President and co-founder
Cary - NC United States
The big idea: In 25 words or less, please tell us how this Fast 50 Nominee is helping to address the planet's problems.
StrikeIron provides innovative solutions for delivering data over the Internet. StrikeIron enables you to access and utilize data in any application, Web site or mashup.
Please describe how this nominee is using business as a force of positive change. What technology, idea, or strategy is the nominee using -- and what problem, such as global warming, poverty, or pollution, does it address? (suggested length: 100 words)
StrikeIron is the front runner in innovative solutions for delivering live, integratable data and business functionality over the Web. The StrikeIron Web Services Marketplace is the largest online marketplace dedicated to commercial Web services, offering access to live data to integrate into any application, mashup or Website. Currently, StrikeIron provides over 100 live
data sources and business functions from organizations such as Cortera, D&B, Gale, MapQuest, Midnight Trader, Tax Data Systems, The Sports Network, and Zacks.
StrikeIron uses this data to capitalize on the following trends in today’s rapidly changing application integration market:
- Web 2.0: The data provides fuel for emerging Web 2.0 and social applications on the Internet. This data helps providers and enterprises get “on board” and participate in this emerging trend
- Mashups: The data provides information “mashable” with other key resources, inside or outside of the enterprise.
- Software as a Service (SaaS): StrikeIron is a natural fit to add value to these successful applications that have established SaaS as the new way to transact business
- Service Oriented Architecture: Data can extends SOA to the Web, increasing ROI by providing ready-built services for use with an SOA.
- Cloud Computing: StrikeIron delivers Web-scale architecture for delivering data-as-a-service as well as offering tremendous cost savings versus building in-themselves
What the market is saying:
- The total software, services and hardware opportunity derived from Web services will rocket from $1.6 billion in 2004 to $34 billion by 2007. - IDC
- By 2010, 30 percent of new software will be delivered via the SAAS model.--Gartner
- Web services–based portals could become the primary way in which users access exposed business processes in the enterprise. As these internal processes are exposed at the edges of the enterprise, it will become easier for organizations to connect and integrate their internal operations with those of their partners.—IDC
StrikeIron also offers IronCloud™, which is a Web Services delivery platform that leverages the Web to provide an easier, faster and less expensive way to distribute data. StrikeIron also offers a set of products and tools to simplify and accelerate the consumption of data such as its SOA Express for Excel, enabling business users to access live data via front office applications. StrikeIron delivers value to over 1,500 customers and partners such as Avaya, BEA, Delivery.com, IBM, Honda Europe, D&B, Siemens, Nike, Swarovski, ShoeBuy, and Exclusive Resorts.
What are the results, both financial and social? How has the nominee's business performed, and what impact has it had on the problem it addresses? (suggested length: 100 words)
StrikeIron continues to experience significant growth as the demand for quality data rises.
In the first quarter of 2008, StrikeIron:
• Added more than 250 new customers bringing total customer base to 1,500
• Grew revenue by 234 percent over first quarter 2007 figures
• Experienced 495 percent growth in services bookings and 140 percent growth in number of customers booked
Additional honors include:
• American Venture Magazine’s list of 2008’s Most Promising Start-ups
• CMP’s Intelligent Enterprise 2008 Editors’ Choice Award
• Robin Bloor’s list of 10 IT Companies to Watch in 2008 and
• StrikeIron CEO and co-founder Bob Brauer named one of Business Leader Magazine’s 24 Impact Entrepreneurs.
