March 29, 2010

Edward Lowe Foundation selects Atomic for growth, innovation

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March 29, 2010

(Grand Rapids, MI) – Atomic Object has been honored as one of the 2010 “Michigan 50 Companies to Watch,” an awards program sponsored by the Edward Lowe Foundation and presented by Michigan Celebrates Small Business.

Atomic Object will be recognized at an awards ceremony during the sixth annual Michigan Celebrates Small Business event, April 29, 2010 in Lansing, Michigan.

Atomic Object builds custom software products for clients ranging from startups to Fortune 500 companies. This software may be anything from a client’s entire offering (e.g. a web or mobile app for a startup), a critical part of their product (e.g. embedded software to control a video display in a car), a component of their consulting business (e.g. a desktop app simulator), or an essential part of their operation (e.g. an insurance eligibility service). In addition to custom software product development, Atomic Object also provides technical consulting services and training on software development process and practices.

Atomic Object was an early pioneer and continues to innovate with agile software development practices. They are currently at the forefront of integrating user experience design with the agile development process. A focus on software craftsmanship allows them to practice across many technical domains including web, desktop, embedded and mobile.

“I’m delighted and proud that Atomic Object was selected this year as a Michigan 50 Companies to Watch,” says company co-founder and president, Carl Erickson. “Being one of the 50 companies selected this year exemplifies for me the two drastically different perspectives on Michigan’s economy evident since we started Atomic in 2001. On the one hand, we have the gloom and doom portrayed by the national media. On the other, we have world-class, growing companies like Atomic and Maestro eLearning, an Atomic client and fellow honoree. It may take a generation for Michigan to fully adjust to the realities of the global economy. I’m excited that Atomic is a small, but growing, part of that adjustment.” To read more of Carl’s thoughts on the award, see his blog post on Atomic Spin.

This year marks the sixth year of the Michigan 50 award. “Now 300 strong, the second-stage businesses that comprise the Michigan 50 Companies to Watch have not only persevered through challenging times, but also found opportunities to grow,” says Penny Lewandowski, director of entrepreneurship development at the Edward Lowe Foundation. “They continue to hire and develop new markets for their products and services. Some have attracted significant amounts of venture capital, while others have been awarded prestigious federal grants. They are making a substantial difference in their communities – and their industries. Our 2010 inductees are proof that entrepreneurs are, and always have been, the future of Michigan’s economy.”

Companies making it to the “Michigan 50 Companies to Watch” list are a remarkable group of second-stage companies. Defined as having 6 to 99 full-time-equivalent employees and generating $750,000 to $50 million in annual revenue or working capital from investors or grants, these companies form the back-bone of Michigan’s economy. Representing all regions of the state and a diverse range of industries, companies like Atomic Object are known for their exceptional entrepreneurial leadership, creation of innovation or use of innovation in creative ways, and their sustainable competitive advantage.

Winners were selected by Michigan-based judges from the banking, economic development, entrepreneurship development and venture capital communities.

Michigan 50 Companies to Watch is presented by Michigan Celebrates Small Business.
PNC Bank is the lead underwriter for Michigan Celebrates Small Business, with additional underwriting support from Clark Hill PLC, Michigan Economic Development Corporation, Michigan Certified Development Corporation, Accident Fund Insurance Company of America, Comcast Business Class, Comcast Spotlight, and Dynamic Edge.

Michigan Celebrates Small Business is presented in association with the Michigan Economic Development Corporation, Michigan Small Business & Technology Development Center, Small Business Association of Michigan, the U.S. Small Business Administration – Michigan, and the Edward Lowe Foundation.

Information about the 2010 Michigan 50 Companies to Watch program can be found at http://Michigan.CompaniesToWatch.org. For information about Michigan Celebrates Small Business, visit http://MichiganCelebrates.biz.

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Atomic Object Contact:
Carl Erickson +1 616.776.6020
carl@atomicobject.com

About Atomic Object

Atomic Object builds ridiculously good custom software for startups, huge companies, and everyone in-between. A pioneer and expert in agile development practices, Atomic teams have delivered the highest quality software, on-time and on-budget, since 2001. We complement our expert development capabilities with crackerjack project management and user experience design services. Our projects span a broad range of technologies, from web and desktop to embedded and operating systems.