While tech companies are often lumped together in one big group, the technology industry actually has many unique sub-industries, as shown in Lead411’sTechnology 500 list. The list, designed to highlight the fastest growing companies in technology, ran the gamut from interactive advertising with first place winner Pontiflex, as well as Oggifinogi and Yodle, to enterprise software support from Rimini Street.
The top 500 were ranked based on highest percentage revenue growth from the year 2007 to the year 2009, and it was clear that growth was across many industries.
“We saw some great successes from up-and-coming companies providing unique solutions, like iSpeech, which delivers text to speech for many niches,” said Tom Blue, founder of Lead411 and the Technology 500, “It’s companies like these that continue to deliver one-of-a-kind solutions that will see success in the future.”
The Future of Advertising
Advertising was the top ranking industry among the 500 companies. Pontiflex, this year’s winner, delivers opt-in e-mail and social acquisition platforms. SEOMoz delivers DIY SEO solutions for businesses, and FreeCause provides on-demand loyalty programs. FlowPlay brings brands into virtual gaming to reach more consumers. All of these are a testament to the fact that the worlds of advertising and technology have permanently collided.
“We look for companies who have gone beyond what their competitors are doing,” explains Blue, “Some of these companies are still so far out there, the average business doesn’t even know they’ve got better options when it comes to advertising. The rest of the world will catch up soon.”
Top 50 Technology 500 Finalists
- Pontiflex, Inc.
- Scale Computing
- Collections Marketing Center (CMC)
- accesso, LLC
- Pliant Technology, Inc.
- Digitalsmiths
- Charter Auction LLC
- WorkSpace Communications
- Pendo Systems Inc.
- Pyntail
- PointAbout
- Oggifinogi
- ADEPTOL
- PeopleMatter
- ecoATM
- WorthPoint Corporation
- Spongecell
- 365 Hangers
- Evangelyze Communications
- PerformLine, Inc
- BIReady
- YouMail
- Vitals
- QStart Labs, LLC
- Zilker Ventures
- Sparksight
- Zantech IT Services, Inc.
- FlowPlay
- Bookrenter.com
- Gazelle
- Music Networx AG
- PayCommerce Inc
- Safety Issues Publications, Inc.
- INTELLIREX LLC
- ModCloth
- Polarion Software
- BlueLock
- Sourcebits, Inc.
- Zmags
- The Nerdery
- NextDocs Corporation
- iSpeech
- Lead Research Group
- WaveMaker Software
- SingleHop, Inc
- Yodle
- InsuranceAgents.com
- Frayman Group
- FreeCause
- Rimini Street
Technology’s Changing the Game Everywhere
If you look at the most successful businesses in any industry, the best are using technology in some way. No longer do you have to take a chance by scheduling a doctor’s appointment without knowing the physician’s skill level: Vitals.com provides reviews on all types of doctors, as well as helps visitors determine what sort of specialist they should see based on symptoms.
Can’t check your voicemail in a meeting? YouMail‘s Visual Voicemail lets you see who called and read the message they left.
If you can’t find the vintage cocktail dress of your dreams locally, ModCloth can get it for you online. This Internet retailer has a huge cult following on social media, and that, in part, helped the company get on the Technology 500 list.
What This Means for 2011
If the Technology 500 is any indicator, things are looking good for tech, despite the unsteady years we’ve had with the U.S. economy. Technology is ever-changing, and with the launch of new, exciting tools and applications, come consumers clamoring for something to make their lives easier.
eMarketer projects that online advertising spend will increase 10.5% in 2011, which will pay for more online video ads and banner ads. Good news for companies like Spongecell, who provide engaging and interactive advertising options for brands.
As text-to-speech platforms improve (complaints in the past have been that the voices were too robotic), more devices and applications will use them to make consumers’ lives easier. From mobile apps to GPS, text-to-speech will be found in more places than ever in 2011, including iSpeech and YouMail.
With consumers needing more and more space to store documents, music, photos and files, and with more businesses starting to trust cloud computing, expect to see more of it in 2011. In fact, VMBlog.com predicts that more consulting firms will jump on the cloud bandwagon in 2011, and that user demand on multiple platforms (desktop, laptop, tablet, mobile) will grow, leaving plenty of room for companies like Box.net and SingleHop to fill the need.
What’s In Store for Technology 500
The response to the Technology 500 list was overwhelming, says Blue. And it’s something he plans to continue indefinitely. “As long as there are innovative technology companies, we’ll represent them with the list,” Blue says.
Only time will tell what sort of companies will make a splash on the list in 2011.
To view the entire Technology 500 list, visit the award’s website.
This post was written by Susan Payton, owner of Egg Marketing & Public Relations. She also writes on Lead411’s blog.
