BUSINESS SPECIAL ........................25 Companies That Are Changing the World

 25 Companies That Are Changing the World

Big, crazy ideas? Check. Lots of risks? Check. Fearlessness? Oh, yeah. Welcome to Inc.'s annual list of the Most Audacious Companies.

What's an "audacious" company? It's a superlative we chose very carefully. On the one hand, such companies are defined as bold, courageous, even heroic. Yet, on the other, they are defiant, presumptuous, irreverent, and even cocky. They see a better way to do something and work to make it happen, fearlessly committed to not only making their vision a reality but also spreading that vision. 

These are the companies we celebrate. Below, you'll find an interview with the crown prince of audacity, Mark Cuban, on what it takes to build and run a bold company. Then continue scrolling to see our list of winners divided into five categories: technology, marketing, social impact, design, and culture.

Technology

1. Skybox Imaging

The bold startup aiming to index every inch of planet Earth--and change how you do business:

2. PK Clean

Converting 20,000 pounds of plastic into 2,500 gallons of fuel every day to end landfilled waste

3. Factual

The behind-the-scenes tech startup aiming to be the world's biggest location database

4. Ambri

Does a battery have the power to change the world? This one has a very good shot

5. Aereo

Shaking TV networks--and American television as we know it--all the way to the Supreme Court

Marketing

6. Thinkmodo

The company behind some of the world's craziest--and most successful--viral video campaigns

7. Upworthy

Writing weird, viral headlines in the name of making the world a better place

8. Voodoo Doughnut

Demon doughnuts and wacky wedding ceremonies: This is how you do word-of-mouth marketing

9. Goldieblox

Exploding gender stereotypes, one toy--and savvy marketing move--at a time (take that, Barbie)

10. Beats Electronics

Winning the headphones market and building a billion-dollar branding empire

Social Impact

11. Bridge International Academies

The mission: teach 10 million kids, end poverty, and make money doing it

12. GiveDirectly

The nonprofit giving free money directly to the poor, with no strings attached

13. Oscar

A friendly, approachable health insurance company that anyone can understand

14. Immunity Project

Developing an AIDS vaccine--and changing the way medical breakthroughs are funded

15. Clinton Giustra Enterprise Partnership

The best way to tackle global poverty? Become the world's largest job creator

Design

16. Icon Aircraft

It's not a flying car--but it's pretty close. And you don't even need an airportPHOTO: COURTESY ICON AIRCRAFT

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17. Hello Products

Bringing fresh design to the toothpaste aisle--and an industry dominated by incumbents

18. Artemis Networks

The future of super-fast wireless Internet access is here--and it looks pretty cool

19. Sabi

These aren't your grandfather's canes and pillboxes. The senior market is getting a radical redesign

20. Mystery Ranch

A backpack tough enough to carry weapons, firefighting gear, and--you know--elk carcasses

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