With 245% Three-Year Growth Rate, ATX Defense Debuts at No. 1779 Overall
AUSTIN, Texas, Aug. 26, 2025 /PRNewswire/ — With its debut on the 2025 Inc. 5000 list, ATX Defense now officially ranks among the nation’s fastest-growing private companies. In the newly released rankings, the firm entered at no. 1779, fueled by a three-year growth rate exceeding 245%.
As Cybersecurity Maturity Model Certification (CMMC) compliance becomes a requirement in the national security market, ATX Defense has emerged as a leader by anticipating that shift early and building a solution tailored for small- and medium-sized businesses. Their approach enables many organizations to achieve compliance faster and at a fraction of the cost compared to traditional offerings.
“Three years ago, we set out to solve our own problem — building a CMMC solution that was affordable, easy to maintain, and wouldn’t disrupt the parts of a business that don’t touch controlled unclassified information (CUI). We designed something different for businesses like ours to meet requirements without dragging the rest of their operations into scope,” said Shawn Kotoske, ATX Defense co-founder and managing partner. “That focus is what set us apart, and it’s why making the Inc. 5000 this year feels like proof the bet we made was the right one.”
In addition to entering the Inc. 5000 at no. 1779, the rankings highlight ATX Defense as a powerhouse in the southwest region — coming in at no. 187 in the state of Texas and no. 50 in the Austin-Round Rock-Georgetown metro area — and in government services, with a no. 60 industry rank.
The annual Inc. 5000 compilation provides a data-driven snapshot of the most successful companies within the economy’s most dynamic segment: its independent, entrepreneurial institutions shaping the U.S. business landscape. Past honorees include Microsoft, Meta, Chobani, Under Armour, Timberland, Oracle and Patagonia. This year’s honorees have demonstrated exceptional growth while also navigating economic uncertainty, inflationary pressure, and a fluctuating labor market.
“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.”
For the full list, company profiles, and a searchable database by industry and location, visit: http://www.inc.com/inc5000.
About ATX Defense
ATX Defense is a veteran-owned consulting firm rooted in Austin and national security. We specialize in no-nonsense digital transformation for the DoD and CMMC compliance for defense contractors. With deep technical chops and a moral backbone, we fix what’s bloated and broken, so progress isn’t strangled by legacy thinking. Learn more at ATXdefense.com.
Methodology
Companies on the 2025 Inc. 5000 are ranked according to percentage revenue growth from 2021 to 2024. To qualify, companies must have been founded and generating revenue by March 31, 2021. They must be U.S.-based, privately held, for-profit, and independent — not subsidiaries or divisions of other companies — as of December 31, 2024. (Since then, some on the list may have gone public or been acquired.) The minimum revenue required for 2021 is $100,000; the minimum for 2024 is $2 million. As always, Inc. reserves the right to decline applicants for subjective reasons.
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 http://www.inc.com.
