Top 10 Companies by Growth Rate

ideeli
New York City

No. 1
2010 Revenue: $77.67 million
Three-Year Growth: 40,822%

"A customer on ideeli could shop three brands and get some advice on what's hot for fall in the time it takes to find a parking spot," says Paul Hurley, CEO of ideeli, a members-only online retailer that offers Groupon-type sales for designer apparel and accessories starting at noon each day, seven days a week. The company is constantly fine-tuning its strategy based on customer feedback; for example, ideeli now holds plus-sized sales twice a month since the overwhelmingly positive response from the trial run. "We are providing consumers more than just clothes on a rack; users expect more. They want to be entertained, they want to know what's trending, and they want curation."

Solazyme
San Francisco

No. 2
2010 Revenue: $37.97 million
Three-Year Growth: 20,424%

Solazyme uses its technology to convert biomass into high-volume, low-cost renewable oils the world needs for fuel, food, chemicals, and personal care products. To help his company achieve its ambitious goals, Solazyme CEO Jonathan Wolfson (pictured center) motivates his staff by encouraging them to take risks. "Many of our greatest successes have arisen from smaller failures," he says. "We failed at our initial goal to produce renewable oil cost effectively by growing algae directly on sunlight, but out of that failure arose the idea to produce renewable oil by feeding algae plant sugars. This allowed us to overcome the economic bottleneck, and it worked better than even we envisioned."

C2C Outdoor
New York City

No. 3
2010 Revenue: $20.86 million
Three-Year Growth: 17,744%

Independent out-of-home advertising group C2C Outdoor has assisted dozens of successful brands like Tiffany & Co., Abercrombie & Fitch, and 1800 Tequila, with their marketing campaigns. By using software customized specifically for the out-of-home business, C2C Outdoor offers help with ad campaign strategy, negotiations, and activation. The key to the company's success, according to CEO and president Michael Palatnek (pictured left), is selectivity. "Our mentality is do great work for the right clients, as opposed to trying to get as many in the door as possible."

Big Night Entertainment Group
Boston

No. 4
2010 Revenue: $17.08 million
Three-Year Growth: 16,093%

Big Night Entertainment Group, the team responsible for some of the hottest clubs, casinos, restaurants and resorts in all of New England, prides itself on its creativity and attention to detail. Fitting its venues with luxurious decor, internationally-inspired themes, and VIP-level service, the company constantly pushes the limits to continually impress its high-end, hedonist, and even celebrity customers. "We strive to consistently exceed expectations," says Ed Kane (pictured center), CEO of Big Night Entertainment. "We believe in what we’re doing and our customers agree."

Crystal Clear Technologies
St. Petersburg, Fla.

No. 5
2010 Revenue: $16.38 million
Three-Year Growth: 16,048%

When the Department of Defense needs help updating its security systems, data center solutions, and communications infrastructure, it calls upon Crystal Clear Technologies, a woman-owned IT and data service. Offering strategic advice and assistance for government contracting and tech support, Crystal Clear Technologies' only mission, according to its CEO, is to "serve those who serve." Culbertson says her company stays focused by relying on one easy principle: "Get it right the first time!"

Show Media
New York City

No. 6
2010 Revenue: $14.22 million
Three-Year Growth: 11,749%

Gargantuan neon signs are commonplace in New York City and Las Vegas, but some of the best advertising remains at street-level. Take Laurence Hallier's company, Show Media, which sells back-lit displays for taxis in New York, Las Vegas, and Los Angeles. By designing custom marketing campaigns for various Fortune 500 brands, such as Microsoft, AT&T, and Vitamin Water, Show Media has revolutionized transportation-based marketing solutions. So what's the secret? "I treat my team like real family," Hallier says. "Growth means the same for me as for them."

Contour
Seattle

No. 7
2010 Revenue: $15.13 million
Three-Year Growth: 11,663%

Targeting a generation obsessed with online sharing and user engagement, Contour, offers HD video cameras and editing software for the masses. Perfect for both filmmakers and adrenaline junkies, Contour's line of hands-free cameras—some with GPS tracking—allow users to easily record, edit, and share videos to social networks. "We began the company solving our own problem to record action video while skiing," says Marc Barros, CEO of Contour. "It's grown into a platform for people to capture action video so they can truly show their friends what they did."

Gold & Silver Buyers
Spring, Texas

No. 8
2010 Revenue: $15.23 million
Three-Year Growth: 11,430%

Even as the dollar weakens, the demand for gold remains strong. Case in point: Gold & Silver Buyers, which assesses, buys, and refines gold, silver, and platinum, is the largest buyer of precious metals in Texas, with 62 locations sprinkled around the lone star state. "A lot of people that come into gold buying places or pawn shops just need to make their car payment," says Brian Culwell, CEO of Gold & Silver Buyers. "We treat all of our customers the same. It doesn't matter if you're making a million dollars a year or you're blue collar, you walk out feeling good instead of walking out ashamed."

One Source Networks
Austin

No. 9
2010 Revenue: $14.90 million
Three-Year Growth: 10,305%

"We collaborate with our customers, listen to their needs, and address all of their issues with solutions not confined to one limited product portfolio," says Ernest Cunningham (pictured second from left), CEO of One Source Networks. "All solutions are provided with one contract, one account team and one invoice." Whether a company needs to install Internet, or a call center, or video conferencing capabilities, One Source Networks is ready to meet any business' needs with a slew of simple solutions. By helping its customers understand all of the available technology options, OSN helps companies expand their scope of communications while keeping costs low.

Connected Logistics
Meridianville, Ala.

No. 10
2010 Revenue: $12.36 million
Three-Year Growth: 10,112%

"Managing supply and information networks are highly complementary, says Forrest Burke, CEO of Connected Logistics. "Like supplies, information needs to be acquired, moved, stored, consumed and retired, all while balancing economy and effectiveness." By bridging the gap between logistics and IT, Connected Logistics helps the government design and implement enterprise and cloud-based solutions to better support the Armed Forces. Many of the company's tactics and projects—like helping the Army set up portable satellites in Kosovo and Iraq to prepare them for the shift to cloud computing—have saved the military billions of dollars.

--Dave Smith