Jaspersoft CEO: Targeting 50% Growth in 2010

Jaspersoft CEO Brian Gentile (pictured), like many of his open source peers, has some lofty goals for 2010. With the help of SaaS and on-premise channel partners, Gentile says Jaspersoft — which specializes in business intelligence software — can grow 50 percent and generate positive cash flow in 2010. Here’s the scoop, including a FastChat video with Gentile.

First, a little background. Jaspersoft landed on the 2009 Open Source 50 list, which tracks the most promising open source partner programs. But Jaspersoft isn’t the only open source BI software provider. Existing and potential rivals include Actuate, Jedox, Pentaho (another Open Source 50 company) and SpagoWorld.

Key Stats

How is Jaspersoft performing amid open- and closed-source competition? During a January 6, 2010, interview with The VAR Guy, Gentile disclosed some rather impressive financial and business stats for Jaspersoft. including…

• Jaspersoft’s revenues will likely grow 60 percent for the company’s fiscal year 2009, which closes at the end of January 2010. And for fiscal 2010, Gentile wants another 50 percent growth.
• Roughly 50 percent of Jaspersoft’s business intelligence software deployments in 2010 will involve SaaS channel partners that host software for customers.

Four Steps to Success

Gentile covers a four-point 2010 strategic plan in the video below. Further below, The VAR Guy offers his analysis.

0:00: Introduction
0:20: Jaspersoft’s four-point 2010 strategy
0:30: Growing 50 percent?
0:44: Diversifying globally
1:26: The best business intelligence software?
1:55: Competing with proprietary software
2:45: Becoming cash-flow positive?
3:15: Is cash-flow positive really within reach?
3:22: Will channel partners deliver on-premise or SaaS solutions?
4:20: SaaS adoption trends worldwide
4:52: Conclusion

Gentile made some lofty statements on and off camera. Jaspersoft sounds primed for more growth. But The VAR Guy needs to give equal time to rivals like Pentaho — where SugarCRM veteran Lars Nordwall has been accelerating Pentaho’s partner program. The VAR Guy expects to catch up with Pentaho soon.

Also of note: Traditional closed-source BI companies and SaaS upstarts continue to make progress. SAS Institute and Zoho, for instance, both seem to be appealing to small and midsize customers.

Channel Partner Moves

Meanwhile, Jaspersoft marches forward with its partner program. In particular, keep an eye on Jaspersoft’s relationship with the Open Source Channel Alliance (OSCA). Red Hat and Synnex launched the OSCA in April 2009 in a bid to train 15,000 Synnex resellers on open source applications. Jaspersoft was among the program’s first true believers.

Gentile has built partner networks before. According to Gentile’s bio: During eight years at Apple, he grew the company’s evangelism team from 30 to 100 employees; the team supported 10,000 ISVs (independent software vendors). And at Sun Microsystems, Gentile served as the company’s first VP of Developer Relations, where he helped create the Sun and Java Developer Connection programs.

Jaspersoft isn’t the only upbeat open source company.

• Likewise Software, which offers open source solutions that integrate Mac, Unix and Linux environments with Active Directory, expects 100 percent revenue growth in 2010.
• SugarCRM CEO Larry Augustin says he hopes to double revenues in 2010.
• And watch for Digium in late January 2010 announce some major online partner news to help accelerate growth.

The VAR Guy will be watching.