All your questions answered

About Crain’s 40 Under 40: 

Crain's 40 Under 40 honors the exceptional achievements of young professionals across diverse industries and showcases dynamic leaders who are shaping their communities.

For more than three decades, from Chicago to Cleveland, Michigan to New York, we have highlighted CEOs, founders, innovators, and community champions under 40 who are making significant impacts. Selected through a peer nomination and editorial review process, we celebrate their contributions and inspire future leaders. 

Who’s eligible? 

Anyone working in Northeast Ohio who will be 39 or younger as of Nov. 17, 2025.

I'm under 40, what else are you looking for? 

For each 40 Under 40 class, we look for a cross-section of people from the wide range of industries we cover — technology, consumer products, real estate, health care, finance, government, nonprofits, etc. — who are proven leaders in their field. 

What is the deadline for nomination? May 16, 2025 at 11:59 P.M. EST  

I was recognized as a 40 Under 40, can I be on the list again? 

No, 40 Under 40 is a one-time honor. We recommend checking out Crain's Notables, 20 In Their 20s, Women of Influence and Best Places to Work as additional opportunities for recognition. 

How do I submit a nomination? 

We only accept nominations via the online form. We do not accept nominations via phone, email, mail or fax. We need the detailed information called for in the online nomination and candidate forms.  

• To get started: Click the nomination link and sign into your account. If you do not have an account, you will be asked to create one before you can proceed with the nomination form. We recommend using Chrome or Firefox web browsers to complete your application. 
• To finish an incomplete nomination: Sign into your account and choose either the "incomplete" or "in progress" option as shown on the next page. Then, select "edit" on the following page to complete the previously started submission.

How much does it cost to submit? 

There is a $99 fee to nominate a 2025 40 Under 40 candidate. Nomination fees may be paid via credit card (Visa, MasterCard, American Express). Nomination fees are non-refundable.   

Does it matter who submits the nomination? 

You can nominate yourself, a client, a family member, your boss, an employee or an acquaintance. The most important thing is that you state a clear, business-oriented reason for the nomination. It is helpful for a nominator to be in a position to be objective, but no one is disqualified based on who did the nominating.  

Do you have any advice for strengthening my nomination? 

1. Focus on the nominee’s accomplishments, not their organization’s accomplishments.
2. Include specific details (facts, figures, dollar amounts, dates and company names) when describing the nominee’s accomplishments.
3. The nomination should speak for itself. The editorial team may not contact nominees for further information & status updates are not provided.
4. Nominate early – if you meet the criteria before age 39, submit! We receive hundreds of nominations and only 40 honorees are selected for 40 Under 40.

Can you send me a copy of my nomination form and invoice? 

To download a copy of your completed nomination and/or invoice, please follow the steps below:

• Download a copy of your nomination: Sign into your account and click "complete" under "my applications." On the next screen, you can view or print your completed nominations. 
• Download a copy of your invoice: Sign into your account and click "invoices" under "my applications." On the next screen, please select the invoice you would like to view. After you select the invoice, you may print only your invoice or print the invoice plus nomination submitted. 

What is the process like? 

After we receive nominations, Crain’s editors hold a series of meetings to determine who will be chosen. We strive to come up with a diverse list that represents a broad spectrum of the fields, companies and organizations we cover.  

When will honorees be notified? 

40 Under 40 honorees will be notified approximately 5 weeks before publication day. Unfortunately, we are unable to provide status updates until congratulatory letters are sent.  

What is required of those who are selected? 

40 Under 40 honorees participate in an interview and portrait session with Crain’s editorial team. Declining either of these requests will disqualify the candidate.  

Can you provide feedback on why I was not selected? 

With hundreds of candidates and 40 honorees, we cannot provide feedback on why you were not picked. It likely won't be for one reason and for reasons related to presenting a diverse range of professions and industries. 

Check out our latest 40 Under 40 class & reach out to Crain's Recognitions Team with additional questions. 

Get alerted when 40 Under 40 publishes and learn more about the Northeast Ohio Business scene by subscribing to Crain's Cleveland Business newsletters and updating your email preferences here.

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