Finalist
Technology — Consumer Products
Mike Fitzsimmons’ parents immigrated to the United States from Ireland when they were in their 20s and found success in the retail business. From an early age, Fitzsimmons loved reading his father’s business books and enjoyed learning from both the books and his father. He quickly realized that to be a successful entrepreneur, you need to have gritty determination, diligence and commitment to a goal.
He also learned that you had to know how to set and honor priorities, which is something he does as CEO of Delivery Agent Inc. He’s very clear about his top three priorities: investors, customers and employees. He knows that every decision he makes has to optimize the long-term value of the business, even if it means making sacrifices or hits in the short term.
However, Fitzsimmons hasn’t had to make too many sacrifices because Delivery Agent is growing even in this down economy. The company’s core business is building, hosting and manageing e-commerce stores for more than 200 entertainment properties, including ABC, CBS, NBC, Twentieth Century Fox and HBO, among others. Delivery Agent also monetizes more than 90 percent of the Nielsen Primetime Top 50.
Like many entrepreneurs, Fitzsimmons doesn’t let things get him down or deter him from his path of success. Because of his clear vision and his passion for the job, he remains optimistic and driven. In 2005 and 2009, two years where investor dollars for the consumer Internet were difficult or next to impossible to find, he was able to secure investor dollars. Even more, despite the difficult economy it faced in 2009, the company grew its revenue by more than 50 percent.
Because of his hard work and the behaviors modeled to him early on, Fitzsimmons is a successful entrepreneur today.
How to reach: Delivery Agent Inc., (415) 248-0082 or www.deliveryagent.com
