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DCU grad Joe Hogan and Niall Norton win 'Entrepreneur of the Year 2011'
Photography © Irish Times
Joe Hogan and Niall Norton were last night presented with the Ernst and Young 'Entrepreneur of the Year 2011' award. They co-founded the software firm Openet, which now employs 830 people globally with offices in the US, Malaysia and Brazil. Openet is a leading developer of software for telco and cable operators. Future plans include expanding its presence into Canada and Mexico.
Joe, who is a former student of DCU's BSc in Computer Applications, graduated in 1989. Joe and Niall will now go on to represent Ireland at the World Entrepreneur of the year awards in Monte Carlo in June 2012.
The story of Openet
Joe Hogan and Niall Norton
In 1999, a fledgling software company was formed in a basement office in Fitzwilliam square, Dublin with room for only two people. Founded during the Celtic Tiger era, Openet was able to benefit from a wave of decade-long economic success in Ireland and parlay into a global technology company with innovative software and an extensive pool of talented staff members.
Over the last 12 years, the Company has extended its global reach and is now supported by a workforce of more than 830. The ambition and vision of Openet’s senior team including, Founder and CTO Joe Hogan and CEO Niall Norton, have been essential to the organization’s continued success and established presence within the industry.
A fundamental shift in the industry began when mobile devices like smartphones and tablets became essential items for many consumers and completely redefined the way users accessed data networks. After establishing a reputation with baseline telecommunications mediation software, Openet developed additional software and platforms out of its initial core product. With slowdown and congestion evolving into major pain points for carriers and users, Openet was able to help these service providers navigate the evolving terrain while enabling new business models. Not to get too far from its roots, Openet now claims 100 percent of the voice and data mediation traffic among the top three carriers’ user base in the United States.
Over the last three years, Openet has consistently grown its revenues by achieving €31m for 2008, €46m in 2009 and €75.5m during 2010. This growth has given Openet the opportunity to invest in staff and talent, as the Company has 260 people in Dublin, 230 in the U.S. headquarters in Reston, Virginia, 120 in Atlanta and 170 in K.L., Malaysia and 40 in San Paulo, Brazil. Openet is also looking at expanding their presence in emerging markets including Canada and Mexico.
Openet is truly an international company with over 99 percent of revenues coming from outside of Ireland. This success and growth has made Openet the largest privately-owned technology company in Ireland.
Products/Services:
Openet provides Subscriber Optimization Software to communication and media service providers worldwide. The Company offers six software platforms across four core product lines: data collection and processing, subscriber profile management, network resources control and services authorization and monetization.
Openet’s software not only enables its customers to create new business models, but it also simplifies and personalises the user experiences while maximising the value of network resources to manage new challenges presented by LTE, cloud computing, TV Everywhere and other ‘next generation’ technologies. This provides Openet with an opportunity to continue its record growth and expands its position as an industry leader for years to come.
Customers:
Openet has been primarily focused on large, global carriers within the wireless, broadband and cable industries. The Company is proud to be able to count close to 100 customers in 28 countries including many of the world’s leading operators as customers; AT&T, Verizon, Orange and Vodafone, to name a few. The organization also has strategic partnerships in place with many of the most significant industry participants including, Cisco, IBM, and Juniper.
What is your biggest business achievement?
Launching the iPad service for various operators, as it required an innovative and flexible payment system that gave Openet a chance to showcase its core technology talents; creativity and performance.
What is the best business advice you ever received?
Never stop changing and re-defining the opportunity that the Company presents to its customers.