 |
 |
 |
|
|
|
|
|||
        |
 |
Business name: nLight Website: www.nlight.net Owners/founders: VC Funded -- Founding Team: Scott Keeney, Mark DeVito, Jason Farmer, Scott Karlsen Years in business: 5 yrs Product(s): High Power Semiconductor Lasers Employees: 105 Where are the markets (industries and/or businesses if B2B) for your products and how important are local customers for what you produce? Industrial, defense, medical, and consumer applications. Most products exported. What does your company do to differentiate itself and its products from those of its competitors? Higher performance products. How has your business changed in the last 5 years (if it is even 5 years old)? We were a small start-up working on card tables in Seattle 5 yrs ago. The last two years? Two years we were one of the were one of the 500+ VC funded companies that saw their market disappear in the telecom downturn. After living through this, we are now one of the leading manufacturer of high-power diode lasers in the world. Key innovations in your company (products, processes, designs, ideas)? Our competitive advantage comes through a wide range of novel processes, designs and material structures -- however our fundamental advantage comes through our world-class team. Key breakthrough or turning point in the business: Our key breakthrough came through refocusing the company after the telecom meltdown. I survival was due to the skills and tenacity of our team. What's the biggest challenge facing your business? Competition from China is both a challenge and an opportunity. Can you describe how metro Portland works as a base from which to compete? The semiconductor cluster in Oregon and SW Washington is strong and has been important in supporting our growth.
|
