Small Business Success Stories From Across America
Small Business Investment Companies (SBICs) have provided almost $60 billion in long-term debt and equity capital to nearly 107,000 small U.S. companies since 1958. SBICs provide the "patient" capital that small companies need to develop products and accommodate growth. Such investments often take years before becoming profitable. But the patient capital and management expertise the SBICs provide have brought remarkable returns-innovative products and services, millions of new and highly skilled jobs, and billions of dollars in tax revenues.
Several years ago the Small Business Investment Alliance (Alliance) began collecting information about companies around the country that received crucial funding from SBICs and that went on to become highly successful enterprises. They tell the histories of a diverse group of firms, detailing the vital role that SBICs played in their creation and growth and demonstrating the extraordinary strength of the American entrepreneurial spirit.
As a key component of the private equity industry, the SBIC program has played a significant role in the creation of jobs and growth in the U.S. economy for over the last 50 years. The most exciting potential of an SBIC investment is how it can turn one small company into a great success story – spurring innovation across industries and dramatically changing the way we live and work. We’ve listed just a sample of successful SBIC-backed companies doing everything from finding a cure for cancer and other diseases, to improving business efficiencies, to enhancing the quality of our lives.
| A&W Brands Holding Co. |
Educational Development |
Maxim Integrated Products |
| AOL |
Evergreen Solar, Inc. |
Microtouch Systems, Inc. |
| Amgen Inc. |
Extreme Networks, Inc. |
Orbitel Sciences Corp. |
| Apple Computer |
Federal Express |
Outback Steakhouse |
| BeautiControl Cosmetics Inc. |
Fiserv |
Peoplesoft |
| Callaway Golf |
Fusion UV Systems, Inc. |
Petstuff, Inc. |
| Center Rock, Inc. |
Gendex |
Restoration Hardware, Inc. |
| Cerner |
Gymboree |
Rock Bottom Restaurants, Inc. |
| Comptek Research, Inc. |
Hanger Orthopedic Group, Inc. |
Sports Authority |
| Cooper Natural Resources, Inc. |
HealthSouth Rehabilitation |
Staples |
| Costco |
Information Analysis Inc. |
Steelweld Equipment Co. |
| CTC Distribution Services |
Infotec Commercial Systems |
Sun Microsystems |
| Cutter & Buck |
Intel |
Synoptics Communications |
| Devon Group, Inc. |
Jenny Craig, Inc. |
Teradata Corporation |
| Digimark, Inc. |
Kronos, Inc. |
The Merchandising Group |
| Douglas Machine, Inc. |
La Madeleine, Inc. |
Vivid Technologies, Inc. |
| Duracraft Corporation |
Leap Into Learning, Inc. |
Whole Foods |