2009 October, 9th

Lorri Berry

Forbes released their list of America’s 20 Most Promising Companies, while promising recognition and a big PR pick-me-up for 20 new businesses in the US. This collection of the top entrepreneurs in the United States was compiled by Forbes and The Venture Alliance. These early-stage companies were judged on certain criteria including the size of their markets, their willingness to take risks, management and directors’ abilities, and many other characteristics.

On the list’s Website, Brett Nelson explains their “Methodology” in determining their results. His comment that sums up the contest:

“The search for America’s Most Promising Companies was intense, chocked with sanity checks and grounded in the kind of real-world analysis    performed by professional investors. When we say these companies are promising, we mean it.”

According to Nelson, after many surveys and analysis, the America’s 20 Most Promising Companies appeared to have a better chance at making it big compared to their contending peers. As a company well known for serving the needs of business leaders, professionals, investors and affluent consumers, Forbes brings us yet another famous list to prove business is still growing as usual. Here’s a brief look at what young companies are now up against not only in skill and revenue, but in gaining PR exposure.

1. VEXTEC

Co-Founded in 2000, by Robert Tryon, 50, Loren Nasser and Animesh Dey, this computational analysis company created patented software able to accurately predict how and when components will fail before they’re even built.  They are located out of Brentwood, Tennessee and their 23 employees helped rake in 2008 a revenue of $3 million.

2. KAAM – Kerosene and a Match
Located in San Clemente, California, this software company “makes software that trolls the Web for as yet unsearchable graphics, photos and videos. Example: Instead of searching “arm rash” on WebMD, one could take a picture of the rash and search the Web for similar images (and remedies).” Co-Founders Greg Bolcer, A. Sage Osterfeld, and Cleve Adams, established KAAM in 2009 and now have a total of 9 employees.

3. iKnowWare

This company is in the industry of software as a service. Founder, Mark Spilotro, established iKnowWare in 2002. Their user-friendly custom software allows users to access any needed data from any place and at any time of the day, even with the use of smart phones. Prepackaged versions are also available for a variety of industries. Located in Georgetown, Texas, this software company employs 12 and had a total revenue of $950,000 last year.

4. Ferrate Treatment Technologies

Founder Luke Daly, found a way to disinfect up to 20-million gallons of water per day with the use of a machine that can easily fit in the back of a pick-up. His machine, The Ferrator, provides a more effective water-disinfectant than chlorine and ozone, without leaving behind harmful byproducts. It makes the ferrate wherever it’s placed, while requiring less energy and cutting any transportation costs. Founded in 2004, this company caters to the water treatment industry and made a total revenue of $57,000 with the help of their 6 employees last year. FTT is located in Orlando, Florida

5. Weather Trends International

In 2006, Weather Trends International was founded by William Kirk, in Bethlehem, Pennsylvania. They’re in the business of weather forecasting by using “complex statistical algorithms to forecast temperature, precipitation and snowfall by the day and season for the year ahead”. They even advise companies on what and when to buy it based on their own predictions. Their 14 employees helped earn $2.5 million last year.

6. Sundia

This produce company “packages and sells cut fruit in 8-ounce and 20-ounce containers” and “rents factory space in fruit-rich countries Mexico, Thailand and China”. All accounting, phone systems and tracking and quality assurance operations are farmed out to companies overseas. Located in Oakland, California, Sundia was founded by Bradford Oberwager, in 2004. They employ 13 individuals, and their 2008 revenue totaled $7.5 million.

7. Oversight Systems

Having revenue in the “eight figures” last year, Oversight Systems provides software as a service. Their Web-based software works to watch over employees by looking for mistakes and trying to catch internal fraud. The software locates data from internal company databases and scans it for inconsistencies and anything that looks like it’s just not up to par. Patrick Taylor, founded the company in 2003. In Atlanta, Georgia, Oversight Systems’ 70 employees target large companies and government agencies.

8. Auri Footwear

Ori Rosenbaum, founded Auri Footwear just last year in Laguna Beach, California. The company not only designs and manufactures men’s footwear, but they also sell their products to 100 U.S. retailers as well as online at Zappos and Amazon. During their first year, Auri’s 4 employees worked diligently to bring in revenue of $169,000.

9. Yurtopia

Founded by Seth Burgett, last year, Yurtopia’s mission is to serve the audio accessories industry with a comforting product. This company manufactures and sells customized ear buds to attached to audio headphones. Customers can choose a size based on a digital photo of their ear canals. Best Buy plans to carry these accessories this year. Yurtopia has 6 employees and is based out of St. Louis, Missouri.

