10th year of Technology Fast 50 Competition in Central Europe starts

Publish Date: 

Prague, 12 May 2009 — Today, Deloitte launched the Technology Fast 50, an annual competition recognising the fastest growing technology companies in Central Europe. Last year, the winning companies experienced the highest average growth (1271 %) in the history of the competition which will certainly be hard to replicate but is not impossible.

“Although the current global economic climate did have implications on businesses throughout Central Europe during the last quarter of 2008, we do not expect a significant drop in the average growth rate among the Technology Fast 50 companies,” Dariusz Nachyla, the Managing Partner for the Technology, Media & Telecommunications industry in Central Europe.

„The successful rating made it possible for us to introduce the Invia travel agency as a well-established and fast growing company primarily in the countries into which we have recently expanded our operations.”

— Michal Drozd
the CEO of INVIA.cz

“Technology companies are encouraged to register given the high profile of the award in the industry and region. Placing on the ranking can have a positive impact on the organisation's reputation, relationships with customers as well as partners, and attract prospective employees,” states Nachyla.

Milan Zemánek, the Sales Director of MITON CZ, s.r.o., which ranked third in the Czech Republic last year, said: “Participating in the competition has allowed us to enjoy our success and has inspired us to achieve even better results, predominately in monitoring foreign participants. The occasion that marked the announcement of the results continues to be a very pleasant opportunity to get to know, and share experience with, interesting and successful people.”

Martin Kasa, the CEO of KASA.cz said: “Our good ranking in last year's Technology Fast 50 competition is an important measure of success for us. Not only did we rank second in the Czech Republic but we also managed to do better than our competitors. Without a doubt, our achievement promoted the KASA.cz brand positively to both our customers and business partners.”

Michal Drozd, the CEO of INVIA.cz, which ranked first in the Czech Republic last year, said: “The successful rating made it possible for us to introduce the Invia travel agency as a well-established and fast growing company primarily in the countries into which we have recently expanded our operations.”

“The online retail sector is expected to grow further as broadband household penetration continues to rise in the region, driving spending over the Internet. At the same time, major advertisers turn to online advertising and new media channels in order to improve their customer targeting efforts and to more effectively gauge their marketing spending given their focus on cost control and customer segmentation. We estimate that this year's ranking will reflect a shift towards the Internet as this sector offers noteworthy growth opportunities even in the economic downturn,” says Nachyla.

In addition to the main award category, Deloitte will present the Rising Stars and Big 5 awards. The Rising Stars award recognises companies that are quickly making a name for themselves but do not meet the minimum of five years in operation criterion. The second award, the Big 5, is new and it will identify the fastest growing companies that have exceeded revenues of EUR 25 million in the last measured year (2008).

Online registration and eligibility criteria can be found on the regional Fast 50 website, www.deloitte.com/fast50ce. This year's competition will close on 10 July 2009. As in previous years, winners of the regional competition will automatically be nominated in the Europe-wide competition known as “Technology Fast 500 EMEA”.

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© 2009 Deloitte Czech Republic.