2014 CNBC Disruptor 50

Looking for the Next CNBC Disruptor 50

Looking for the Next CNBC Disruptor 50
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Looking for the Next CNBC Disruptor 50

The universal dream shared by entrepreneurs around the world is to launch a venture that can become part of the elite billion-dollar start-up club. Finding these disruptive companies amid the thousands of new businesses that launch daily is not easy. These upstarts must have found a lucrative niche in the market ready for takeoff. At CNBC we are always on the lookout for the next generation of companies that will revolutionize their industries.

Sources: Rent the Runway (TL), Getty Images (TR), Transferwise (BR) and Quirky (BR)

Last year our Disruptor 50 list included tech darlings Uber, Airbnb and Snapchat. Two became acquisition targets: Skybox Imaging (now owned by Google) and BrightRoll (soon to be owned by Yahoo). One financial start-up, Lending Club, went public.

Who will be next?

CNBC is kicking off the search for the next group of the most ambitious, innovative private companies transforming the economy. As in years past, the network has asked the venture capital community to examine their portfolios and submit their recommendations. In an effort to diversify the search, this year CNBC is accepting nominations directly from companies, as well as from the general public, using a detailed application form, found here.

The deadline to submit the nomination form is Feb. 15, 2015.

Nominees will be put through an iterative process of researching and scoring, using a proprietary blend of quantitative criteria, such as the amount of venture capital raised, estimated sales and user growth, along with qualitative criteria, including originality and scalability.

Winners will be notified in April, and the list will be published in May across CNBC's TV and digital platforms.

To stay part of the conversation, follow @CNBCDisruptors and #CNBCDisruptors on Twitter, and look for updates at disruptor50.cnbc.com.