The Businesses Building East Tennessee: Meet the 2026 Inc. 5000 Honorees

There is something worth paying attention to when a community produces a whole collection of fast-growing companies.

In 2026, 15 businesses from Knoxville and the surrounding region earned a place on the Inc. 5000, Inc.’s annual list of the fastest-growing privately held companies in America.

Together, they represent an unusually broad picture of entrepreneurship in East Tennessee.

There are manufacturers and software companies. Healthcare providers and professional service firms. A logistics company moving goods across North America, a nuclear safety company supporting commercial and federal clients, and businesses helping restaurants, homeowners, financial institutions and public agencies operate better.

Some are making their first appearance on the list. Others have been returning for years. KaTom Restaurant Supply, for example, is celebrating its 17th appearance, while Axle Logistics has made the list for 11 consecutive years.
That longevity is part of the story.

Meet the 2026 East Tennessee Inc. 5000

True Metal Supply — #33 | 7,728% growth | Knoxville
Manufacturing siding, roofing and post-frame construction materials, True Metal Supply earned the highest ranking among this year’s regional companies—and its first appearance on the list.

Vanterra Foundation Solutions — #1,762 | 198% growth | Knoxville
Vanterra provides foundation repair, basement waterproofing, crawl-space encapsulation, mold removal and concrete lifting services across the U.S. This is the company’s second consecutive year on the list.

RocketCert — #2,111 | 161% growth | Knoxville
RocketCert helps professionals obtain and maintain their licenses through a platform built around personalized learning and customer service. It’s the company’s second consecutive appearance.

Avero Advisors — #2,114 | 160% growth | Knoxville
Avero works with public agencies to modernize internal operations and make interactions with government simpler. The company has now appeared on the Inc. 5000 for six consecutive years.

Pro Source Home Buyers — #3,026 | 101% growth | Knoxville
The real estate investment firm purchases as-is residential properties throughout East Tennessee and makes its first appearance on the list.

RiskExec — #3,052 | 100% growth | Knoxville
RiskExec develops cloud-based analytics and compliance reporting software for banks, credit unions, lenders and other financial institutions.

Storage Pug — #3,053 | 100% growth | Knoxville
Storage Pug creates software for self-storage operators, helping owners attract tenants, manage their investments and simplify the rental experience. This marks its fifth consecutive appearance.

Functional Pathways — #3,114 | 97% growth | Knoxville
Functional Pathways provides occupational, physical and speech therapy to continuing care and skilled nursing communities. 2026 marks its first appearance on the Inc. 5000.

RevitalyzeMD — #3,324 | 88% growth | Knoxville
RevitalyzeMD offers wellness, sexual wellness and regenerative medicine services, returning to the list for a second consecutive year.

Garza Law Firm — #3,415 | 84% growth | Knoxville
Garza Law Firm focuses on personal injury, criminal defense and Social Security disability, earning its second consecutive place on the list.

Mountaineer Cleaning and Maintenance — #3,928 | 63% growth | Sevierville
Serving rental properties throughout the Smoky Mountains, Mountaineer handles everything from inspections and linens to lawn care and small remodeling projects. The company has made the list four consecutive years.

Axle Logistics — #4,154 | 55% growth | Knoxville
Axle provides third-party logistics services to customers throughout North America. Its 2026 recognition marks an impressive 11 consecutive appearances on the Inc. 5000.

Paschal Solutions — #4,447 | 43% growth | Oak Ridge
Paschal Solutions provides nuclear safety engineering, safety analysis and licensing support to commercial and federal clients, earning its first appearance on the list.

RDA Healthcare Supply Chain Solutions — #4,623 | 34% growth | Oak Ridge
RDA provides nationwide healthcare supply chain services, using proprietary technology to identify expense reductions and operational improvements. This is its third consecutive appearance.

KaTom Restaurant Supply — #4,768 | 27% growth | Kodak
KaTom supplies commercial kitchen equipment and restaurant supplies to customers across the country. The company has appeared on the Inc. 5000 17 times.

More Than a List

It’s easy to look at the Inc. 5000 as a collection of impressive numbers, but behind every percentage is a business that had to figure something out.

How do you turn an idea into something customers will pay for? How do you build a team? How do you keep improving when the business gets bigger and more complicated? How do you create something that can last?

Those questions are at the heart of entrepreneurship.

These companies aren’t all chasing the same customers, solving the same problems or following the same path. They’re building in different industries, at different scales and in different communities across East Tennessee.

Some are just getting started on the Inc. 5000 journey, others have been here many times before.

Together, they offer a snapshot of a region where people are continuing to build, adapt, employ, solve problems and create opportunities.

Congratulations to all of East Tennessee’s 2026 Inc. 5000 honorees. We’re glad you’re building here.