Michigan wishes more companies would set up shop and start hiring like Barracuda Networks is doing in Ann Arbor these days.

The software-and-hardware-development firm is hiring 1-2 people per week for positions in research and development, software engineers and IT. The California-based company started with a six-person office on Main Street in downtown two years ago. Now there are about 70 people (up from 23 last year) in its new offices on one of the two floors in the 201 Depot building, and the company has its sights on the other half.

"There are no signs of our growth slowing as a company," says Sean Heiney, director of new products initiative for Barracuda Networks. "We're doing phenomenally."

Barracuda Networks recently received a $1.4 million state tax credit over eight years to set up its Ann Arbor office and create 185 jobs over five years. Heiney says it's ahead of the curve as far as meeting its hiring goal. The company's CEO is a University of Michigan alumnus and saw Tree Town as a place that is ripe to grow his company.

"We recognize Ann Arbor as a great place to pick up some top talent," Heiney says.

Barracuda Networks created its new CudaTel line of products out of Ann Arbor. The new voice-over IP system promises to be dramatically more cost effective by downsizing a lot of the costs that comes with the normal voice-over IP systems.

Source: Sean Heiney, director of new products initiative for Barracuda Networks
Writer: Jon Zemke