Company: Technology for Brainstorming, Innovation, Decision-Making and Virtual Interactive Meetings

GroupSystems (formerly Ventana) created the group decision support systems category in the 1980’s with its pioneering IBM/Navy joint venture.   Jay Nunamaker (Univ of AZ) and our co-founders correctly perceived that most group gatherings are afflicted by at least two phenomena that limit the quality and quantity of output:  peer dynamics and lack of structure.  Thus was born structured collaboration in 1989 with the founding of GroupSystems. 

We describe what we do as interactive, group intelligence team spaces.  Whether you think of it as groupware, web meetings, e-meetings, team collaboration, group response or audience response, GroupSystems’ products and partners exude a passionate commitment to making ours a better world through pro-active listening, engagement of all people, breakthrough innovation, and detailed action planning which results in accountability.

Fast forward to 2004.  We and our investors (the Swedish State Pension System) decided to move GroupSystems from Tucson, AZ, to Boulder, Colorado to access the technology, product management, marketing and sales talent we required for our growth challenge.   Our lead investor Foretagsbyggarna (www.businessbuilders.se) contributes global venture capital experience and patient capital. 

With a clear purpose, a strong management team, and appropriate capitalization, GroupSystems now supports the largest global customer base in Group Intelligence Technology and Software within Government, Military, Education and Corporate segments. The company’s extensive customer base represents roughly 75% market share of the Group Intelligence segment of collaborative computing, making the company as large as its next three competitors combined.