Master agents Sandler Partners and Telarus highlight a fearsome lineup of telecom companies in the latest Inc. 5000.
The annual list recognizes the fastest growing private American companies. We love to cover the Inc. 5000 because it gives us the opportunity to see hard revenue and growth statistics that private companies typically prefer to keep close to the chest.
Below we’ve listed 12 channel-facing companies that made the list. Our lineup is by no means comprehensive, as more companies than we could count utilize the indirect sales channel to some extent, but these 12 represent a diverse sample size. Vendors like GeoLinks, service providers like QOS Networks and successful agent partners like Sumo Communications are here. And a rapidly growing distributor tops our roundup.
Some of the same companies made the list when we covered the Inc. 5000 in 2017.
Scroll through the images below to see which companies are hot.
Pax8
Rank: 60
2018 Revenue: $42.4 million
3-Year Growth: 4,820%
Industry: Software
Founded: 2012
Employees: 254
The cloud distributor jumped from 68th on last year's list. Pax8 has secured a prominent place at the master agent/distributor table in the last two years. A prominent Intelisys cloud leader j
oined the distributor to help it merge the agent and MSP channels. Pax8's chief revenue officer wrote in a recent blog that the overlap between the two sales models is "
inevitable."
Pax8 is the third fastest growing company in Colorado, according to Inc.
QOS Networks
Rank: 327
2018 Revenue: $6.8
3-Year Growth: 1,418%
Industry: IT Management
Founded: 2012
Employees: 24
The Irvine, California-based managed network service provider has enjoyed staggered growth over the last few years. It attributed the explosion to its decision to pivot to SD-WAN services. The company expanded its channel reach this summer by signing an
agreement with the master agent Intelisys. CEO Frank Cittadino recently penned a blog about what SD-WAN will be like
in the 5G era.
Sumo Communications
Rank: 999
2018 Revenue: $ 5.1 Million
3-Year Growth: 424%
Industry: Telecommunications
Founded: 2002
Employees: 12
The Utah-based company landed on the list for the second time, moving up from 2,185th. Sumo offers solutions from more than 300 vendors and is a successful player in the agent channel. Telarus recently recognized Sumo as its
top contact center-selling partner, and Telstra named it top performing sales partner in 2017.
GeoLinks
Rank: 1611
2018 Revenue: $14.8 million
3-Year Growth: 256%
Industry: Telecommunications
Founded: 2011
Employees: 50
The California competitive local exchange carrier touts a business-class internet offering called ClearFiber that reaches speeds of 10 Gbps. GeoLinks also has been nudging its way into SD-WAN. It announced a partnership with managed network services provider QOS Networks earlier this year to introduce SD-WAN to the channel.
Broad Sky Networks
Rank: 1717
2018 Revenue: $6.6 million
3-Year Growth: 237%
Industry: Telecommunications
Founded: 2003
Employees: 18
Broad Sky provides managed business class wireless services and equipment. The Bend, Oregon-based company utilizes the master agent and VAR channels.
Altaworx
Rank: 1802
2018 Revenue: $7.7 million
3-Year Growth: 226%
Industry: Telecommunications
Founded: 2001
Employees: 19
The Alabama-based company began as a VoIP solutions provider and became a prominent member of the AT&T Alliance Channel and Partner Exchange programs. Altaworx has been adding IoT solutions in recent years and
partnered with master agent WTG last year.
Telarus
Rank: 1883
2018 Revenue: $119.1 million
3-Year Growth: 215%
Industry: Telecommunications
Founded: 2002
Employees: 150
Telarus is one of the longstanding fixtures in the agent channel. The Utah-based master agent made a massive jump from 3682nd, due in part to its
acquisition of rival master CarrierSales.
Telarus hosted its
annual partner summit earlier this month.
Sandler Partners
Rank: 2960
2018 Revenue: $90.7 Million
3-Year Growth: 126%
Industry: Telecommunications
Founded: 2003
Employees: 66
The California-based master agent has graced this list 10 times and continues to grow. It
signed BullsEye Telecom to a supplier agreement last week.
Bandwave Systems
Rank: 3171
2018 Revenue: $7.7 million
3-Year Growth: 115%
Industry: Telecommunications
Founded: 2000
Employees: 23
This is the company's fifth appearance, and it has improved its rank each year. Bandwave is a Burlington, New Jersey-based broadband aggregator. We spoke to its founder and managing partner last year about its SD-WAN expertise.
nexVortex
Rank: 4238
2018 Revenue: $22.5 million
3-Year Growth: 73%
Industry: Telecommunications
Founded: 2002
Employees: 81
nexVortex has finished in the Inc. 5000 nine times, originally slotting at 683rd in 2011. The Boca Raton, Florida-based company provides VoIP and call distribution services. Its channel partners include
TCG, Telegration and
Jenne.
Fidelus Technologies
Rank: 4353
2018 Revenue: $69 Million
3-Year Growth: 69%
Industry: IT Services
Founded: 2002
Employees: 65
The New York City company offers professional, managed and procurement services. Cisco last year named it the East region's Breakaway Partner of the Year.