straight from the CEOs

Broadsoft

• Industry: Communications Software
• Location: Gaithersburg, MD

Michael Tessler
Founder, President and CEO, Broadsoft

Background

In 1999, as the Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) maket was in its early days, Michael Tessler founded Broadsoft with the goal of building a company to enable the transition of voice communications to IP networks. He sought to develop a platform capable of supporting a broad suite of advanced telephony applications on VoIP networks. Broadsoft's management team and board approached Columbia as they were looking for a financing partner with deep communications industry expertise that could help Broadsoft gain its footing in the early days of the VoIP marketplace.

Columbia’s Capital Role

As one of the industry’s leading investors in emerging communications service providers Columbia Capital was able to bring a unique perspective to Broadsoft’s board. In fact, multiple Columbia Capital portfolio companies currently are Broadsoft customers and were instrumental in the early days of the Company. Columbia Capital also has worked closely with Company’s leadership on strategy, team building and preparing the company for growth from a small, entrepreneurial company that survived the industry meltdown to a global leader in this exciting and large market opportunity.

The End Result

Broadsoft has become the leading global provider of VoIP application software. The Company has an installed base of over 200 service providers globally in more than 40 countries. Customers include 7 of the top 10 and 13 of the top 25 communications service providers globally. Revenue is growing over 50% annually, and their products are becoming the de facto standard for VoIP application software.