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This is Fred Ball for Zions Bank, speaking on business.
We live in a state where people have dreams they want to achieve. More often than not, patience and risk are required to scale the rather large economic bumps in the road that leads to achievement. Such bumps include an imploded "Dot-Com" market, 9/11 or market depression. Though these issues are beyond our control, investment firms like Canopy Group continue to take risks on people's ideas by funding and influencing emerging technologies and lessen risk by providing shareable management resources.
Canopy Group realizes the importance of protecting assets to help a company grow. For that reason, the firm chose the imagery of a protective cover-like canopy of a jungle as the company name. Metaphorically speaking, from the top of a jungle canopy, there is nothing but green. But underneath the canopy, is a biosphere of life, protected from wind, sun and rain. Realistically speaking, Canopy takes company revenue from zero to millions.
Originally founded in 1995 in Lindon, Canopy Group continues to operate under the hand of Ralph Yarro and Ray Noorda, former President and CEO of Novell Corporation. Both have a high-risk orientation and share a love for the technology environment.
Ralph tells me that Canopy Group has invested in more than 120 national and international companies. No matter how many are working with Canopy, according to Ralph, the firm is always adding new investments and looking for exits for the old ones. Currently, 30 technology companies are in Canopy's portfolio.
In 2000, Canopy became a Utah exclusive investor. Ralph tells me most of their significant exits have come out of Utah, and he doesn't think it's a coincidence. He tells me Utah is a lush, fertile ground of great people with great ideas. He also says Canopy Group has no reason to reach outside of Utah, especially with such a great track record.
It looks like our dreamers are in good hands.
For Zions Bank, I'm Fred Ball. I'm speaking on business.
