Dan Novaes of Mode named Entrepreneur Of The Year® 2026 Midwest Finalist by EY US

Dan Novaes, CEO and co-founder of Mode.Inc, has been named a finalist for the Entrepreneur Of The Year® 2026 Midwest Award by Ernst & Young LLP (EY US). Now in its 41st year, the Entrepreneur Of The Year program celebrates the bold leaders who disrupt markets through the world’s most ground-breaking companies, revolutionizing industries and uplifting communities. The program honors entrepreneurs whose innovations drive economic growth and help shape the future of business.

An independent panel of judges selected Novaes among 37 finalists from 30 companies based on their entrepreneurial spirit, purpose, company growth, and lasting impact in building long-term value.

Founded in 2018, Mode was created on the idea that the people who generate value on their smartphones should be able to benefit from it. As mobile engagement became one of the world’s most valuable economic assets, Novaes built a platform designed to redistribute that value back to users. Today, Mode operates a global consumer technology platform, anchored by its proprietary EarnOS software layer, that enables users to earn rewards, cash, cryptocurrency, and savings through everyday smartphone activity.

“Mode was built on the belief that the people generating value in the digital economy should share in it,” said Dan Novaes, CEO and co-founder of Mode.Inc. “This recognition reflects how far that mission has come and the economic opportunity we’ve been able to create for millions of users. None of this would be possible without our customers, partners, investors, and the team that continues building alongside us every day.”

Under Novaes’ leadership, Mode has grown to more than 100 million monthly active users across over 170 countries and has returned more than $1 billion in earnings and savings to users. The company ranked No. 1 in software on Deloitte’s 2023 Technology Fast 500 list, with 32,481% revenue growth, and has raised more than $70 million from over 59,000 investors through Regulation A+ crowdfunding, making it one of the most widely backed consumer technology companies in the U.S.

Entrepreneur Of The Year honors business leaders for their ingenuity, courage, and entrepreneurial spirit. The program recognizes original founders who bootstrapped their business from inception or raised outside capital to grow their company, transformational CEOs who infused innovation into an existing organization to catapult its trajectory, and multigenerational family business leaders who reimagined a legacy business model to strengthen it for the future.

This year’s Midwest finalists represent Illinois, Indiana, and Wisconsin across all industries, including technology, consumer products, manufacturing, finance, and more.

Regional award winners will be announced on June 11 during a special celebration in Chicago and will become lifetime members of an esteemed community of Entrepreneur Of The Year alumni from around the world. The winners will then be considered by the national judges for the Entrepreneur Of The Year National Awards, which will be presented in November at the annual Strategic Growth Forum®, where high-growth CEOs, Fortune 1000 executives, and investors converge to shape the future of business.

Sponsors
Founded and produced by Ernst & Young LLP, the Entrepreneur Of The Year Awards include presenting sponsors PNC Bank, Cresa, LLC, Marsh USA, SAP, and the Ewing Marion Kauffman Foundation. In the Midwest, sponsors also include Platinum sponsor LaSalle Network, Gold sponsors Becker Professional Education and Big Picture, and Silver sponsor ADP.

About Mode.Inc
Mode is a consumer technology platform that acquires and scales apps with engaged user bases, building a unified system that rewards users for their attention and data and increases monetization and long-term value. The company operates a global platform with over 100 million monthly active users across 170+ countries. Mode’s products have enabled users to earn and save over $1 billion through rewards, savings, and incentives. The company has raised over $70 million from more than 59,000 investors via Regulation A+.

About Entrepreneur Of The Year®
Founded in 1986, Entrepreneur Of The Year® has celebrated more than 11,000 ambitious visionaries who are leading successful, dynamic businesses in the US, and it has since expanded to nearly 80 countries and territories globally.

The US program consists of 17 regional programs whose panels of independent judges select the regional award winners every June. Those winners compete for national recognition at the Strategic Growth Forum® in November where national finalists and award winners are announced. The national overall winner represents the US at the World Entrepreneur Of The Year® competition. Visit ey.com/us/eoy.

About EY
EY is building a better working world by creating new value for clients, people, society and the planet, while building trust in capital markets.

Enabled by data, AI and advanced technology, EY teams help clients shape the future with confidence and develop answers for the most pressing issues of today and tomorrow.

EY teams work across a full spectrum of services in assurance, consulting, tax, strategy and transactions. Fueled by sector insights, a globally connected, multi-disciplinary network and diverse ecosystem partners, EY teams can provide services in more than 150 countries and territories.

All in to shape the future with confidence.

EY refers to the global organization, and may refer to one or more, of the member firms of Ernst & Young Global Limited, each of which is a separate legal entity. Ernst & Young Global Limited, a UK company limited by guarantee, does not provide services to clients. Information about how EY collects and uses personal data and a description of the rights individuals have under data protection legislation are available via ey.com/privacy. EY member firms do not practice law where prohibited by local laws. For more information about our organization, please visit ey.com.

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