Corporate Climbers Rise to the Top in the VAR 500

VARBusiness not only wanted to recognize revenue growth but also wanted to honor companies that climbed dramatically in the ranking of the VARBusiness 500. So these companies not only had to grow faster than their competitors and peers, but they had to climb up the ranking faster. These companies represent a special breed of fast-growing organizations. Again, our editors looked at pure play solution provider models for this category.

Robert Bongi, vice president of operations (left) and research director Bonnie Markowitz

Breakaway Solutions
A company's stock performance isn't always a good indicator of its performance and revenue growth. Breakaway Solutions, one of VARBusiness 500 Corporate Climbers, is a case in point. Regardless of the poor performance of its stock of late and a recent decision by the Nasdaq Stock Exchange to delist its shares, it's clear the company managed to carve a space for itself on this year's VARBusiness 500. The full service provider of e-business solutions managed to jump more than 200 positions on the VARBusiness 500 from No. 477 last year, to No. 272 this year. In making such a giant leap up the ranking, the company increased its annual revenue from $25.4 million in 1999 to $103.3 million last year.

C-Bridge
Jumping from No. 499 on last year's list to No. 308 this year, C-Bridge rightly deserves to be called a Corporate Climber. With 1999 revenue at a respectable $22 million, C-Bridge nearly quadrupled in size report 2000 revenue at $83 million.
David Panitz, business unit president (left)

Dimension Data
Dimension Data was formed in 1983 and achieved early success overseas as a networking technology and services firm. Now the Dimension Data Group, which spans six continents, has brought its success to the U.S. The company's North American business, which held the No. 434 spot in last year's VAR500, doubled in size last year after making several major acquisitions. Dimenstion Data went on to generate $77 million in revenue in 2000, launching the solution provider more than a 100 spots to the No. 328 ranking. The company continued its U.S. growth with its recent acquisition of Proxicom, which holds the No. 166 ranking in this year's VARBusiness 500.

Exodus
Consistently climbing in rank in the VARBusiness 500 is one measure of success for companies like this managed hosting provider. This company climbed 176 places in from 1999's VARBusiness 500 to 2000's. Then, again this year, in 2001, it jumped up 47 spaces from No. 111 in 2000 to No. 64 in 2001. Its revenue has consistently risen as well, from $53 million in FY '98, to $242 million in FY 99, and now, to $818 million in FY 2000. While the challenges 2001 presents are creating uncertain futures for companies like this one in the VARBusiness 500, this corporate climber continues to grow, though it too has taken its knocks. Just one week ago, this company announced its business outlook for the rest of the year, and said its FY 2001 revenue would be below previous expectations. Still, the company expects to end 2001 with revenues approximating $1.35 billion, so it's still headed in the right direction and continues to make strides among the ranks of the VARBusiness 500. Congratulations, Exodus Communications, No. 64 in this year's VARBusiness 500, on being one of VARBusiness' Upper Echelon
Sara Godwin, director, field marketing (left)

Rare Medium
Rare Medium was ranked close to No. 400 out of our VAR 500 last year. This year, the company shot up impressively to No. 256. Revenue was even more impressive. In 1999, Rare Medium brought in nearly $36 million in revenue. In 2000, they hauled in more than $100 million.

USinternetworking
USinternetworking skipped more than one hundred slots this year to make it to No. 258 in our 2001 VARBusiness 500. Revenue for USi in 1999 was nearly $35 million. That number jumped to nearly $110 million in 2000.
Christopher McCleary, chairman (left) and senior executive editor T.C. Doyle

Zefer
Zefer ranked No. 407 in last year's VARBusiness 500 and soared up to No. 257 in this year's list. In 1999, revenue for Zefer were $33 million. In 2000, the company raked in $110 million.
Richard Fouts, marketing director (left)

More VARBusiness 500 Awards
The Upper Echelon Club
Executives of the Year
Vertical Limit Awards
Technology Leader Awards
Lifetime Achievement Awards

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