OpenAI, Wiz, And The 15 Best US Startups To Work For | Forbes Ranking 2025

In popular culture, startups are often imagined as fast-paced, risk-taking environments where a casual dress code is the norm. Their offices are frequently depicted as unconventional open-plan, creative spaces with bean bags and ping-pong tables, all led by a young, rebellious founder. These portrayals have left many—particularly business school graduates—to dream of working for a startup. 

If you're one of those dreamers, you're certainly right to feel that way—joining a startup has numerous advantages, such as rapid career growth and advancement, the opportunity to shape the company’s direction, and the chance to be part of a smaller, tight-knit team. 

So what are the best start-ups to work for in 2025? 

For the sixth consecutive year, Forbes has released its list of the best US startup employers. In partnership with Statista, Forbes assessed 3,000 privately-held companies headquartered in the US on company reputation, employee satisfaction, and growth to determine the top 500.

Here are the top 15 US startups to work for in 2025, according to Forbes. 

15 best US startups to work for: Forbes ranking

15. Glean

Just making it into this year's top 15 best US startup employers is Glean, an AI-powered search engine designed for businesses.

With more than 200 enterprise customers, including notable brands such as Canva, Duolingo, and Grammarly, Glean is already making an impact. Its next plan is to help companies by building applications like Slack bots that act as first responders for employees. With such innovative projects on the horizon, Glean offers a dynamic and growth-driven environment.  

14. VAST Data

Recognizing that traditional data infrastructures were not prepared to meet AI’s data needs, VAST Data founder and CEO Renen Hallak established the company to provide advanced data storage solutions for businesses.

The company’s valuation recently soared to an impressive $9.1 billion following a $118 million Series E funding round. This marks an exciting time to join the team and play a pivotal role in shaping the future of VAST Data. 

13. OpenAI

A leading player in the AI field, OpenAI is a research and deployment company dedicated to general-purpose AI that benefits humanity.

With 100 million weekly users of its most famous application, ChatGPT, and an additional 600,000 people using its other business-related products, joining the OpenAI team offers you the chance to be part of something groundbreaking and contribute to the future of AI.

12. The Good Food Institute 

Founded in 2016, the Good Food Institute is one of the longest-running organizations to make the top 15.

A nonprofit focused on promoting and supporting the development of plant-based and lab-grown alternatives to animal products, the Good Food Institute’s mission is to make the global food system better for the planet, people, and animals.

Working for the Good Food Institute comes with a range of benefits, including a generous time-off package consisting of 15 vacation days, 5 personal days, 10 sick days, 13 paid holidays, and a day off on your birthday. 

11. Mill

Competing with the likes of TerraCycle, Mill is a waste management company with the mission of eliminating food waste. Based in San Bruno, California, the company offers a food recycling service that transforms leftovers into nutrient-rich grounds, which are then sent to farms to be used as chicken feed.

With business schools increasingly incorporating sustainability into their curriculums, a role at Mill could be perfect for an ambitious graduate looking to put their new skill set to the test and make a meaningful impact on the environment. 

10. Pacaso 

Founded by Zillow executives Spencer Rascoff and Austin Allison, Pacaso is the only company in the real estate sector to make the top 15. Specializing in second-home ownership, Pacaso helps people buy and co-own luxury vacation homes by managing the property, coordinating schedules, maintenance, and other logistics.

If you're a b-school grad interested in redefining the vacation home market, a career at Pacaso could be a great fit for you.

9. Mesh 

Headquartered in San Jose, California, Mesh is the world’s first AI-native performance management platform. It helps businesses manage and optimize operations by consolidating everything needed to track employee performance under one roof.

As it re-imagines corporate software, working at Mesh offers the unique opportunity to combine your technical expertise with creative problem-solving. 

READ: Top 15 Best Tech Companies to Work For | Glassdoor Ranking 2025 

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8. Wiz

Founded in 2020, Wiz has quickly earned a reputation as a leading cloud infrastructure security platform. With its fast-paced, innovative environment, it's an ideal place for an ambitious b-school graduate to launch their career. 

The average salary at Wiz in 2025 ranges from just over $61,000 for a recruiting coordinator to $195,000 for a public relations analyst, according to Indeed.

7. Anthropic 

In seventh place is Anthropic, an AI safety and research company based in San Francisco, dedicated to the responsible development and maintenance of advanced AI. The company is focused on ensuring AI systems are aligned with human values and can be safely integrated into society. 

As a public benefit corporation with just 630 employees, Anthropic is ideal for b-school grads looking to use technology to create a long-term positive impact on society.

6. Whatnot

As the largest live-stream shopping platform in North America and Europe, Whatnot uses live auctions to sell fashion, beauty, vintage items, electronics, and collectibles. As one of the fastest-growing marketplaces, Whatnot is perfect for forward-thinking problem solvers who want to shape the future of shopping.

With a remote, co-located team and hubs in the US, UK, Ireland, Poland, and Germany, Whatnot offers opportunities for people across the globe.

5. Mercury 

With 200,000 startups already using Mercury to manage their financial operations, now is a great time to join this fintech company to be a part of the company’s impressive growth.

4. Lunar Energy 

Sitting just outside the top three in fourth position, Lunar Energy has made a significant improvement compared to last year, when it ranked tenth. 

Founded by former Tesla energy executive Kunal Girotra, Lunar Energy aims to power homes around the world with clean energy. The company's flagship product, the Lunar System, is a solar and battery solution designed to let you capture, store, and use every ray of sunshine.

Lunar Energy is perfect for b-school grads looking to use their business acumen to promote positive change and sustainability.

Best US startups to work for | Top 3

3. Hightouch 

Leading data activation platform Hightouch achieves third place in the 2025 ranking. 

With the option to work from any of the company's four hubs or remotely, working for Hightouch offers great flexibility. It also includes a range of fantastic benefits, such as complimentary lunches twice a week, wellness days each quarter, and generous paid time off (PTO).

2. CodaMetrix 

Operating since 2019 from Boston, Massachusetts, CodaMetrix takes second place on this year's list. 

Dedicated to providing healthcare organizations with advanced coding solutions that improve the accuracy and efficiency of medical billing and documentation, a career at CodaMetrix is ideal for those interested in working at the intersection of healthcare and technology.

With fewer than 200 employees, you have a real opportunity to have your ideas heard and influence the direction of CodaMetrix.

1. Cribl 

Cribl, a data management platform that helps businesses collect, process, and analyze data, secures the prestigious title of America’s Best Startup Employers 2025, according to Forbes.

Founded in 2018, Cribl announced in January this year that it had already surpassed $200 million in annual recurring revenue, growing more than 70% year-over-year. Valued at $2.5 billion overall, the company has a bright future ahead.

With the average Cribl salary ranging from $100,000 for a social media specialist to over $234,000 for an application security engineer, a career at Cribl could be both rewarding and lucrative.

As a remote-first company with employees across the globe, Cribl also offers opportunities outside of the US, making it ideal for b-school grads worldwide. 

15 best US startups to work for: Forbes ranking

At the core of most companies that made the top 15 best US startup employers in 2025 is AI, showing consistency with last year, when the mushrooming AI sector also dominated the overall rankings. Sustainability was also a key theme in this year's ranking, through companies such as Mill and Lunar Energy, highlighting its continuing importance in the business world. State-wise, California was the clear location of choice for top startups with 11 of the top 15 companies in Forbes' ranking headquartered there.