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This list has tracked companies that boomed during the good times, that grew even when the economy shrank, that stand as an example of what ingenuity, hard work and creativity can lead to.

This year’s list of honorees are drawn from a range of industries, including real estate, transportation, technology and manufacturing.

As a group, the Fast 50 honorees saw their revenue grow by an average of more than 130% over the past three years. Including the dollar-volume honorees, the companies’ revenues grew by an average of $25.2 million.

OnDefend

CEO: Chris Freedman
Year Founded: 2015
Rank: 15
Percentage Growth: 66.97

What led you to the point of starting or buying into a company?
I have been a life long entrepreneur and have wanted to change the world in a positive way!

What has been the biggest challenge you’ve overcome as you’ve grown?
Creating SaaS solutions and building a software division from a company that originally focused on consulting services. Also, moving to a channel partner focus from direct customer sales.

What’s been the ‘secret sauce’ that has helped propel your growth?
Creativity in analyzing markets, finding niches that allow for rapid growth and executing on strategy.

What have you done to keep your company culture strong as you grow?
Hiring based on our core values, focusing energy toward our common mission and treating ever team member as an equal.

What advice did you receive earlier in your career that has stuck with you as you lead your company?
Listen to the markets, learn from your team and focus on your mission.

What advice would you have for those who are looking to lead a fast-growing company?
Find complimentary founders, hire diverse leaders, find a niche that allows for quick vertical growth and have a true passion for what you do.

What challenges or opportunities do you see on the horizon and how are you preparing for them?
Challenges: Finding optimal product-market fit and scaling globally.
Opportunities: Achieving optimal product-market fit and scaling globally :)!
Preparing for these challenges and opportunities through ongoing customer feedback, product iteration, sales message molding, marketing strategy, team building and financing growth at scale.

Is there anything else we should know?

We are doing things that nobody in our industry have done before. We have built our products to specifically execute the security and business strategies of our channel partners.

We private-label everything we do and actually provide our partners go-to-market materials so they can turn-key sell services that our software solutions enable. We are one of the, if not the, first SaaS provider that allows a 3rd engagement option beyond buy or not buy – we allow our partners to try before they buy by private-labeling us and our technology on live service engagements. We are revolutionizing the way SaaS companies enable their channel partners to meet market demand.

View the original article on Jacksonville Business Journal