BEACHWOOD, Ohio — Kalypso, the world’s premier innovation consulting firm, is celebrating its ninth birthday this month. Over the past nine years, Kalypso has grown from an idea born in a Houston hotel room into a global consulting firm that works with some of the largest and most innovative companies in the world. This past year has been one of Kalypso’s most successful in terms of growth and profits, and the future only looks brighter.
“We have the most fun and rewarding job imaginable — helping already great companies become even better by delivering on the promise of innovation,” said George Young, founding partner of Kalypso. “Demand for our unique services is extremely strong; we have doubled our size in the past two years, and we fully expect to double again in the next two. To all of the clients we have the pleasure to serve, Kalypso’s founders, partners and staff extends a heartfelt thank you on the occasion of our ninth anniversary as a firm.”
“The future of the firm has never been brighter. Record revenues are accompanied by even higher bookings as clients increase their commitment to improve their product development capabilities and seek organic growth from innovation,” said Bill Poston, founding partner of Kalypso. “Our people continue to deliver on the promise of innovation across our client portfolio as we invest to scale our team on a global basis. The values that define our culture are so deeply ingrained that we are finding it easy to rapidly add capacity while maintaining the unique attributes of the Kalypso Difference. I can’t wait to turn 10!”
In honor of Kalypso’s ninth birthday, co-founders Young and Poston have compiled a list of nine of their favorite highpoints of the past year:
1. Opening of the Monterrey Tech Center
In the fall of 2012 Kalypso established the Monterrey Technical Center in Monterrey, Mexico to provide clients with a comprehensive set of services. Combining high talent with a competitive cost structure, the center enables the firm to provide the technical competencies needed to deliver full solutions to clients in a cost-effective manner. With 25 people in the center so far, the Monterrey Technical Center is an important part of Kalypso’s growth strategy, as the firm’s goal is to quickly develop 20 percent of its global client service capacity here.
2. Integration of European Operation
With a client base of mostly large, multinational companies that require services to be delivered in many parts of the world, the operational integration of Kalypso Europe in mid-2012 was a natural progression for the growing firm. Now operating as a truly global organization, Kalypso has improved its ability to seamlessly serve clients anywhere in the world, opening up opportunities for Kalypso professionals to serve clients outside of their home geography.
3. First Annual Kalypso Kampout
“Build the house you want to live in” is a motto Kalypso proudly supports and encourages. Bringing this motto to life, Kalypso analysts created the Kalypso Kampout — a weekend-long firm event focused on helping analysts develop their professional eminence and presentation skills, foster a sense of community among their peers and identify areas within the firm they want to own and improve.
4. Students of Innovation Profile Series
One of Kalypso’s core values is Passion for Personal Development. The firm believes in continuously investing in one’s personal and professional development to become a true student of innovation. Each month in its Students of Innovation profile series, Kalypso profiles a client, innovation thought leader or Kalypsonian that demonstrates this dedication and commitment to continuous learning. This profile series has featured innovation leaders from Whirlpool, Royal Canin and Kimberly-Clark.
5. The Launch of the Emagineers Program
With a growing global client base expanding across many industries, Kalypso recognized the need to provide valuable innovation insight to its diverse audiences. Enter Eminence Engineers — or Emagineers for short — a group of hand-selected Kalypso consultants dedicated to uncovering industry trends and developing ideas to help organizations address the key innovation and business challenges they face. Emagineers are not only helping Kalypso’s thought leaders drive content creation, they are also developing their own eminence.
6. Record-breaking Revenues and Profits
Revenues in the first half of 2013 were up 70 percent year over year as the firm experienced rapid growth across its industry practices. Demand from life sciences, consumer and retail clients has been especially strong as clients are allocating spending to improve capabilities in product development as they seek organic growth from innovation. New revenues were significantly accretive to margins as the firm expanded client service capacity at less than half the rate of revenue growth. Forward-looking indicators point to continued positive performance through the back half of the calendar year.
7. The Growth of Kalypso’s Retail and Life Sciences Practices
As demand for innovation services and expertise continues to build in both the retail and life sciences industries, a key growth plan for Kalypso involves expanding these industry-focused practice areas by adding people and capabilities. Over the last year, the firm has focused on hiring top business and technical experts in these industries to serve the unique needs of clients and drive growth for the firm.
8. Continued Growth of Product Lifecycle Management (PLM) Expertise
A core element of the firm’s vision is to serve as the world’s most respected provider of objective technology advisory and implementation services for the leading product lifecycle management (PLM) and product innovation software solutions. Throughout the last year, the firm has invested in hiring solution specialists, training resources and developing service offerings to deepen expertise in solutions including Oracle, PTC, Dassault Systemes, Siemens, CA Clarity, Planview, Sopheon and Planisware. As such, Kalypso has strengthened its collaborative partnerships with these leading solution providers, improving the ability to deliver PLM and product innovation solutions that combine business value, organizational change and technology to clients.
9. First International Kalypso KRASH
KRASH is Kalypso's four-day training for new hires designed to tell the story of Kalypso's past, communicate the firm's culture and values, and teach people the business model and firm service offerings. In early 2013, Kalypso held its first international KRASH in Monterrey, Mexico at its new Monterrey Technical Center.
Throughout the month of June Kalypso will continue celebrating its ninth birthday and give readers a glimpse into the firm by sharing nine little known facts, highlighting nine favorite innovations of the past year and revealing nine companies changing the innovation game.
About Kalypso
Kalypso is the world's premier innovation consulting firm, helping clients improve performance, drive profitability and create sustainable results by delivering on the promise of innovation. The people of Kalypso are leading business professionals who combine unparalleled expertise in innovation, product development, and product lifecycle management (PLM) with a depth of experience in the consumer goods, high technology, manufacturing, life sciences and retail industries.
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