KANSAS CITY, Mo. – Today, Crux earned its fifth consecutive appearance on the Inc. 5000, the annual list of America’s fastest-growing private companies, ranking No. 4,354. Crux’s previous appearances on the list include No. 2678 in 2022, No. 1500 in 2023, No. 1694 in 2024, and No. 2341 in 2025.
As Crux celebrates its 10th year in business, the company is marking a year of significant milestones that reflect both sustained growth and the evolution of a business model that continues to challenge conventional thinking.
The recognition comes during a landmark year for the Kansas City-based firm, which was also inducted into the Kansas City Business Journal’s Hall of Champions after receiving its third Champions of Business honor. Combined with recognition as the largest fractional marketing services firm in Kansas City, these achievements underscore a decade of intentional growth built on helping organizations gain clarity, momentum and measurable results.
“When launching Crux in 2016, I wasn’t interested in building just another agency. I believed small and medium sized businesses deserved experienced marketing leadership that was practical, flexible and deeply integrated into their business,” said founder and CEO Melea McRae-Hall. “Ten years later, the biggest lesson I’ve learned is that sustainable growth isn’t about chasing every opportunity. It’s about staying relentlessly focused on what creates value for clients, investing in great people, and being willing to evolve when the market changes. This recognition reflects the trust our clients have placed in us and the remarkable team that has helped build Crux into what it is today.”
Since its founding, Crux has evolved from a startup challenging the traditional agency model into a category-defining firm helping organizations access the strategic marketing leadership they need without the complexity of building large internal teams. Today, the company serves organizations across the country through a model that combines embedded fractional CMOs with a team of marketing specialists, delivering both strategic leadership and execution that drives meaningful business outcomes.
Companies honored on this year’s Inc. 5000 demonstrated exceptional growth while navigating economic uncertainty, inflationary pressures and a rapidly changing business landscape. Crux ranked No. 26 among Kansas City-based companies included on this year’s list, which also features client and fellow five-time Inc. 5000 honoree OCCU-TEC (No. 2,981).
“Making the Inc. 5000 is always a remarkable achievement, but earning a spot this year speaks volumes about a company’s tenacity and clarity of vision,” said Mike Hofman, editor-in-chief of Inc. “These businesses have thrived amid rising costs, shifting global dynamics and constant change. They didn’t just weather the storm. They grew through it, and their stories are a powerful reminder that the entrepreneurial spirit is the engine of the U.S. economy.”
Today, Crux employs more than 40 marketing professionals and serves an active roster of more than 60 client partners across industries including professional services, healthcare, technology, nonprofit, higher education, financial services, municipal government and AEC.
For the full list, company profiles, and a searchable database by industry and location, visit: www.inc.com/inc5000.
About Crux KC
Crux is a fractional CMO firm helping growing businesses close the gap between marketing strategy and execution. Through embedded fractional marketing leadership and an integrated team of experts, Crux gives companies the strategic direction, accountability and execution they need to grow.
For 10 years, Crux has offered a different model for marketing: embedded, not outsourced; strategic, not reactive; accountable, not transactional. Because strategy without execution isn’t enough, and execution without leadership is just noise. Crux is the un-agency offering Fractional Experts. Intentional Growth.
Learn more at www.findyourcrux.com.
About Inc.
Inc. is the leading media brand and playbook for the entrepreneurs and business leaders shaping our future. Through its journalism, Inc. aims to inform, educate, and elevate the profile of its community: the risk-takers, the innovators, and the ultra-driven go-getters who are creating the future of business. Inc. is published by Mansueto Ventures LLC, along with fellow leading business publication Fast Company. For more information, visit www.inc.com.
Inc. 5000 Methodology
Companies on the 2026 Inc. 5000 are ranked according to percentage revenue growth from 2022 to 2025. To qualify, companies must have been founded and generating revenue by March 31, 2022. They must be U.S.-based, privately held, for-profit, and independent—not subsidiaries or divisions of other companies—as of December 31, 2025. (Since then, some on the list may have gone public or been acquired.) The minimum revenue required for 2022 is $100,000; the minimum for 2025 is $2 million. As always, Inc. reserves the right to decline applicants for subjective reasons.