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4 HARTFORDBUSINESS.COM | AUGUST 25, 2025 What's Trending Scan the QR code, visit www.NutmegStateFCU.org/EMCP or call 860-513-5000 to learn more! for a life's moments YOU BELONG WITH US NMLS #637816 Federally insured by NCUA Helping your employees thrive, so your business can too. STRONGER BENEFITS. STRONGER WORKFORCE. Finding great employees is tough. Keeping them is even tougher. Our Employee & Member Care Program helps businesses provide exclusive financial benefits to support employee retention and well-being. 4 On-site banking & financial wellness events to support employees 4 Preferred-rate banking products tailored for your workforce 4 Financial education & coaching to reduce financial stress 4 Personalized services that connect employees with the right financial tools 4 A no-cost way to enhance your employee benefits package When employees feel financially secure, they stay longer, work better, and grow with your business. Let's build a stronger workforce together. Contact us for more information about our Employee & Member Care Program Today! 34 CT firms make 2025 Inc. 5000 fast-growing companies list By Andrew Larson alarson@hartfordbusiness.com T he fastest-growing company in Connecticut is Global Medical Virtual Assistants, a West Hart- ford-based remote staffing firm that serves medical practices, according to the recently released 2025 Inc. 5000 rankings. The annual list, compiled by Inc. Maga- zine, ranks the 5,000 fastest-growing private companies in the United States. The rankings are based on revenue growth over a three-year period. Global Medical Virtual Assistants, which has global operations and annual revenue of about $16 million, is among 34 Connecticut-based businesses on this year's list. Global Medical ranks No. 368 nation- ally, with 1,086% revenue growth over the last three years. Greenwich-based Leverage Shares, a financial services company, ranks No. 2 in Connecticut — and No. 641 nation- ally — with 654% growth. The third fastest-growing business in Connecticut is Axe Elite, an advertising, marketing and PR firm in Wethers- field. It ranks No. 711 nationally, with 582% growth. Prominent Shelton-based energy-as- a-services company Budderfly is the fourth-fastest growing Connecticut TOP 15 CT COMPANIES ON 2025 INC. 5000 LIST THREE-YEAR CT RANK BUSINESS REVENUE GROWTH INDUSTRY HQ NATIONAL RANK 1 GLOBAL MEDICAL VIRTUAL ASSISTANTS 1,086% Human Resources West Hartford 368 2 LEVERAGE SHARES 654% Financial Services Greenwich 641 3 AXE ELITE 582% Advertising, Marketing & PR Wethersfield 711 4 BUDDERFLY 409% Energy Shelton 1,050 5 GUNNER 390% Construction Stamford 1,112 6 GREYTHON CONSTRUCTION 385% Construction Mystic 1,125 7 LESSEREVIL 314% Food & Beverage Danbury 1,387 8 TRIPLE B MEDIA 307% Media, Arts & Entertainment North Haven 1,414 9 ATHLETIC BREWING COMPANY 262% Food & Beverage Milford 1,671 10 VERDEK 238% Engineering Monroe 1,827 11 PANSY HOMECARE 212% Healthcare & Medical West Hartford 2,048 12 STRATEDIA 210% Advertising, Marketing & PR Groton Long Point 2,059 13 PAYARC 160% Financial Services Greenwich 2,617 14 CHARTER OAK HOME CARE 160% Healthcare & Medical Torrington 2,621 15 WATERFRONT PROMOTIONAL MERCHANDISING 159% Business Products & Services Westport 2,636 Source: Inc. 5000 list company, with 409% growth. In June, Budderfly secured $100 million in debt financing, bringing the total amount of capital it has raised to over $1 billion. Organic snack food manufacturer LesserEvil, based in Danbury, ranks 1,387 nationally, with 314% growth, according to the Inc. 5000. Earlier this year, Pennsylvania-based The Hershey Co. announced its plans to buy Lesser- Evil in a $750 million deal. Milford-based Athletic Brewing Co. — the first brewery and taproom in the United States dedicated to producing nonalcoholic craft beer — ranks No. 1,671 nationally, with three-year growth of 262%. Monroe-based engineering firm Verdek, which sells electric charging stations, also ranks in Connecticut's top 10, with 238% growth, despite recently losing some federal contracts. Nationally, the No. 1 fastest-growing company is Palo Alto, California-based AKOOL — an AI and data company that saw 37,364% growth over the last three years.