The Dallas 100: SMU Cox Unveils Its 2023 Ranking of the Fastest-Growing Private Companies in DFW

Collectively, the 100 privately held companies generated more than $11 billion from 2020 to 2022, creating nearly 14,000 jobs while growing average sales by 146%.

Plano-based healthcare staffing platform StaffDNA took the top spot in the annual rankings. Here's the full list of winners.

Plano-based StaffDNA—whose staffing platform helps healthcare workers manage their careers by finding temporary and full-time positions—has been named the region’s fastest-growing entrepreneurial company in the annual SMU Cox Dallas 100 ranking. 

The SMU Cox School of Business Caruth Institute for Entrepreneurship presented StaffDNA company with the top award at the Dallas 100 Entrepreneur Awards Gala Thursday at the Dallas Hyatt Regency. Winners were announced in ranked order from 100 to 1 at the annual awards event.

StaffDNA’s job search technology serves a range of professions and settings from RNs to certified nursing assistants, as well as hospitals, skilled nursing facilities, and home health settings.

“We’re equalizing the playing field with tech that allows anyone to find and choose the job they want,” StaffDNA founder and CEO Sheldon Arora said in June, when the company launched new integrated platform technology.

The company is part of a big trend in North Texas: Four of this year’s top 10 Dallas 100 winners are in the healthcare staffing field. (And so was last year’s No. 1 winner, Irving-based double unicorn ShiftKey.) Overall, 16 healthcare industry companies are among the 2023 Dallas 100.

‘Healthcare industry is surging across the country’

Simon Mak, executive director of the SMU Cox Caruth Institute for Entrepreneurship, said that due to a number of factors—including medical advancements and an aging population—”the healthcare industry is surging across the country.”

“Our ranking of this year’s fastest-growing privately held companies shows that the Dallas area reflects that growth,” Mak added in a statement. “In fact, this is the second consecutive year that our No. 1 company, StaffDNA, is a healthcare staffing company. Last year’s top winner, Shiftkey, was a healthcare facilities finder. It’s clear that healthcare is a critical and growing part of the Dallas-area economy.” 

The pandemic had a lot to do with the top Dallas 100 rankings of the past two years, Mak noted.

“This group of winners was chosen based on company statistics they submitted for the three years that the COVID pandemic was at its peak,” he said. “They deserve recognition not only for their contributions to the area economy but also for their innovative spirit and resilience.”

The Dallas 100 generated a collective $11 billion-plus from 2020 to 2022

Collectively, the 2023 Dallas 100-ranked companies generated more than $11 billion from 2020 to 2022, the last year for which complete financial records are available. Over that same time, all 100 companies created nearly 14,000 jobs and grew average sales by 146%. In 2022 alone, all 100 companies together generated sales of over $5.5 billion, the institute said.

To qualify for the Dallas 100 competition, companies must have revenue earnings of $500,000 to $100 million dollars.

Sheldon Arora, founder and CEO of StaffDNA [Photo: StaffDNA]

The Top 10 winners in the 2023 Dallas 100

The top 10 companies were given special recognition at Thursday’s Dallas 100 gala:

  1. StaffDNA—Founded in 2020, StaffDNA aims to redefine the digital staffing model with next-generation technology. Its app provides nationwide coverage to more than 6,000 hospitals, long term care, and skilled nursing facilities, the company says. StaffDNA has received World Changing Technology recognition from Fast Company and Best Place to Work designation by Modern Healthcare, among other awards.
  2. Advantis Medical Staffing—Dallas-based Advantis connects travel nurses and allied health professionals to opportunities across the U.S. Co-founded by Silicon Valley staffing executives, it offers an app-based platform where users can find personalized job matches.
  3. Aligned—The Plano-based data center company provides scale data centers and powered shell/build-to-scale solutions with adaptive infrastructure and industry-leading cooling technology, deployed sustainably at a record-setting pace. 
  4. Big Town Concrete—Irving-based Big Town Concrete launched in 2020 as a small ready-mix operation. Combining more than 20 years of “determination and industry expertise,” it aims to produce better concrete while providing exceptional service for longstanding customers.
  5. LiquidAgents Healthcare—Founded in 2003, the Plano-based healthcare staffing agency provides clinical staffing solutions to public and private health systems across the U.S. for travel nursing, travel allied health professionals, and permanent placement.
  6. Front Burner Society—Founded in 2020, Dallas-based FB Society innovates restaurant concepts across the Southwest. Its concepts include Whiskey Cake, The Ranch, Velvet Taco, Mexican Sugar, Ida Claire, Sixty Vines, and more.
  7. Ironside Human Resources—The Dallas-based healthcare staffing company works with both small and large healthcare facilities, recruiting for any profession that can be found within a medical setting such as nurses, physicians, technologists, and therapists across all specialties.
  8. o9 Solutions—Founded in 2009, o9 offers an analytics, AI, and knowledge-powered platform for planning and decision-making for global companies. In July, it announced raising $116 million in new funding to boost its valuation to $3.7 billion.
  9. Focus Staff—Dallas-based Focus is a “traveler-first” nurse and healthcare staffing agency connecting professionals to jobs in all 50 states.
  10. PayNetWorx LLC—The Van Alstyne-based company offers traditional digital and crypto payment services via a comprehensive set of cloud-based solutions.

