GrowFL Companies to Watch:

X-Link is being honored as a finalist for the Companies to Watch (CTW) award given by GrowFL. 

According to Penny Lewandowski, the foundation's vice president of entrepreneurship and strategic direction,“we started Companies to Watch to put second-stage entrepreneurs on the front lines. They are so busy working on their businesses that they often fly under the radar screen when it comes to recognition. Companies to Watch is a great opportunity to celebrate their successes and their contributions. It is, in every way, a program about good news!”

Second-stage companies represent about 6 percent of the Florida headquartered companies, but generate 30 percent of the jobs, according to YourEconomy.org, a national online research tool.  What’s more, second-stage companies are introducing new products, services and technologies that give Florida a competitive edge in the global arena. Because second-stage companies aren’t relegated to a single industry, CTW differs from other award programs and showcases a diverse group of businesses.

So far X-Link has met all the requirements, which say that companies must:

• Be privately held (not publicly traded and not a subsidiary or division of another company);
• Be a commercial enterprise, not a nonprofit;
• Be past the startup stage;
• Be facing issues of growth, not survival;
• Employ 6 to 150 full-time equivalent W-2 employees, including the owner;
• Have between $750,000 and $100 million in annual revenue or working capital in place from investors or grants;
• Be headquartered in Florida; and have not won this award in the past.
• Demonstrate the intent and capacity to grow based on evidence such as: Employee or sales growth; Exceptional entrepreneurial leadership; Sustainable competitive advantage; and other notable factors that showcase the company’s success

Since we are in the final stages of judging we can truly do nothing but wait.  The winners will be announced at the awards ceremony to be held at The Hard Rock Orlando in November.  Actors say that they are happy to be nominated, well we feel the same way, honestly.  While winning would be wonderful, we are very happy to even be considered.