Technology – Winner
In 1996, Jack Blumenstein identified Gogo LLC as an investment opportunity for his private equity firm. His firm has since invested more than $200 million into Gogo, a leading provider of in-flight connectivity and a pioneer of wireless in-cabin entertainment solutions. Blumenstein, who served the company as chairman, president, CEO and director, played a pivotal role in Gogo’s development and growth.
When he started with Gogo, the company was a pre-product start-up that was attempting to create an affordable phone system for private aircraft. Today, the company has succeeded where others have failed and has built up its portfolio of aircraft entertainment solutions. Sadly, Blumenstein passed away this February, leaving leadership responsibility to Michael Small who has been Gogo’s president, CEO and director since 2010.
During the past two years, Small has helped increase Gogo’s revenue and aircraft installation growth. Throughout 2011, he helped guide the launch of several groundbreaking products and has the company poised to introduce several technology enhancements that position it for future growth.
That same year, Gogo completely rebranded itself and launched a multimedia platform. The new platform extends the company beyond Internet connectivity and into in-flight entertainment services, which opens new revenue streams for Gogo and its airline partners. The new multimedia platform offers passengers exclusive access to online services such as real-time travel information, destination content, news and information, exclusive shopping deals, and social network integration from their Wi-Fi enabled device.
In 2012, Gogo will unleash its second-generation airto- ground technology called ATG -4, which will quadruple capacity to an aircraft with very little incremental cost, enabling continued rapid growth in revenues and profitability in the U.S.x How to reach: Gogo LLC, www.gogoair.com
