We’re proud to share that Cresta has been named to Forbes’ list of America’s Best Startup Employers 2026 — and this year, we’ve climbed to #58 out of 500 companies nationwide.
This marks our third consecutive year on the list. And each year, we’ve moved up.
Breaking into the top 100 startup employers in the country is an incredible milestone, and one that reflects something far more meaningful than a number: the strength of our team, our culture, and the impact we’re building together.
What This Recognition Means
The Forbes list, produced in partnership with Statista, evaluates more than 20,000 eligible startups across the U.S., narrowing them down to 2,700 for detailed analysis and ultimately selecting just 500 companies for the final ranking.
Rankings are determined using more than 7 million data points, with companies evaluated across three core pillars:
- Employer Reputation
- Employee Satisfaction
- Company Growth
The scoring model combines social listening, employee review data, and measurable growth indicators like headcount, hiring momentum, and web traffic.
In other words, this isn’t a popularity contest. It’s a data-driven assessment of which startups are building strong, sustainable, and high-performing workplaces.
And this year, Cresta ranked #58.
Why This Matters to Us
At Cresta, we believe performance and people are inseparable.
We’re building AI that transforms contact centers into strategic growth engines — helping organizations turn every conversation into a competitive advantage.
But that mission starts internally. It requires:
- A culture that values ownership and learning
- A team that thrives on collaboration and customer impact
- Leaders who invest in growth, not just outcomes
- A workplace where feedback fuels improvement
To move up the rankings three years in a row tells us we’re not just growing — we’re growing the right way.
Growth With Intention
The Forbes methodology specifically evaluates startups on how growth impacts employees — including opportunities to learn new skills, take on responsibility, and expand influence.
That resonates deeply with how we think about scaling.
Cresta continues to expand: we just finished our biggest year yet, expanding globally into EMEA and APAC, delivering results and impact to some of the world’s biggest companies like CVS and United Airlines, and launching Cresta AI Agent and innovative ‘game changers’ like Cresta AI Analyst. We are intentional about preserving what makes this team special:
- High standards with high support
- Ambitious goals with real collaboration
- Transparency about where we’re headed and how we’ll get there
Built by Our People
Awards like this are earned by teams, not companies.
They reflect:
- Engineers solving complex AI challenges
- Customer teams driving measurable business outcomes
- Product leaders pushing the roadmap forward
- Operations teams scaling our infrastructure
- Managers coaching, mentoring, and building trust
Most of all, they reflect a shared belief that we can redefine customer experience, and that we can do it together.
Onward
Being named to Forbes’ America’s Best Startup Employers list for the third straight year — and reaching #58 — is a moment worth celebrating.
But if there’s one thing that defines Cresta, it’s that we’re never done building.
To our team: thank you for raising the bar every day.
To future Crestans: we’re just getting started. To learn more about joining the team, check out our open roles and apply today!
