In 1992, two former Apple engineers, Ketan Kothari and Joe Barrus, and one former Eli Lilly marketer, Manish Kothari, had a vision. Computer literacy was becoming fundamental to learning, yet many schools still did not provide computer access to students...Learn More
With group practices becoming the emerging trend in the dental profession, Greg Serrao identified a business opportunity. "As dental practices grew, they required expanded management capabilities, which most offices lacked," explains Serrao, a seasoned...Learn More
In the late 1990s, Drs. Steve Gottlieb and Tushar Ramani built an anesthesiology department at a community hospital and established a reputation for quality medical care and customer-focused service, with streamlined administrative procedures...Learn More
As CEO of AmeriPath in the late 1990s, Jim New grew his anatomic pathology lab business with the backing of Summit Partners. New consolidated more than 40 labs to build a national powerhouse in the field of diagnostic testing...Learn More
B&W Loudspeakers Ltd. was founded in 1966 by an engineer and classical music enthusiast who sought to improve the sound reproduction of music. The company pioneered a scientific approach to audio engineering, leading the world in computer-aided...Learn More
As a mid-level MIS manager, Russ Hobbs watched MIS managers struggle to meet the demands placed on their internal help desk and asset management tasks....Learn More
With $35,000 borrowed from his brother, Dr. Kenneth Fong launched Clontech Laboratories in 1984. His goal was to develop and market molecular and cellular biological research products...Learn More
Brian Schuchman began his career in 1986 as a car phone installer, working his way into sales, distribution, and finally network operations. He noticed that wireless spectrum lottery winners often had trouble getting networks up and running. After partnering...Learn More
Diagnostic Hybrids Inc. (DHI) was founded in 1983 by biomedical entrepreneur Wilfred Konneker to commercialize the molecular biology research being developed at Ohio University. DHI’s revenues took off as demand increased...Learn More
"Slippery When Wet." "Proceed With Caution." "No Smoking." For decades, EMED Co., Inc., led the industry in marketing safety signs like these through catalog sales to Fortune 500 companies and small vendors. With strong operations and few competitors...Learn More
When Michael Fitzpatrick was recruited by Summit Partners to join E-TEK Dynamics, Inc., as president and CEO in 1997, this family-owned optical components manufacturer had been in business for 14 years. Summit led a $120 million recapitalization of...Learn More
Fermentas discovers, manufactures and sells life sciences research consumable products such as restriction enzymes, proteins and nucleotides to molecular biology laboratories around the world...Learn More
When CEO Ron Clarke joined FleetCor Technologies Inc. in 2000, the company had built a successful business by offering fleet cards to smaller firms. The cards allow drivers to buy gas and services, while also offering fleet companies fuel discounts and information about their drivers...Learn More
Heald College was founded in 1863 by Edward Payson Heald as the first business college in the Western United States. Since then, the College has continued to prepare students for careers in healthcare, business, legal, information technology and other growing fields...Learn More
Marc, Oliver, and Alexander Samwer were already prominent German entrepreneurs when they launched Jamba! AG in 2000. The brothers had previously founded Germany's leading Internet auction house, which was later acquired by eBay. They created...Learn More
Keystone RV Company's management philosophy reflected the belief of founder and CEO Cole Davis to find the best people and provide incentives for them to succeed. That approach produced rapid growth in the late 1990s, with sales of the firm's...Learn More
Facing financial pressure in 1990, megaconglomerate Union Carbide began divesting itself of businesses not directly related to its core strategy. Among the companies on the selling block was Lincare, Inc., a provider of home medical care with $60 million in annual...Learn More
M-Audio, Inc., is a leading provider of digital audio and MIDI solutions for electronic musicians and audio professionals. Founded in 1988, M-Audio's high-quality products combine a unique blend of features and functionality at value-conscious...Learn More
McAfee, Inc. revolutionized the software industry with the innovation of selling its antivirus product initially through a dial-up computer bulletin board...Learn More
Founded in 2000, MDVIP, Inc. set its sights on providing physicians and patients with an alternative to a primary healthcare system characterized by long waiting times, overextended physicians and inadequate preventive care. The company envisioned...Learn More
During the 1990s telecom boom, NetCom Systems, Inc., built a business around its flagship product, Smart Bits, which tested the performance capabilities of networking equipment for major manufacturers. Yet, a lack of investment in sales, customer support...Learn More
Founded in 2001, NightHawk Radiology Holdings, Inc., is the leading provider of teleradiology services to radiology groups, clinics, and hospitals across the United States. The company's highly qualified, U.S. board-certified radiologists use state-of-the-art workflow...Learn More
Alain and Marc Cohen were in their early 20s when they developed software for more easily managing computer networks. Bootstrapped with $30,000, OPNET Technologies, Inc., has grown into a public company on the NASDAQ and a leader in its field...Learn More
Cofounded in 2000 by Ned Bennett, David Kalt, and Jim Gray, optionsXpress Holdings, Inc., was created to fill an underserved, yet growing niche in online brokerage—retail equity options trading. With innovative tools to automate options education...Learn More
In the late 1970s, Dr. Roger Medel—a physician who left Castro's Cuba as a child—founded a neonatal medical practice in Miami. He and his partners filled a growing need for medical services for high-risk babies. As they became more successful, Dr. Medel...Learn More
Founded in 1937 by allergist Dr. Frank Crandall, Physicians Formula (PFI) originally manufactured cosmetics for sensitive skin. The firm was purchased in 1990 by Pierre Fabre, a French pharmaceuticals company looking to expand in the United States. Since then...Learn More
In 1997, veteran entrepreneur Greg Gianforte noted that few companies were efficiently integrating customer service with sales and marketing. "RightNow Technologies was founded to build bridges between companies and their clients," he explains...Learn More
SafeBoot BV was launched in 1991 to address the growing demand from corporations for encryption software and management systems on laptops and other mobile data security applications...Learn More
Splash Technology Holdings, Inc., began as an operating division of Radius, a publicly traded graphics and video subsystems developer. The Splash division developed software-based color servers that connected digital color laser copiers to local area networks. After a...Learn More
During the late 1990s, investment bankers would often call and say, 'I can give you millions of dollars to help grow your company,' recalls Bob Wallace, CEO and president of security software company Sybari Software, Inc. Still, for a company that took pride...Learn More
In the late 1970s, three NASA engineers founded Triton Systems, Inc., a consulting firm that built on its expertise in digital electronic systems. By 1985, the company evolved to a point where it wanted to convert its consulting skills into a product...Learn More
From the start, Yuchun Lee was thinking big. In 1992, when he cofounded Unica Corporation to make software that would help companies more effectively run their marketing activities, he wanted the firm to become a large and influential industry force. Lee...Learn More
Jacques-Antoine Granjon and his partners had been in the wholesaling business for 23 years when they launched vente-privee.com in 2001, turning their expertise in sourcing and selling discount clothing into a thriving web-based business...Learn More
Founded in 1999 by technology entrepreneur Ray Nolan, Web Reservations International Limited (WRI) was the first Internet company to offer strictly online travel reservations for budget, independent, and youth accommodations worldwide. WRI's automated, proprietary...Learn More
WebSideStory, Inc., is a leading provider of on-demand digital marketing applications. When Summit Partners invested in the company in 1999, WebSideStory was a single-solution company focused on web analytics and operated with an advertising revenue...Learn More
Founded in 2008 by Victoria Ransom and Alain Chuard, Wildfire Interactive has become a leader in social media marketing software. Initially, the company provided software to help corporations, small businesses, marketing agencies and bloggers create branded social media marketing campaigns...Learn More