Sonic Foundry Ranked Again Among the Fastest Growing Technology Companies in North America on the 2001 Deloitte & Touche Technology Fast 500

Sonic Foundry[R] Inc. (NASDAQ: SOFO), a leading worldwide provider of media systems, media services and media software, today announced that it ranked Number 448 on the 2001 Deloitte & Touche Fast 500, a ranking of the fastest growing technology companies in North America. Rankings are based on five-year percentage revenue growth from 1996-2000. Sonic Foundry grew 1,021% during this period.
The Fast 500 list is compiled from three sources: winners of Deloitte & Touche's 22 regional North American Fast 50 programs, nominations submitted directly to the Fast 500, and public company database research. To qualify for the Fast 500, entrants must have had 1996 revenues of at least $50,000 USD and $75,000 CD for the United States and Canada, respectively. Entrants are public or private companies headquartered in North America and must be a "technology company," defined as a company that develops proprietary technology which contributes to a significant portion of the company's operating revenues, manufactures a technology-related product, or devotes a high percentage of effort to research and development of technology.
Sonic Foundry's Chairman and CEO, Rimas Buinevicius, credits this growth to adaptability in rapidly changing markets. Mr. Buinevicius stated, "Over the last five years, Sonic Foundry has prided itself on being ahead of the industry as pioneers leading the rich media revolution. It's an honor to be named once again to the Deloitte & Touche Technology Fast 500, placing us among the premier technology companies of the world."
"With its ranking on the prestigious Deloitte & Touche Technology Fast 500, Sonic Foundry's leaders have proven that they have the vision and the fortitude to excel in the highly competitive technology industry," said Mark A. Evans, managing director of Deloitte & Touche's Technology & Communications Group. "We congratulate them on becoming one of the 500 Fastest growing technology companies in the U.S. and Canada."