Plaid BrothersPlaid Brothers
Plaid Brothers Software Inc. was founded by Frank Peters in
1983.
SunGard Data Systems, Inc. acquired in 1998
http://articles.latimes/1998/may/21/business/fi-52080
http://engineering.uci.edu/events/2008/3/frank-peters-entrepreneurship-0
“As
the most widely used portfolio management software choice for retail brokers,
Plaid Brothers faced a particular challenge. Our software was private-labeled or
named with a different service name by every brokerage firm customer. When it
came time to sell the company, very few people had heard of ‘Plaid.’ Our Board
and I asked Lisa to develop a concrete plan to launch the new web-based version
of our software and raise the overall profile of the company.
Starting with the basics, Lisa reviewed relationships with every client to
assess their satisfaction level, and made recommendations on where and how
relationships could be improved. Once we had enviable 100% reference-ability,
Lisa had every client trained in media relations so that they could readily
speak on our behalf. She then spearheaded a public relations campaign that led
to placements in our major industry publications – including Securities Industry
News and Wall Street & Technology – with a corresponding direct mail campaign
that placed these articles and other Plaid marketing pieces she developed in
front of current and potential customers, research analysts, and potential
acquirers. Needless to say, we became famous in our corner of the world quickly,
and with Lisa’s concurrent promotion of our new version of the software, our
core value grew throughout the sale of the company. Within six months, we had
bids for the company, and the final sale price to Sungard was 40% more than our
original asking price had been for more than a year prior to Lisa’s involvement.
Lisa helped us realize our dream.”
Frank Peters, Former President and CEO, Plaid Brothers Software
In 1983, Frank Peters founded Plaid Brothers Software, which
developed portfolio management systems for Wall Street firms. He sold the
company in 1998 to Sungard Data Systems, and has since dedicated himself to
volunteer projects in the arts, both locally and in New York. Peters published
his dance photography in Dreams of Grace, Images and Remembrances of LaGuardia
High School in New York City. He is currently a member of the Dean’s Leadership
Council in the ClaireTrevorSchool of the Arts at UC Irvine. Peters serves on the
advisory board for TriTech Consulting SBDC, and is the chairman of the Tech
Coast Angels. Prior to his involvement with TCA, he was a founding member of
Charlotte Angel Partners in North Carolina. Since 1999, Peters has been an
active investor in early stage companies.
Peters is also a prolific podcaster; check out The Frank Peters Show: Angel
Investing and Venture Capital. Due in part to these efforts, Frank was a
finalist for the 2006 High Impact Person of the Year Award at the AeA’s 13th
Annual Orange County High-Tech Innovations Awards and Technology Showcase. He
has a B.S. in mathematics from the University of Massachusetts and a masters’
degree in computer science from the University of California, Los Angeles.
Converting from and to
