Sun Hydraulics – How Early Investment Capital Built An International Company With 800 Employees

March 3, 2012 - PRLog -- SARASOTA, FL – Bob Koski and Sun Hydraulics is a story of how one company used early investment capital to grow its business, but more importantly, how Koski’s legacy has enabled Sun to maintain an entrepreneurial spirit.

You will hear long-time Sun team members talk about the Sun Hydraulics experience at the March 7th open forum at the Gulf Coast Venture Forum. Now a $200-million, publicly-traded, international and debt-free company, Sun’s story starts with Koski’s question, “If I could live and work anywhere, where would that be?”

“The Sun-Koski story is relevant to regional economic development for several reasons,” said Sara Hand, president of the Sarasota Chapter of the Gulf Coast Venture Forum. “Why did Koski choose to locate here? You will learn how he leveraged early-stage investments to help him grow Sun Hydraulics, and then how Koski grew the company to a strong international presence with significant sustained returns across the board.”

Hand emphasized that Koski and Sun Hydraulics have created and maintained an entrepreneurial culture “despite its age or size."

Building Sun Hydraulics in Sarasota was a lifestyle choice that has paid off for the approximately 800 individuals employed locally. With a horizontal management structure that the Harvard Business Review in several analyses has said would never survive, Sun has not only thrived, but exceeded all expectations.  

At the GCVF open forum in March, you will hear several long-term team players as they share their stories about the Sun culture, their experience with Koski, and the vision that continues to propel their company forward with a recent announcement of additional local expansion.

Each month, the GCVF brings industry leaders to its monthly open forum to discuss investment opportunities and challenges in Southwest Florida. The open forum will be held at the Hyatt Regency, 1000 Boulevard of the Arts in Sarasota, from 6:30-8:30 p.m. on Wednesday, March 7th. The cost is $25 and includes refreshments and a drink ticket along with a cash bar. To register, go to http://gcvfopenforum.eventbrite.com.

The primary purpose of the GCVF, which has chapters in Naples and Sarasota, is to promote the success of Southwest Florida’s new and emerging businesses by educating and bringing together the best entrepreneurs and Angel investors. The Gulf Coast Venture Forum provides its members opportunities for investment in growth companies with great potential. Candidates selected present their company and investment opportunity to members of both the Naples and Sarasota chapters, encompassing 50-60 accredited investors.

For more information about GCVF, contact Sara Hand, president of the Sarasota chapter, at 941-228-4033, e-mail at sara@sphandandassociates.com, or the website at http://www.gcvf.com.