Back in the Saddle Again

by Danny Kolke
published on: 09/28/08 3:54:25 PM

I have returned to the role of CEO for Etelos and, as I often do on my blog, I thought I would share with my readers some thoughts about the direction of the Company and the technology that drives Etelos.

I ran Etelos, which was founded in 1999 and survived the dot-com implosion, since the beginning. We sold solutions to businesses, we deployed them as Web apps, we customized them, we hosted them, we did whatever it took to survive. Eventually, we grew out of day-to-day survival and to a point where we were a happy small company. But then something magical started to happen.

We realized that we had built a unique platform for distributing Web apps and, in a meeting with our investors, we explored the nature of this and decided that it was the beginning of a more powerful trend in the marketplace. We looked to take advantage of it.   

When I talked with VCs 6 years ago about the next Web app distribution platform, they were skeptical to say the least. Microsoft was the dominant player and the platform for the Web. I heard that over and over again. Google was not even a thought as a platform at the time, nor Amazon and their Web Services model. Now look what has happened!  

It is certainly an interesting time we live in. When I think of all that is going on the Web, I am amazed to see how many Web apps there are in the marketplace as a whole. Every software manufacturer seem to be moving more and more to Web app distribution and whole industries have been impacted by Web apps. Governments around the world use Web apps internally and externally. A Web app seems to affect more and more individuals each day. As an industry and at Etelos, we are just getting started.

The focus of Etelos is simple. It is time to grow the Company through the fundamentals we had known for years. We are a Web app distribution platform. On one side, software manufacturers use the Etelos Platform(TM) to package, distribute, host, bill, market and support their software as a service-enabled applications. And on the other side, businesses and organizations of all types and sizes try and buy Web apps in a Web-enabled marketplace. With a growing list of partners and businesses in need of technology and professional services, our mission really is that simple.

Every day at Etelos, businesses sign up to use Web apps. We call them and offer our assistance. Some need simple solutions, but many need customized solutions. We can't solve everyone's problems but we are passionate about providing a complete solution and providing those services to customers who want to adopt Web apps is important to ensure their success and satisfaction.

To answer the question of the recent change that lead to my return to CEO, the Board reached the decision that a change was needed at this time. Over the last year, we brought in a CEO who took the company public and grew the company. Now, as the visionary of the technology under the Etelos hood, it is my responsibility to take Etelos through the next steps.

What will we do now that is different?  

We recently added a professional services offering to support our partners and businesses. Michael Jones is leading the professional services initiative and I am excited to have him on board to serve the needs of those businesses and our growing list of partners.  Michael is not a newcomer to Etelos-based technology. From the early days of Etelos through 2006, he led a successful consulting practice as a reseller for Etelos that was responsible for more than $1,000,000 of successful implementations. We are excited to have him on the team. Look to our blogs to see more from Michael as this program grows.

As I look ahead, my focus is on growing a successful business that distributes Web apps and delivers value to our customers, partners and shareholders.

I am excited to be back in the CEO chair and want to thank our very talented team of employees for their dedication to excellence, and our customers, partners and shareholders for their continuing support.

Stay tuned. And let us know how we can be of service.