Exa Capital Named to the 2026 Inc. 5000 for the Second Consecutive Year

The repeat recognition affirms the strength of Exa's model for founder-led enterprise software companies, permanent ownership backed by a full operating infrastructure, not just capital.

DALLAS, TX, August 11 - Exa Capital, a permanent-hold operating company built for founder-led enterprise software businesses, today announced its inclusion on the 2026 Inc. 5000 list of the fastest-growing private companies in America, as its second consecutive year on the list.

For a firm structured around permanent ownership rather than a defined exit horizon, two consecutive years on the Inc. 5000 carries significant weight. Exa measures its success by the long-term, compounding growth of the businesses it stewards, not by annual results or a single strong year. This recognition suggests the model is performing as designed.

"The first time you make a list like this, it can be a good year. The second time, it starts to look like a way of operating," said Omer Sajid, CEO of Exa Capital. "Doing that twice in a row matters more to me than the first time we landed on the list, because durability is the actual product we're building for founders."

Exa Capital's approach differs meaningfully from traditional private equity. Where a typical sponsor acquires a business to optimize and resell within a defined holding period, Exa acquires enterprise software companies to own permanently, and it backs that ownership with more than capital. Portfolio companies gain access to a full operating infrastructure: dedicated support teams, structured training programs, and a bench of experienced operators who work directly alongside portfolio leadership. This is paired with a level of governance and accountability more typical of a much larger enterprise, while day-to-day decision-making remains decentralized, in the hands of the founders and leaders who built the business.

The result is an ecosystem that gives founders and their teams a working advantage across the operational realities of running a company - from human resources and leadership development to operations and go-to-market support. It is a form of value that is difficult for a founder to build alone, and rare among ownership models built around an eventual sale.

Over the past year, Exa has expanded its portfolio, strengthened its bench of operators, and scaled its organization, all while holding steady to the growth standards it applies across every business it owns. This second appearance on the Inc. 5000 most certainly reflects that consistency.

The Inc. 5000 is among the most prestigious recognitions of entrepreneurial success in the United States, honoring companies that demonstrate exceptional growth, innovation, and resilience. Past honorees include Patagonia, Microsoft, and Intuit. The complete 2026 Inc. 5000 list is available at inc.com/inc5000.

About Exa Capital

Founded in 2020, Exa Capital is a permanent-hold operating company for founder-led enterprise software businesses. Rather than acquiring companies to optimize and exit, Exa partners with founders for the long term, providing capital alongside an experienced operating bench, structured training and support functions, and high-level governance, all within a decentralized model that preserves each company's autonomy and identity. The result is an ecosystem built to compound value for founders, employees, and customers well beyond a single transaction.