Yodle

What it does: Online lead generation for local businesses
Founder: Nathaniel Stevens, 26
Web site: www.yodle.com
Based: New York

Then: In 2005 then-Wharton student Nathaniel Stevens launched an advertising-services venture to help local businesses bolster their online advertising presence. Clients paid Yodle whenever a customer called them after seeing their online ad—positioned and search-engine-optimized by Yodle. The company had landed two rounds of venture capital (a total of around $13 million) and partnered with a number of prominent national Web sites, including MSN and Yahoo! Local. Last August, Yodle had 175 employees, and Stevens said it was on track for over $20 million in revenue.

Now: The company hit Stevens' revenue goal in 2008, raised an additional $13 million in venture capital, and opened offices in Philadelphia, Boston, Charlotte, North Carolina, and Scottsdale, Ariz. It has just over 300 employees and recently moved its New York City headquarters to a 25,000-square-foot space in the Flatiron district that is painted with Yodle's corporate colors. "Our boardroom can now actually fit our board members," says Stevens, who recently stepped down from his day-to-day role as president and serves on the board helping shape strategy. He is planning to complete his degree at Wharton this fall.