whorton What the modern VC model gets wrong. 42 PHOTOGRAPHY BY ARSENII VASELENKO Spring 2026 The Most Influential Business Owner in Congress Has Markwayne Mullin’s time in Washington changed him? 44 Managing People Has Never Been Weirder Alison Green shares the new rules for getting it right. 50 The Year Free Trade Died CEOs reflect on how Trump’s “Liberation Day”tariffs changed their businesses. 60 Don’t Bet Against Her Luana Lopes Lara gambled big after co-founding Kalshi. So far, it’s paid off. 66 Agent of Change May Habib’s path to creating the gold standard for enterprise AI. 72 Made to Stick How Fazit turned glitter freckle virality into $40 million. 78 The Real Unicorns The female founder billionaire club. 82 Lighting the Way Inside Ian Yang’s mission to transform the way lampsand home goods are made. 84 78 90 Clay Nation How the SaaS company convinced its customers lead generation is fun. 90 Action Items The founder’s guide to debt financing, GEO, vibe coding, and more. 97 Karen Dillon Should you prepare your kids to take over your business? 104 Fazit co-founders Nina La Bruna (left) and Aliett Buttelman. e Kareem Amin, co-founder and CEO of Clay. e Luana Lopes Lara, photographed by Jingyu Lin in New York City. PRINTED IN THE USA. COPYRIGHT ©2026 BY MANSUETO VENTURES LLC. All rights reserved. INC. (ISSN 0162-8968) is published four times yearly (March, June, September, December) by Mansueto

Jul 16, 2026

Uploaded by Eliana