San Francisco matchmaker Shannon's Circle earned the Inc. 5000 nod as revenue surged 121% in three years, aided by founder's Harvard MBA and Berkshire background.
Shannon's Circle, a San Francisco-based matchmaking firm for high-achieving singles, ranked No. 2656 on the 2026 Inc. 5000 list. The company posted 121% revenue growth over three years, Inc. said in its Aug. 12 announcement.
Founder Shannon Lundgren, a Harvard Business School MBA who previously worked as a strategy executive at Berkshire Hathaway, said the recognition reflects the firm's focus on individualized introductions. "Being named to the Inc. 5000 is deeply meaningful because we built Shannon's Circle one thoughtful introduction at a time," Lundgren said in the release. "Our growth reflects a simple belief: that highly accomplished, intellectually curious people deserve the same level of rigor and care in their love lives that they bring to their careers."
The honor places Shannon's Circle among a group of private companies that collectively added more than 627,000 jobs over the three years through 2025. The median three-year revenue growth rate across all 5,000 honorees was 130%, slightly above the firm's 121% clip. Past honorees include Microsoft (MSFT), Meta, Chobani, and Patagonia.
How a Boutique Matchmaker Grew 121%
Shannon's Circle serves intellectually curious, high-earning singles in the Bay Area through a concierge model. Clients undergo an in-depth intake process, then receive curated introductions from a vetted network of thousands of successful professionals. Lundgren, who spent years at Berkshire Hathaway (BRK.B) developing corporate strategy, said the approach borrows from the same analytical rigor used in deal sourcing. "I'm profoundly grateful to our clients and the small but mighty team around me who trusted this vision long before any awards did," she added.
The firm's 121% revenue jump came even as the broader matchmaking industry faced pressure from dating apps and algorithms. Lundgren's thesis is that highly successful individuals want a human intermediary who treats the search for a partner with the same seriousness as a career search. Her forthcoming book, "The Love Funnel," lays out a step-by-step framework for accomplished singles to build lasting relationships.
To qualify for the Inc. 5000, companies had to be U.S.-based, privately held, and for-profit, with at least $100,000 in revenue in 2022 and $2 million in 2025. Inc. editor-in-chief Mike Hofman said the honorees demonstrate "creativity, resilience, and the customer focus required to build companies that make a lasting impact."
Inc. will celebrate the class of 2026 at its annual conference Oct. 14-16 in Dallas. The top 500 companies will be featured in the fall issue of Inc. Magazine.
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