8th annual Technology Fast 50 programme kicking off

Publish Date: 

Contact: Simona Prokschová
Deloitte Czech Republic
+420 246 042 226

PRAGUE, 26 April 2007 — Deloitte’s Technology Fast 50 competition aims to give recognition to the fastest-growing and most dynamic new companies on the market. This prestigious competition is annually attended by high-tech companies from Poland, the Czech Republic, Slovakia, Hungary, and Latvia.

“Our third place finish last year helped us enormously. The company gained visibility, especially on the international scene, and this has led to a great number of queries from potential investment and trading partners. Our profits continue to grow at a quick pace.”

— Ondřej Fryc, chairman of the board and general director of Internet Mall, a.s.

Both Technology Fast 50 and technology markets expanding

This year we welcome two new participanting countries that have expanding and competitive technology markets — Bulgaria and Romania. “ At the same time, we would like to invite other companies to participate — and not only those currently on the market, but also emerging companies which can rank in the ‘Rising Stars’ category,” says Deloitte’s Technology, Media and Telecommunications Leader and new Head of Technology Fast 50, Dariusz Nachyla.

The on-line registration and eligibility criteria can be found on the regional Fast 50 web site — www.fast50ce.com. The competition started on 2 May 2007 and will close on 11 July 2007. As this Central European programme has expanded globally, its winners are automatically nominated in the Europe-wide competition known as the Technology Fast 500 EMEA.

We wish all participating companies success in this competition and look forward to the awards ceremony in October 2007.

Technology Fast 50 as an effective marketing tool

The average growth of companies that finished last year in the top fifty for the five-year period was 842%. The top two finishers in last year’s competition were companies from Poland: Blue Media Sp. z o.o. and Travelplanet.pl. The Czech firm Internet Mall, a.s., an internet shopping gallery, finished in third place. This company has seen revenues increase by 3,945% over the past 5 years.

“ Our third place finish last year helped us enormously. The company gained visibility, especially on the international scene, and this has led to a great number of queries from potential investment and trading partners. Our profits continue to grow at a quick pace,” says Ondřej Fryc, the chairman of the board and general director of Internet Mall, a.s. “ If I was to evaluate the Technology Fast 50 as a marketing tool, I would have to say that it is highly effective and practically free,” he added.

About Deloitte

Deloitte refers to one or more of Deloitte Touche Tohmatsu, a Swiss Verein, its member firms, and their respective subsidiaries and affiliates. Deloitte Touche Tohmatsu is an organization of member firms around the world devoted to excellence in providing professional services and advice, focused on client service through a global strategy executed locally in nearly 140 countries. With access to the deep intellectual capital of 135,000 people worldwide, Deloitte delivers services in four professional areas — audit, tax, consulting, and financial advisory services — and serves more than 80 percent of the world’s largest companies, as well as large national enterprises, public institutions, locally important clients, and successful, fast-growing global growth companies. Services are not provided by the Deloitte Touche Tohmatsu Verein, and, for regulatory and other reasons, certain member firms do not provide services in all four professional areas. As a Swiss Verein (association), neither Deloitte Touche Tohmatsu nor any of its member firms has any liability for each other’s acts or omissions. Each of the member firms is a separate and independent legal entity operating under the names “Deloitte”, “Deloitte & Touche”, “Deloitte Touche Tohmatsu”, or other related names.

Deloitte Central Europe is a regional organisation of entities organised under the umbrella of Deloitte Central Europe Holdings Limited, the member firm of Deloitte Touche Tohmatsu in Central Europe. Services are provided by the subsidiaries and affiliates of Deloitte Central Europe Holdings Limited which are separate and independent legal entities. The subsidiaries and affiliates of Deloitte Central Europe Holdings Limited are among the region’s leading professional services firms, providing services through nearly 3,400 people in more than 30 offices in 17 countries.

In the Czech Republic, the services are provided by Deloitte Advisory s.r.o., Deloitte Audit s.r.o. and Deloitte BPO G&I a.s. (jointly referred to as “Deloitte Czech Republic”), which are affiliates of Deloitte Central Europe Holdings Limited. Deloitte Czech Republic is one of the leading professional services organizations in the country providing services in four professional areas — audit, tax, consulting, and financial advisory services — through over 625 national and expatriate professionals.