Kumo Makes Inc. Magazine's Best in Business List for 2025 with Innovative AI Solutions

Kumo Recognized as One of the Best Startups in 2025

Kumo, a leader in predictive AI solutions, has recently received significant recognition by being named on Inc. Magazine's prestigious annual Best in Business list for 2025. This acknowledgment celebrates companies that have made meaningful advancements in their respective industries, marking Kumo's achievements particularly special.

The company was honored in the Best Startups category, highlighting its outstanding innovations, including the launch of the world’s first Relational Foundation Model (RFM), known as KumoRFM. This groundbreaking model redefines how companies can leverage structured data—an asset vital to their operations.

The Launch of KumoRFM: A Game Changer in AI

In 2025, Kumo achieved a significant milestone by introducing KumoRFM, a model that aims to revolutionize the way businesses analyze relational data. For too long, structured data sat idle, underutilized within systems due to outdated analysis methods. KumoRFM stands to change that, offering users the capability to transform their data into actionable business intelligence that drives results.

KumoRFM combines the power of advanced AI with relational databases, ensuring that businesses can predict crucial metrics such as customer churn, fraud risks, and product recommendations almost instantly. The advantages are striking: businesses can replace exhaustive engineering processes with rapid results, significantly reduce time to value by up to 20 times, and achieve greater accuracy when compared to traditional methods.

Dr. Vanja Josifovski, Kumo’s CEO and co-founder, expressed pride in this accolade, saying, "We are bringing businesses a new generation of predictive capabilities that were previously out of reach for most. It is an honor to be included as one of the Best Startups on Inc. Magazine's Best in Business list, and we're looking forward to an even bigger year ahead." This sentiment embodies the excitement and potential that KumoRFM brings to its users.

Impact on Businesses of All Sizes

Kumo's innovative technologies are not just for large enterprises; they are designed to serve organizations of all sizes, from small startups to Fortune 500 companies. Kumo has worked with notable clients like DoorDash, Reddit, and Sainsbury’s, proving its effectiveness across diverse industries. With the introduction of KumoRFM, anyone—from global corporations to nascent teams—can connect their relational data and generate predictive insights within seconds.

Founders with a Vision

Founded in 2021 and backed with $37 million in investments, Kumo was established by a trio of PhDs: Dr. Vanja Josifovski, Dr. Jure Leskovec, and Dr. Hema Raghavan. Each of the founders has extensive experience in the tech industry, previously holding senior positions at prestigious companies like LinkedIn, Pinterest, and Airbnb. Their backgrounds underscore their mission to unveil the value locked in relational data and create innovative AI solutions.

With a dedicated team and a sharp focus on research and development, Kumo is well-positioned to pioneer the future of AI in business. The company's platform, powered by Relational Graph Transformers, makes it possible for users to train predictive models faster and with greater accuracy, positioning Kumo as a leader in the evolving AI landscape.

Looking to the Future

The recognition by Inc. Magazine is part of a broader movement showcasing companies that have made significant strides in business innovation. As noted by Bonny Ghosh, the editorial director at Inc., "Each Best in Business honoree achieved a breakthrough moment this year," emphasizing the impact their solutions have not just on their own businesses, but on their respective industries as well.

Kumo’s ongoing commitment to transforming how businesses interact with their data signals a promising future for its clients and partners. As they continue to innovate and grow, it will be exciting to see how Kumo and its revolutionary products reshape the predictive AI landscape in the coming years.

To learn more about Kumo and to explore the complete Best in Business list, visit Inc.com.