This evening, several of our cool clients (although all of them are cool), are off celebrating their nomination to the AlwaysOn 100 list. Congratulations to current Eastwick clients BroadLogic, Coghead, Identity Engines and Scalent as well as Eastwick alumni Azul Systems, Stoke and 3VR Security for rising above the noise and being recognized as true innovators.

I am often asked by clients whether these awards really matter. And for the most part I think they really do — if for no other reason than providing third party validation that these companies are doing something interesting, unique and worthwhile. But the real reason I think this particular award matters is that it provides a stage for smaller companies who may not have the big budgets to market themselves onto other high visibility platforms. Making the AO100 does help these sometimes little known companies rise above the noise.

A few interesting facts about this year’s winners:

• Only 8% of the companies on this year’s list were also among the AO100 in 2006.
• This year, many of the companies on the AO100 list are at earlier stages of development than in previous years. Although 80% are shipping products, 5% are still developing their products (but show enough potential to be included on the list), while 6% are just beginning to launch beta products.
• The average funding per company and total funding for the list also show the shift toward younger companies.
• Last year’s AO100 raised a total of more than $5.5 billion in VC funding and the median funding amount per company was close to $44 million. By contrast, the far earlier-stage 2007 list has raised $2.2 billion total, and median funding per company is around $22 million.

We’re particularly proud of this year’s class of Eastwick clients who made the list. Congrats!

3VR Security, AlwaysOn 100, AO100, Azul Systems, BroadLogic, Coghead, Identity Engines, Innovation, Recognition, Scalent, Stoke