10. Prolifiq Software

In 2005, Hemingway Huynh found a way to offer real-time-data-management software of technology, life sciences, and digital media salespeople. Prolifiq is located in Beaverton, Oregon, and its 22 employees serve the software industry. They had revenue of over $3 million in 2008.

11. Quality Electrodynamics

Hiroyuki Fujita, founder of Quality Electrodynamics, manufactures detectors for MRI machines. The detectors help locate early-stage cancer and stroke development by measuring water distribution in the patient’s body. Located in Mayfield Village, Ohio, this company was founded in 2005 and now has 45 employees serving the Medical technology manufacturing industry. Last year’s revenue was $4.7 million.

12. Private Access

Founder Robert Shelton, and President, Marc Kirshbaum, established Private Access 3 years ago to provide service software. Their cost-effective software allows patients to “enter their privacy directives into a database, giving researchers advance permission to contact patients and slash research costs to roughly $250 per patient”.  Based out of Irvine, California, Private Access employs 9 people.

13. Genea Energy

Genea Energy creates Web software that allows property owners to better manage their money by  “ tailoring their energy consumption to tenant demand”. They were founded in 2006 by Keith Voysey, and are located in Yorba Linda, California. Genea Energy serves the software industry with the help of 70 employees and had a total revenue of $9.1 million in 2008.

14. Cleanbrands

Cleanbrands founder, Gary Goldberg, is in the textile business. He provides a line of hypoallergenic mattress covers, pillows and pillow covers that can be purchased at Bed Bath & Beyond, BJ’s Wholesale Club and Wal-Mart. He founded Cleanbrands in 2007 and is located in East Providence, Rhode Island. With the help of his 9 employees, Goldberg had a total revenue of $5.6 million in 2008.

15. EEDAR

Co-Founders Gregory Short, and Geoffrey Zatkin, create software for the video gaming industry that helps game developers, publishers, hedge funds and retailers. Their software “estimates sales projections and offers design and buying recommendations”. Located in Carlsbad, California, EEDAR was founded in 2006 and has 25 employees. Last year’s revenue totaled $310,000.

16. Scale Computing

Located in Greenwood, Indiana, Scale Computing “makes data-storage systems for corporations, hospitals, schools and governments”. Their data storage hardware “is expandable in increments of one-, two- and four-terabyte storage nodes (think Lego blocks), eliminating the need to over-invest in rapidly depreciating equipment”. Last year, Scale was founded by Jeff Ready. He has 20 employees who cater to the technology industry and helped earn a 2008 revenue of $100,000.

17. ServusXchange

Founded in 2005 by Brian Javeline, ServusXchange creates MyOnlineToolbox.com – Web-based software that allows building contractors to manage all of their productivity functions. It helps them with invoices, scheduling, communication and estimates. Pompano Beach, Florida is the home to ServusXchange, managing 6 employees, as well as a 2008 revenue of $7,000 in the software industry.

18. Big Stage

In 2006, Jon Kraft and Jonathan Strietzel co-founded a gaming business that licenses personal avatar software. The software creates virtual human representations with the help of two or more digital photos. Located in Sherman Oaks, California, Big Stage employs 18 individuals and earned a total revenue of $175,000 last year.

19. Bi3 Solutions

In 2001, Bi3 was co-founded by software developers and consultants Greg Hatfield and Thomas Groh. Their “software mines structured data (think spreadsheets and databases), as well as unstructured data like PDF files, customer service logs, e-mails, PowerPoint slides and even doctors’ notes”. Bi3 Solutions is located in Redwood City, California, has 25 employees and brought in a revenue of $1.5 million last year.

20. 1st Products

Founder Donald Johnson, decided to join the food products industry in 2004. His company, 1st Products, manufactures microwavable pastries such as brownie treats, cookie dough and holiday kits and sells them through Target, Wal-Mart and Winn Dixie. The dough contains no perishable ingredients, giving it a longer shelf life or freezer life before it expires. 1st Products is located in Bloomington, Minnesota. Their 9 employees helped bring in a revenue of $1 million last year.

Source: America’s Most Promising Companies 2009, Forbes.com

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About the Author

Lorri Berry is a freelance writer. She has BSJ in Advertising from Perley Isaac Reed School of Journalism at WVU in the US. Lorri's experience includes advertising account management, campaign concept development, copywriting and news editorial. She is the mother of three boys and a work at home mom. You can contact Lorri at lberry [at] pamil-visions [dot] net or follow her on Twitter.

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