Mark Horne, Managing Partner of Plymouth Venture Partners I, L.P. has announced that
Plymouth’s Company of the Year is Accuri Cytometers. In making the announcement, Horne
commented: “Accuri essentially created a new market in personal use flow cytometry, and then
demonstrated outstanding execution in designing and building world class products to serve that
market. The results were measured in outstanding shareholders returns.”
During a recent award event, the following key people were recognized:
- Accuri’s founders: Jennifer Baird, Collin Rich
- Accuri’s CEO at point of exit: Jeffrey Williams
- Board Member who represented Plymouth from Accuri’s formation to exit: Walter Young
When asked about the award’s criteria, Mark Horne listed four characteristics:
- Exceptional leadership
- Exceptional execution of the Business Plan
- Exceptional increase in shareholder values
- Exceptional governance
Plymouth’s Annual Award, named the Coupe de Ville Award, has now been awarded three
times. The Award was inspired by the immortal words of the entrepreneurial rocker Meat Loaf
in his famous ballad “Two out of Three Ain’t Bad”, where he gave the following advice to
venture capitalists:
You’ll never find your gold on a sandy beach
You’ll never drill for oil on a city street
I know you’re looking for a ruby in a mountain of rocks
But there ain’t no Coupe deVille hiding at the bottom of a Cracker Jack box
In reviewing numerous business plans Plymouth has certainly seen its share of empty Cracker
Jack boxes, but occasionally PVP does find a Coupe deVille. Each June one PVP Portfolio
Company will receive the Coupe deVille Award in recognition of its outstanding performance.