The Denver Business Journal (DBJ) selects its 40 Under 40 honorees by evaluating nominees on business success and community involvement. Candidates are scored by a panel of judges composed of past winners. The publication does not mandate specific fees or exclusivity agreements to enter or be selected for this editorial award. DBJ 2025 40 Under 40 Awards Overview
Paid Elements: While the award itself is an editorial honor, the event, celebratory dinners, and commemorative plaques do involve standard costs for attendees or companies that wish to purchase them.
Process: The DBJ receives hundreds of nominations (over 250 in 2025). An outside panel of past 40 Under 40 honorees independently reviews submissions and scores them on a scale of 1-10 across categories like business leadership, community contribution, and civic engagement. The top 40 scorers are selected.
Fees: The nomination process is entirely free. Honorees and their employers are never required to pay a fee or buy advertising to win the award.
Award Integrity & Disclosures
Like many American City Business Journals, the Denver Business Journal maintains a clear separation between its editorial newsroom and its advertising/sponsorship operations. Editorial awards and rankings are independently determined by the DBJ editorial team and a judging panel without influence from the business or advertising side.