Mascot Sports Secures Spot on 2026 Inc. 5000 List

Founded in 2016 by CEO Ryan Dawkins, Mascot Sports pioneered the talent-led run club category, a format that has rapidly scaled since late 2024. The company’s growth strategy centers on pairing recognizable artists with running events, effectively mobilizing fanbases to participate in person. The flagship Diplo’s Run Club has already sold over 100,000 tickets, frequently drawing crowds of 10,000 to 15,000 runners per event. This success has been replicated with Travis Barker’s Run Travis Run and Gunna’s Wunna Run Club, which has expanded across nine cities, including international stops in Toronto and Johannesburg.

Beyond the Inc. 5000 ranking, the agency’s performance has drawn significant industry attention. Fast Company named Diplo’s Run Club one of its 2026 Most Innovative Companies, while the San Francisco Business Times previously recognized Mascot as the 12th fastest-growing private company in the Bay Area, citing 250% growth over a two-year period. Dawkins attributes this momentum to the unmet demand for direct connection between artists and their audiences. By managing all aspects of production—including routing, permitting, and creative development—in-house, the agency also maintains a diverse portfolio that features the Golden State 5K and the Bay Bridge Half Marathon. Each initiative incorporates a philanthropic component, supporting organizations such as Good Sports and the Community Organized Relief Effort.