Fast Lane

71. PathNet Institute, Van Nuys, CA
Cancer testing & research
Alan Kaye
Began: 1996 w/2 employees; 58 employees
Initial investment: $46K from savings
1997 sales: $2.32M

72. Priority Logistic Services Inc., Columbia, TN
Transportation brokerage
Timothy Bartels
Began: 1996 w/4 employees; 8 employees
Initial investment from friends/family, bank loan, savings
1997 sales: $2.31M

73. Crosslink Inc., Boulder, CO
Wireless data systems
Gary A. Zarlengo, Gordon E. Hardman, Michael D. Carpenter
Began: 1995 w/4 employees; 39 employees
Initial investment: $12K from savings
1997 sales: $3.45M

74. Seaway Marine Inc., Toledo, OH
Boat sales & services
Chandrakumar Sinnadurai
Began: 1996 w/5 employees; 7 employees
Initial investment: $50K from savings
1997 sales: $2.28M

75. Fire Sprinkler of Nashville LLC, Nashville, TN
Fire protection systems
Patrick J. Stella, Wayne Dorr
Began: 1995 w/5 employees; 30 employees
Initial investment: $250K from bank loan, savings
1997 sales: $3.41M

76. J.P. Rivard Trailer Sales Inc., North Chelmsford, MA
Trailer sales
Joseph P. Rivard
Began: 1995 w/2 employees; 4 employees
Initial investment: $50K from friends/family
1997 sales: $3.4M

77. Deron Products Int'l. Inc., Chula Vista, CA
Frozen seafood importer & equipment exporter
Geok S. Lee, Hiang J. Lee
Began: 1996 w/1 employee; 3 employees
Initial investment: $150K from friends/family, priv. Investors
1997 sales: $2.23M

78. Essential Eight Communications Inc.(E8C), Oklahoma City, OK
Telecommunications equipment
LaJuana Celestine, Juana Tubbs, Linda Pinkerton, Arlene Pinkerton
Began: 1995 w/4 employees; 9 employees
Initial investment: $10K from friends/family
1997 sales: $3.34M

79. Duggan Contracting Corp., Saint Peters, MO
Commercial contracting
Patrick Duggan
Began: 1996 w/30 employees; 40 employees
Initial investment: $150K from selling real estate assets
1997 sales: $2.22M

80. Studio Tech Supply Inc., Dallas, TX
Professional audio systems sales & services
Al Priest, Barbara Hicks-Priest
Began: 1995 w/5 employees; 8 employees
Initial investment: $40K from savings
1997 sales: $3.25M

This article was originally published in the June 1998 print edition of Entrepreneur with the headline: Fast Lane.