2023 Dallas 100 winners, ranked

Here’s the complete list of the SMU Cox Dallas 100 companies for 2023, listed from one to 100:

1

StaffDNA

Plano

Digital platform for healthcare staffing

2

Advantis Medical

Dallas

 

Travel healthcare staffing

3

Aligned

Plano

Data center provider

4

Big Town Concrete, LLC

Irving

Ready-mixed concrete producer

5

LiquidAgents Healthcare

Plano

Full-service healthcare staffing solutions

6

Front Burner Society

Dallas

Restaurant incubator and operator

7

Ironside Human Resources

Dallas

Healthcare staffing

8

o9 Solutions

Dallas

AI software platform provider

9

Focus Staff

Dallas

Travel healthcare staffing services

10

Paynetworx, LLC

Van Alstyne

Payment processing provider

11

Newline Interactive

Allen

Interactive displays, intuitive software

12

Alto

Dallas

Premium ride-hailing service

13

Embark

Dallas

Business advisory firm

14

Elevate Windows and Doors

Grand Prairie

Vinyl windows and doors manufacturer

15

Sol-Ark

Allen

Solar engineering company

16

BBG Real Estate Services

Dallas

Commercial real estate services

17

BeauTech Power Systems, LLC

Dallas

Aircraft engine leasing

18

Valor Healthcare, Inc.

Dallas

Healthcare services contractor

19

Precision Global Corporation

Rockwall

Venture capital firm

20

Rudick Construction Group, Inc.

Dallas

Full-service commercial general contractor

21

Curis Functional Health

Dallas

Functional health and wellness company

22

Alwood

Richardson

Aluminum extrusion and hardware merchants

23

Coats Homes

Dallas

Luxury custom home builder

24

Anders Group

Irving

Allied health recruiters

25

Lone Star Analysis

Addison

Prescriptive analytics, guided AI

26

Ameripipe Supply, Inc.

Dallas

Pipe, valve and fitting supplier

27

RiseIT Solutions

Dallas

Software and technology services company

28

Zeal IT Consultants

Dallas

Software development consultancy

29

Qentelli, LLC

Dallas

Digital and cloud technology company

30

Apex Dental Partners

Dallas

Administrative support services to dentists

31

ZINTEX Remodeling Group

Lewisville

Bathroom installation and renovation

32

AmeriPac, Inc.

Grapevine

Contract packaging and fulfillment

33

Linear Roofing & General Contractors, LLC

Addison

Commercial and residential insurance re-roofing

34

Emler Swim School

Dallas

Swim instruction for children

35

Phoneternet, LLC Real Time Feedback

Dallas

Customer engagement platform

36

Blue Hammer Roofing, Inc.

Dallas

Commercial roofing

37

Anserteam Workforce Alliance

Dallas

Multiple industry staffing services

38

SYNERGEN Health

Dallas

Technology-driven revenue cycle services

39

T2D Concepts

Farmers Branch

Purpose-driven hospitality group

40

BP Aero Engine Services, LLC

Irving

Commercial aircraft engine repair

41

Tek Leaders, Inc.

Frisco

Digital transformation and strategic consulting

42

Brainvire Infotech, Inc.

Plano

Digital transformation company

43

M Crowd Restaurant Group

Irving

Restaurant group

44

Hite Digital

Frisco

Digital marketing and branding agency

45

SignaPay

Irving

Credit card processing

46

Zimperium

Dallas

Mobile security platform

47

Compass Datacenters

Dallas

Custom, move-in-ready data centers

48

CityVet, Inc.

