By James Lomuscio
Even in a down economy, innovative, entrepreneurial startups can take off. Such is the case with Weston Software, Inc. located at 728 Post Road East in Westport.
In the Money: John Babyak (l) and Hank Voight of Weston Software. (CLICK TO ENLARGE) Dave Matlow for WestportNow.com
Today the company, which moved to Westport six weeks ago from Southport, received a $500,000 grant from Connecticut Innovations (CI), the state’s quasi-public authority overseeing technology development and innovation.
The money, granted through CI’s Seed Investment Fund, is for Weston Software’s Power One, a technology platform that the Connecticut Technology Council last year voted “the most promising software of the year.”
Gov. Jodi M. Rell, in making the announcement, said she hoped the grant would help to grow technology jobs “in Westport and throughout Connecticut.”
“Our investment in Weston Software is aimed at helping our state remain competitive in the increasingly technology-oriented global marketplace,” she said
Weston resident Hank Voight, who started the company in the basement of his Weston home three years ago, described Power One as a versatile tool that allows information technology (IT) managers, chief information officers (CIOs) and chief technology officers (CTOs) to manage a diverse array of computers, even if they are a mix of Windows, HP, MacIntosh, “or million dollar machines from IBM.”
“Take a school system that might have a hundred Macs in a school,” Voight explained. “This allows a Windows administrator who has never used a Mac to manage it.”
“Think of our product as a universal remote control for all the different systems found in an organization,” he added, noting that the software can be installed within hours, requiring no changes to existing IT systems.
John Babyak, Weston Software co-founder, said that Power One streamlines computer systems, critical for companies when it comes “to meeting rigorous audit and compliance requirements.”
In a note of irony, Voight said that the entrepreneurial impetus for Weston Software was actually spurred by a down economy.
“Because of the job market I was able to get five people to work for free until things took off, and the first sign of things taking off is this grant,” said Voight. “We currently have five of the largest corporations in the world in discussions with procurement of our software.”
He said the grant will enable to company to hire developers, buy equipment and expand marketing since “all of our sales today have been done simply by word of mouth.”
Peter Longo, president and executive director of CI, called the development of Power One timely and “an industry first platform.”
“Given today’s challenging economic climate, there is more pressure than ever for organizations to efficiently manage their IT infrastructures and increasingly complex and pervasive business applications,” said Longo.
“What’s more, organizations must adopt new ways to deal with data and information vulnerability.”
