#2: Central Desktop Inc.

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#2: Central Desktop Inc.
Isaac Garcia

Eureka Moment: While at CNET, I helped put together a large deal with Microsoft to assist them with their Windows Marketplace launch. During the proposal and integration phases, I would fly up to Redmond, Wash. on a weekly basis. At the end of each meeting, we would e-mail project files, task lists, statements of work, etc. back and forth to each other. It was a chaotic, inefficient mess. At one point, I asked the Microsoft folks, “Why aren’t we using SharePoint to coordinate all of these projects and documents?” (SharePoint is a collaboration tool that Microsoft publishes.) My Microsoft colleagues laughed out loud at me and said, “We don’t have the resources to do that!” That is when it all clicked for me.

Secret to Success: Our business has been focused on building products that provide value to customers – in return for payment. We’ve charged for our products from day one. If you build something that provides value – people will pay for it.

Long-Term Strategy: We still primarily serve small- and medium-sized businesses, but over the years, we’ve seen our product adopted by larger and larger companies. We see opportunities to continue to expand into larger accounts and grow our business up market.

Biggest Challenge: Finding good technology talent in L.A. is challenging. L.A. isn’t like Silicon Valley where you run into a software engineer at every coffee shop. (But) while we do have our challenges, we are shielded from the hype and hoopla in Silicon Valley. 

Fresh Ideas: We are 100 percent focused on Central Desktop. We have plenty of challenges and growth ahead of us to keep us thinking about Central Desktop for a long time.

No. 2 – Central Desktop Inc.

Pasadena

Business: Online business collaboration platform

Founded: 2005

Two-Year Growth Rate: 471%

2009 Revenue: $6 million

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