Dallas

Veterinary medical care and pet services

49

G Texas Custom Catering, LLC

Dallas

Full-service catering and bar company

50

HealthMark Group

Dallas

Healthcare information management technology

51

FTK Construction Services

Allen

General contractor

52

Take Command

Dallas

Tech startup healthcare system

53

Amino Transport

Southlake

Third-party logistics firm

54

Cloud Communications Group

Dallas

Technology expense management and IT advisory

55

ParkHub

Dallas

Parking management technology

56

Tolleson Wealth Management

Dallas

Financial services of all kinds

57

C1S Group, Inc.

Dallas

Industrial and commercial renovation

58

pawTree, LLC

Southlake

Customized pet food and supplements

59

Buchanan Technologies

Grapevine

Managed IT services

60

Synaptic Pediatric Therapies

Richardson

Pediatric speech and occupational therapy

61

SoundPro

Irving

Audio, video and lighting equipment

62

Bridgefarmer & Associates, Inc.

Dallas

Civil engineering firm

63

Maple Distributing

Irving

Premium appliances distributor

64

Pursuit

Dallas

Sales and marketing staffing firm

65

Expo Home Improvement

Carrollton

Home improvement company

66

Warrior Logistics, Inc.

Coppell

Long-haul freight transportation provider

67

Level 5 Retail Construction, Inc.

Sachse

High-end retail general contractor

68

Bython

Frisco

Digital publishing and marketing company

69

ENO8

Plano

Digital product development studio

70

Octed, LLC DBA Programmers.io

Coppell

Experts in AS400/IBMi programming

71

Imaginuity

Dallas

Service marketing and advertising agency

72

D3V Technology Solutions

Dallas

Cloud engineering firm

73

Lime Media Group

Rockwall

Experiential marketing agency

74

Direct Orthopedic Care

Addison

Full-service orthopedic clinic

75

IMCS Group, Inc.

Irving

IT and healthcare staffing company

76

BuzzClan

Dallas

Technology consulting and staffing firm

77

MMC

Irving

Workforce management services provider

78

Plutus Health, Inc.

Dallas

Healthcare revenue cycle management

79

Care Continuity, Inc.

Irving

Patient navigation company

80

Sirius Building Company

Dallas

Finish-out construction

81

MangoChango

Dallas

Software development

82

Mohr Partners, Inc.

Dallas

Real estate advisory and outsourcing services

83

Valent Partners

Dallas

Management and technology consultant

84

Wheeler Staffing Partners

Plano

Staffing firm

85

United Protective Services

Dallas

Security services company

86

Lightbeam Health Solutions

Irving

Health management platform

87

Summit Endeavors DBA Georgetown Building Solutions, LLC

Addison

Importer of finish-out building materials

88

Vista Bank

Dallas

Banking services

89

Our Data Works, Inc., DBA Our Service Works

Carrollton

eCommerce fulfillment and customer care

90

Value Creed, LLC                                                              

Plano

 

Consulting and managed services firm

91

ESA, Enterprise Staffing Agency, LLC

Dallas

Medical and hospitality staffing firm

92

Dux Commercial

Carrollton

Commercial drywall contractor

93

Red Elephant

Lewisville

 

Architectural sign manufacturer

94

Lawson Event Rentals

Dallas

Event rental company

95

Northgate Construction

Addison

Commercial general contractor

96

ID90 Travel, Inc.

Southlake

Travel app

97

Unity Search, LLC

Dallas

Staffing firm

98

Cariloop

Richardson

Human-centered caregiver support platform

99

Allata

Dallas

Application development firm

100

OrderMyGear

Dallas

Custom-branded store platform

How the rankings were compiled

Each year, the Caruth Institute ranks the area’s top 100 entrepreneurial companies based on percentage growth and absolute dollar growth over the previous three years, emphasizing their contributions to the Dallas area economy, with the winners representing “a broad spectrum of businesses” from Dallas and 16 surrounding cities.

Working with the accounting firm FORVIS LLP, the institute examined 2020 to 2022 sales information submitted by hundreds of companies.

This year’s presenting company was Texas Capital Bank. In addition to FORVIS LLP, the 2023 program event sponsors were ActOne Group; Executive Press; MarketScale; and USI Insurance Services. Media sponsors were Dallas Business Journal and KRLD NewsRadio 1080.

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