Quench

Indianapolis
Founder: Consolidated from seven existing firms over last several years
VC Investment over the last four quarters: $26 million

Quench, a 120-employee company, supplies businesses with "point of use" water purification coolers to replace bottled water or jugs with tap water. The company expects business to hold up during the recession, as "no matter what is going on in the economy, people still need water," says CEO Dan Kuzmak. Quench is also positioning its product as a way to reduce waste associated with bottled water.

Key to startup success: "What we watch on a daily basis is our cash. Every nickel that goes out and every nickel that goes in, you have to pay attention to."

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