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Tesla, Salesforce.com among Forbes' most innovative companies

Forbes innovative companies
Forbes reveals 2016 list of most innovative companies 03:52

Forbes revealed its sixth annual list of the world’s most innovative companies Wednesday on “CBS This Morning,” ranking companies using an algorithm to measure investor enthusiasm.

Topping their list was electric car giant Tesla.

“They have new plans constantly. It really never stops. And especially with something like high-end electric cars, moving towards a self-driving car, it’s something that investors can get excited about but also that consumers can really understand,” Forbes chief of reporters Kathryn Dill said.

Salesforce CEO on using business for social activism 07:11

Salesforce.com came in second, with its CEO, Mark Benioff, gracing the Forbes cover.

“You look at Mark Benioff, he’s betting big right now on AI [artificial intelligence], which a lot of companies are doing. They’re releasing Salesforce Einstein, which will integrate artificial intelligence into all of their products,” Dill said. “A lot of other companies are doing things with AI obviously, but Benioff’s the guy that made your CD-ROM obsolete.”

Ebola and Zika treatment researchers Regeneron Pharmaceuticals came in third, and Incyte, which focuses on cancer drugs, came in fourth. Alexion Pharmaceuticals, which develops treatments for rare and auto-immune diseases, came in fifth.

One thing Dill pointed out was the lack of female CEOs on the list.

“You have to go to company number 38 on the list, Ulta Beauty, to find a female CEO. Mary Dillon is the highest-ranking female CEO on the list, and I think it’s a strong comment on the dearth of women at the top of companies of this size. These companies all have $10 billion market caps or higher,” Dill said.

Forbes top 10 innovative companies of 2016

1. Tesla Motors – U.S. automobile manufacturers 

2. Salesforce.com​ – U.S. application software 

3. Regeneron Pharmaceuticals​ – U.S. biotechnology 

4. Incyte​ – U.S. biotechnology 

5. Alexion Pharmaceuticals​ – U.S. biotechnology 

6. Under Armour​ – U.S. apparel, accessories & luxury goods 

7. Monster Beverage​ – U.S. soft drinks 

8. Unilever Indonesia​ – Idonesia household products 

9. Vertex Pharmaceuticals​ – U.S. biotechnology 

10. Biomarin Pharmaceutical​ – U.S. biotechnology

See the full list on Forbes.com​. 

Watch the video above to see why companies like Facebook, Uber, Apple and Samsung didn’t make the list. 

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