Companies to Watch: Amika Mobile

Founded in 2007, the Canada-based technology startup can send detailed alerts to mobile phones, smartphones, laptops, and other devices connected to a campus, corporate, or wireless network. Let’s talk about this startup.

The world has brand new threats and those threats are evolving and changing all of the time. The only thing that is for sure is that keeping up with the threats in the world is a difficult, if not impossible task.

Within minutes of a disaster, one can turn on the TV or Internet and see complete coverage no matter where in the world it happened but what happens if the disaster, threat, or potential danger happens to you or your loved ones or what if it happens in your building, your school, or your city? A new technology startup intends to solve this problem.

If you’re at work, you may not have access to up to the minute information. Amika Mobile wants to help cities, alarm companies, schools, and individuals do a better job of quickly alerting people of potential dangers or other important information.

Founded in 2007, the Canada-based technology startup can send detailed alerts to mobile phones, smartphones, laptops, and other devices connected to a campus, corporate, or wireless network.

With the heightened awareness towards terrorism, activism, and tragedies like Columbine High School, the World Trade Center, and Oklahoma City still fresh in the minds of Americans, this industry is growing. According to research firm Gartner, the emergency communication market grew 37 percent in 2008, to $420 million, and 29 percent in 2009, to $570 million.

Amika Mobile co-founder and CEO Suhayya Abu-Hakima believes that her company will grow from its current 12 person employee base to more than 40. She also believes that her revenue will grow from $500,000 this year to $11 million in 2013.

Not only is public sentiment fueling the growth of this industry, laws such as the Higher Education Act require that state funded colleges and universities must develop an emergency management plan that includes quick and efficient notification of teachers, staff, and students should a crisis take place.

As a startup company, where is Abu-Hakima find her funding? “We’d love to do some venture capital but there really isn’t a lot of early-stage venture capital any more in Canada or the U.S.” She goes on to say that most of the company’s early stage money comes from angel investors but she know that once the company earns $2 to $3 million, venture capital will become an option.

At its core, being a successful entrepreneur is simple: Find a need (or anticipate a need) and take steps to fill that need in a user friendly and valuable way. While many people will be successful joining an already established field, finding a non-existent or small industry, like Amika Mobile did, makes the chances of success much higher.

Also, every entrepreneur takes a chance. If you’re nervous or uneasy about the chances of success, you’re not alone. Just like you Amika Mobile has a lot of money invested in to their startup but finding knowledgeable people to help them along with the proper level of funding increases their chances of success.