As it approaches its second year of business, L7 Solutions Pty Ltd has proven that even the small fry in the IT consulting sector can take on the heavyweights and win.
As it approaches its second year of business, L7 Solutions Pty Ltd has proven that even the small fry in the IT consulting sector can take on the heavyweights and win.
L7 Solutions has grown considerably since its inception in 2004, now boasting more than 30 staff and 160 active customers.
The company recently achieved Microsoft Gold certification and has been nominated for the 2005 ANZ Cisco Partner of the Year, to be awarded in March this year.
L7 managing director and 2005 40under40 winner Matt Sullivan said that, in its early stages of operation, the company was specifically focused on providing professional services to smaller to medium businesses.
“Demand actually started coming from the tier one and tier two players and we just fostered and grew that side of the business,” he told WA Business News.
“We were basically adding on one to two full-time employees a month over the last two years.”
Mr Sullivan said the company’s key engagements ranged from providing a complete network upgrade on Rottnest Island, through to upgrading the entire Burswood International Resort Casino network and the implementation of the Wesfarmers energy IP telephony system.
“We were up against some significant [Cisco Gold certified] players in the Wesfarmers deal,” Mr Sullivan said.
“It was a real David and Goliath struggle, but with the methodology we put forward and the relationships we formed, we got the deal.”
He said the company had increased total revenue by 270 per cent in the past 12 months, with forecast revenue to well exceed budgetary targets this year.
“We have been net profitable from day one; the amount of capital investment we have put into it has been very minimal and we have always maintained that and retained earnings all the way through,” Mr Sullivan said.
“Being cash positive is a pretty good feat and it’s all about having the right staff and clients in place.”
The company is aiming to have 60 staff by year’s end and to maintain a focus on Perth during the next few years.
“Potentially we will look interstate but currently we just think there is enough market share in Perth to keep us busy for the next two to three years,” Mr Sullivan said.
“We really want to cement our base here and maintain our head office here.”
• The 2006 WA Business News 40under40 Awards will be held at the former Fremantle Railway Terminal on Wednesday March 1.
