What do Billion Dollar Companies Have in Common? Blueprint to a Billion Author Shares Business Secrets with Utah Entrepreneurs

- UTC, MWCN and UVEF Annual Combined Luncheon Brings David Thomson’s “Seven Essentials” to Utah Businesses -

SALT LAKE CITY–August 21, 2006 – Successful companies have much in common, author David G. Thomson maintains. In fact, the award-winning author of Blueprint to a Billion: 7 Essentials to Achieve Exponential Growth has discovered and researched the traits that all $1 billion companies share. Thomson shared his findings with more than 400 leading Utah executives this week in a joint presentation to members of Utah Technology Council (UTC), Mountain West Capital Network (MWCN), and Utah Valley Entrepreneurial Forum (UVEF).

“There are many books that give anecdotal evidence for success, but this is the first book to provide a true quantitative analysis of successful companies’ shared attributes,” noted Ed Ekstrom, managing director of vSpring Capital.

At the event, Thomson shared the patterns of success that make up the “7 Essentials” required to take a company from an idea to a public offering to $1 billion in sales. Thomson’s discoveries are the result of three years of detailed research on America’s highest growth companies that have gone public since 1980 and have grown to at least $1 billion in revenue. Reviewers laud the resulting project as “a seminal work,” and Thomson’s Blueprint to Billion was recognized as one of the top business books in 2006 by Soundview Book Summaries.

Thomson’s seven essentials to achieve exponential growth are:

	Create and sustain a breakthrough value proposition.

	Exploit a high-growth market segment.

	Use Marquee Customers to shape the revenue powerhouse.

	Leverage “Big Brother” alliances for breaking into new markets.

	Become the masters of exponential returns.

	Form a high-performance leadership team that is both inside-facing and outward-facing.

	Take a close look at the company’s board. Ensure that it includes the most essential experts; a Marquee Customer, Big Brother Alliance and, most importantly, a CEO who has lead a company to one billion dollars.

Thomson notes that in his research, five or more of the seven essential traits show up in more than 90 percent of companies who have reached $1 billion in sales. Thomson shared, “It is important to Utah entrepeneurs and high growth companies that they leverage this pattern to beat the odds. This will not only benefit the companies, it will benefit investors and the Utah community.”

“The Utah Technology Council is pleased that we were able to attract such a high-profile expert in David Thomson,” said Richard Nelson, president and CEO of UTC. “The joint event we share with MWCN and UVEF has grown to be an outstanding opportunity for learning and networking. By coming together as a community we provide an even greater resource for Utah’s entrepreneurs.”

“David Thomson’s remarks were extremely interesting and his research was groundbreaking,” said Tom Taylor, president of MWCN. “This was a sell-out event and serves to underscore the willingness Utah’s business leaders have to build successful companies in and for the state of Utah.”

For more information about the book and author, visit www.blueprinttoabillion.com.
Members of UTC, MWCN and UVEF can contact their respective organizations for a more complete transcript of Thomson’s presentation.

About UTC
As the premier professional organization for Utah's 3,700- plus technology companies, the Utah Technology Council (UTC) exists to form closer relationships with industry and community leaders, develop superior management talent, sharpen professional skills and help gain access to capital. For more information on the council, please visit www.utahtechcouncil.org.

About MountainWest Capital Network
Based in Salt Lake City, Utah, MountainWest Capital Network's members include a broad mix of entrepreneurs, venture capital/private equity providers, investor groups, professional consultants, attorneys, bankers, accountants, and educators from universities and institutions of higher education. MWCN seeks to promote business growth and capital development in Utah through a variety of educational and professional activities. Other than their monthly networking events, the premier programs that MWCN produces include the annual Utah 100 Program, the Entrepreneur of the Year Program, and the annual Utah Deal Flow Report. Membership information is available through the MWCN website www.mwcn.org or via email at info@mwcn.org.

About UVEF
The UVEF is a non-profit support group working to share knowledge and experience. As a nonprofit organization founded in 1989, the UVEF promotes the development and growth of entrepreneurial ventures by: providing networking opportunities, promoting recognition of business accomplishments and contributions, sharing business experiences, and by encouraging free enterprise. Information on upcoming meetings, speakers, and membership can be found at www.uvef.net.

For additional media support:
Erin Young
Snapp Norris Group
T) 801.208.1100