Arizona entreprenuer addresses business group

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Maricopa County’s Small Business Enterprise Program on Monday hosted the Arizona International Growth Group’s monthly early morning meeting featuring Omar Sayed, founder and CEO of Succeed® Corporation, an Arizona-based e-commerce company that helps small businesses succeed online.

Succeed ranked No. 50 on the Inc. 500 list in September 2007. The list is an annual ranking of the fastest growing private companies in the United States. Succeed is also recognized as the No. 1 fastest growing software technology company on the list in Arizona.

The Arizona International Growth Group meets monthly to discuss international business. It shares knowledge, experience and ideas for the benefit of people and companies in Arizona. MCbiz provides support for procurement activity and helps the small business community progress in Maricopa County through workshops, outreach, and partnering with organizations such as the growth group.

Sayed said when he moved to Arizona from India in the 90s he “felt right at home.” An entrepreneur at heart , Sayed practices what he preaches, stating that “failure is not an option, attitude is significantly important to growth, and recognizing opportunities, peoples, and those things not visible in the obvious sense are each key” in moving forward with one’s business.

His entrepreneurial spirit motivated him to start an import/export business in Texas, then he came to Arizona, “looking for a more future-oriented state and the State of Arizona has delivered in the area of technology,” Sayed said. He suggested that Arizona is still positioned for growth in terms of the technology industry for the next 10 years and beyond.

Providing advice to the large crowd of diverse small and big business representatives attending the meeting Sayed indicated that there are challenges in diversifying to the international markets.

“However, the world is shrinking,” he said.

For example, Sayed said, students from the Ukraine once contacted him offering their expertise in software platform issues. He decided to present them with a real-world problem his firm was facing. The students solved the problem for $8 within four hours of giving solving it a whirl.

Sayed noted that the international and local talent base and the “favorable economics” have allowed his firm to stay privately funded, although he is keeping his options open.

“The Global Market, from a sourcing perspective, right now, presents a great opportunity to selling products outside of the United States,” he said, adding that his firm remains focused in the United States.

Succeed Corporation also powers partners with a private-labeled version of the iBuilder platform offered under the partner’s brand.

“Continuing to build long-term strategic licensing partnerships is a key part of our business model,” Sayed said.

Succeed Corporation provides small businesses with a suite of Internet-based tools necessary for businesses to succeed in the Internet age. Until recently, that manifested itself in the form of Web hosting, e-commerce, email, and basic online marketing. Now, it also includes online banking, financial services, collaboration, intricate integration with suppliers and customers, advanced customer service, advanced marketing, and much more.

For information contact MCbiz at www.maricopa.gov.mcbiz.

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