San Diego Shows Well On Inc. Magazine's Fastest-Growing List

San Diego - and its high-tech industry in particular - has made a strong showing on Inc. magazine's annual 500 fastest-growing privately held companies in the country list.

Six high-tech companies based in San Diego County, and one based elsewhere but recently acquired by a local company, made

Highest on the list is Object Science. The Virginia-based company. which was acquired by Science Applications International Corp. in May, ranked No. 8 with a growth rate of 4,939.8 percent during the past three years. Founded in 1995, Object Science has 120 employees and posted $33.4 million in revenues last year. As a defense contractor, the company develops customized information processing programs for the U.S. government.

The next local showing on the list is from Kineticom, which ranks 33 rd with a 1,759.7 percent growth rate during the past three years. Kineticom, which was founded in 2000, has 50 employees and reported $52.3 million in revenues last year, staffs technology workers for telecom companies.

A local company that makes digital camera systems primarily used to monitor commercial driver behavior ranks No. 67 on the list. DriveCam grew by 1,105.6 percent during the past three years. The company was founded in 1998, has 39 employees and reported $9.8 million in revenues last year.

"DriveCam's growth is just beginning," said Chief Executive Officer Bruce Moeller. "In 2005, we expect sales to double over 2004 as our systems are being implemented by larger utility and service/delivery fleets."

Further down the list at No. 235 is Network Plus Technology, which grew by 500.9 percent. Founded in 1994, the company, which provides network security services, made $10 million last year and has 45 employees. At No. 246 is the Active Network, which grew by 487.2 percent, made $25.8 million and has 310 employees. Founded in 1998, the company sells software and Web-based services to organizers of sports, community and charitable events.

Rounding out the local high-tech companies on the list is NITS Services at No. 420. The Chula Vista company grew by 333.1 percent during the past three years, made $22.7 million last year and has 116 employees. NITS Services provides technical engineering services and support to defense agencies.

Other San Diego-based companies in nonhigh-tech industries to make Inc's fastest list are SkinMedica at No. 40, Equity Plus at No. 146, Active Motif at No. 318, Event Network at No. 376 and RealCapitalMarkets.com at No. 471.

SkinMedica and Active Motif are based in Carlsbad and deal in the biotech industry, while Equity Plus runs mortgage companies and RealCapitalMarkets.com offers online matching services for buyers and sellers of commercial real estate valued in excess of $10 million. Event Network operates retail shops for museums, zoos, aquariums and botanical gardens.