B&S Top Ten Revived

As spring melts into summer, the days are getting hotter. Heat is building, too, in the editorial offices of Byte and Switch, where we've been cooking up the latest iteration of our Top Ten Private Companies list.

Yes, we know: We're late. Very late. In fact, we're shockingly late. No excuses offered. Suffice it to say that fate and schedules intervened to stall our efforts beyond what we'd planned, and from here on we intend to update this list at least quarterly. Honest!

Given the time lapse since our last update, it's no surprise that our list is nearly completely revamped. We're looking at a whole new ballgame in storage networking, as renewed interest in the public markets spurs a flurry of pre-IPO talk we haven't heard in four years. What's more, a faster-moving market means it's taking less time for startups to ride the conveyor belt to stardom or stalldom.

Not surprisingly, the companies on the Early Summer 2004 Top Ten reflect market segments where demand is beckoning new companies: We have four software specialists and two IP SAN suppliers, along with SAN and NAS makers.

Our basic criteria for consideration: Each company must be privately held and have shipping products and named, revenue-producing customers. Beyond that, the companies on this list are the ones we think most likely to succeed in terms of profitability in the near term. Why? Our methods are our own.One thing to keep in mind: This is a list of ten, and as such is a snapshot of promising firms. Absence from this list doesn't mean we at Byte and Switch don't think you have captivating products or services.

What's more, dropping into the Bit Bucket doesn't mean we don't think well of your products or services, though we may think less of your market chances than we did before. And landing in the Bit Bucket needn't be a permanent condition, as we proved by snatchin' out AppIQ Inc., dusting it off, and thrusting it back on the list with a loud smack.

So without further ado, we hit refresh, revealing what we at Byte and Switch consider to be the top ten private firms in storage networking, based exclusively on our own evaluation of each company's likelihood of future success, in light of its own attributes and those of the market in which it's chosen to play.

So enjoy... Hit that Message Board with your own picks and pans, and stay tuned for the next iteration.

For a writeup on each company, click on its name below:Table 1: Top Ten Private Storage Networking Companies

The Editors, Byte and Switch