A look at some of the companies that have made the Business Journal’s Fast Growing Private Companies List in past years but are no longer on the List: NxTV 2 overall, 2007 NxTV entered the digital media market early, providing video-on-demand, high speed Internet access and IP services at upscale hotels and resorts. The company has digital rights agreement with all the major studios to show their films and television shows through the system. Formerly located in Woodland Hills, the headquarters are now in Torrance. Capital Network Leasing Corp. 1 overall, 2007; 9 in 2008 Providing small to large businesses with funding to buy equipment was the name of the game at Capital Network Leasing Corp., or CapNet as the company was later called. Its stunning growth was predicated on getting money quickly to businesses that could see a return immediately. Then things went sour and a call to the CapNet offices in Burbank now results in a recording. The California Secretary of State’s office still lists the company as being active. Pentadyne Power Corp. 2 overall, 2008; 10 in 2009 This Chatsworth company was making a name for itself in alternative energy storage with its flywheel technology. Major investors put up money to get the product out to defense contractors, data centers and TV studios. In July 2010, Pentadyne suddenly went out of business and its assets divided between two companies, Kinetic Traction, also in Chatsworth, and Phillips Service Industries in Michigan. Exaktime 11 overall in 2006 Woes in the construction industry kept Exaktime in Calabasas off the Fast Growing list a second time. With the lean times, the company shifted the focus when marketing its time-keeping systems. Exaktime continues to thrive and has developed new products, such as software that turns mobile devices into a portable GPS time clock and management tool for supervisors in the field; and the JobClock/EX that integrates smart phone technologies. Larwin Co. 2 overall, 2006 Homebuilder Larwin Co. did extremely well during the real estate boom but then came the mortgage crisis followed by the credit crunch of 2007. In an interview with the Business Journal in 2006, then-President Denis Cullumber said Larwin’s independence and size made it a nimble company that could afford to sit back and wait in a depressed market for conditions to improve. The recession, however, proved too much and Larwin has since filed for bankruptcy protection. Amigo’s Flooring Monster 4 overall, 2005; 35 in 2006 A low-overhead business model was the key to the fast growth of this flooring retailer, which had been based in Woodland Hills. With quick expansion throughout Southern California, Amigo’s started opening locations with higher overhead. As the real estate market cooled, inventory began to go unsold and the business became prohibitively expensive to operate. Amigo’s filed for bankruptcy protection in 2007 and went out of business. Medispas/PASC 8 overall in 2005; 9 in 2006 Rashel Pouri opened three locations of her upscale spa and beauty treatments business and was even the subject of a reality television show. Pouri wanted to create a spa facility that offered a wide array of services under one roof. In late 2007, Pouri rechristened her business as Ai Spa with a single location in Calabasas. ValleyCrest Companies 42 overall 2005; 33 in 2007 The Calabasas-based landscaping firm is one of the largest companies in the Valley and has continued to service its residential and business customers with plant materials, maintenance and landscape architecture. In October 2006, the Sperber family sold a majority share of their company to MSD Capital, the investment firm of computer mogul Michael Dell. LoanToolbox 10 overall in 2007 After seeing phenomenal growth as a separate company during the housing boom, this products and services provider for loan officers merged with two other companies in 2008 to form Mortgage Success Source. The LoanToolbox name and brand still exists and now offers social media tools for loan officers. Mortgage Success Source is headquartered in New Jersey. Infospectrum Inc. 1 overall in 2005 While headquartered in Agoura Hills, much of the product engineering and technology services offered by Infospectrum is done from a state-of-the-art facility in central India, making the company one of the largest employers in that region. That Infospectrum never returned to the Fast Growing list a second time doesn’t mean it hasn’t been growing. An office in Oslo was opened in 2007 and the overall workforce is now 500 people.
Where Are They Now? A Look at Former High-Flyers
