So, I don’t know if I have mentioned this on our blog. But, we spent months, and I mean literally months looking around for a web based project management tool that met the needs of Abraham Harrison. You would think that this would be an easy mission. Hell no!!
We wanted to dump Basecamp so badly, yet we didn’t wanna go to something else that was kind of….well…ho hum!!! Just when I was at the end of my tether in the search a bit of synchronicity came along and a potential client mentioned Central Desktop to us.
So, off I ran and checked out this software - it was on my list but I hadn’t really give it much of a go. After a week of digging around, having my Executive Assistant dig around in CD - we both agreed that this was the one for us.
It is simple, clean, fast and does what it needs to do. There are elements missing, for sure, but that is a given. My biggest gripe is their need to integrate more time tracking/management capabilities. However, after a phone call with the CEO, Isaac Garcia (heck how often do you get to talk to the CEO of a company as a small time client) he assured me that they are working on many improvements.
What I found so cool about this company (besides their awesome platform) was that they had built this tool up without any major funding, with paying customers - no, “come use us for free” approach in the hope that it would make them popular. No, they did it while having to please paying customers.
So, last week I got an email from Isaac, following up on the phone call we had had a week earlier and he informed me that Central Desktop had just got its first round of major funding - $7 million from Openview Venture Partners. Not bad, not bad at all….especially when you realize that Openview is one of Central Desktops paying customers (well, maybe they will give them a free account).
I like seeing companies do it the old fashion way. Create a good product, get people to buy it and watch it grow. Hell, getting popular off “free giveaways” is always easier, but certainaly doesn’t guarantee a good product.
Congrats Isaac and the CD gang!! We over at AH look forward to more and more slick features and are stoked that you guys are around.
3 Comments » Posted on April 21st, 2008 by Saul Wainwright
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