It wasn’t the best time to start a new business in 1984 when Jim Fisher came home from work and told his wife he was going to start his own multimedia production company. They had $1,200 in the bank, a second child on the way and two cars that wouldn’t start.
“You have to overcome your fear of failure,” says Fisher, who is today president of Web development and software firm IdeaStar Inc. “Other entrepreneurs quit because of that. You’re going to be faced with tremendous pressures at times that you can’t leave at the office.”
Fortunately, Fisher never failed. His first company, ProShows Inc., thrived from 1984 until 1999. That firm produced and staged audiovisual presentations for major corporations like Scott-Fetzer, Rubbermaid, Eaton and TRW. When Web site development was added to ProShows services in 1995, Fisher realized he needed to make a change.
Fisher closed ProShows and opened IdeaStar in 1999 to focus solely on Web site and marketing software development. It was the second hardest decision of his career, behind the choice to launch ProShows. Not only would he have to drop the well-known ProShows brand, he’d have to charge into the unpredictable IT market.
“It’s always a roller coaster,” Fisher says. “You have to be willing to keep moving. When things are getting difficult, that’s when you have to act, even if you don’t know if it’s the right direction. If you stand still, you’re dead.”
Sticking with what he knew, event planning and Web site construction, Fisher developed several successful Internet-based applications. IdeaStar’s flagship application, GalaxyBuilder, helps company’s build branded Web or intranet sites for users with no programming experience. Its CorpMeetings application is an online tool which helps companies e-mail invitations, track responses and register people for company meetings and events.
Both applications, as well as several others, sold quickly. IdeaStar’s sales have grown 60 percent since its inception, and it employs 20 people after starting out with four.
“We’re now being asked to make proposals to clients,” Fisher says. “We’ve opened more new customer accounts in the first quarter of this year than we did all of last year. It’s an exciting time.” How to reach: IdeaStar, (216) 587-9300
