Mario Aguero (left) and Scott Craig (right)

AccelOne is a software development company based out of Kirkland, WA. They create customized software, mobile, and web applications for some of the world’s leading companies and have been an Acuity customer for almost three years. We recently sat down with CEO Scott Craig to learn more about him and how AccelOne came to be.

What inspired you to start AccelOne?

Having been in the software development outsourcing business for over a decade, I saw a lack of transparency and accountability in the relationship between client and vendor which often lead to poor outcomes. I knew the way to fix that problem and set out to create a company based on the principals of transparency and accountability, found some incredible people who shared that vision and launched AccelOne with those principals which are represented in our Mission Statement.

How did you come up with the name?

Custom software development outsourcing often is associated with delays leading to cost overruns, frustrated clients (and vendors) and finger-pointing.  The company name AccelOne was meant to represent our attention to the acceleration of our client’s ideas and projects by way of reducing inefficiencies and improving communications to help clients reach their goals quickly, cost-effectively and on target. And while the word ‘One’ was chosen to imply that we are #1 at achieving a client’s target goal, if you look closely at the AccelOne logo you will notice that the letter ‘l’ which precedes the letter ‘O’ in AccelOne are actually the numbers one (1) and zero (0), making the number 10 which was meant to represent that AccelOne is a 10 out of a 10 on a 10 point scale.

You all have been in business for almost six years. What has been the most memorable milestone that’s happened along the way?

When the reviews and ratings of AccelOne became so remarkable and outstanding that it validated our approach to building software products for our clients and confirmed that our beliefs were not crazy.

Do you have any secrets to a healthy work/life balance?

Stealing from Ben Franklin here – “Early to bed, early to rise makes one healthy, wealthy and wise.”

What do you find to be the most rewarding part of being an entrepreneur?

Seeing the impact of the outcomes that we deliver and being proud of it every time.

Has anything changed since you began working with Acuity?

The on-demand nature of their services and their level of attention and concern for our business has really given my team a trusted partner that has given us financial clarity, helped us grow and relieved some of the stress of running a multi-national operation.

What’s the most significant risk you’ve taken in your personal or professional life?

Having two children – my only daughter and AccelOne.

What’s your proudest moment as an entrepreneur?

When the previous company that I founded achieved the title as the Fastest Growing IT Company in Washington State and landed on the Inc. 500 Fastest Growing Companies in America.

When you’re not working, what things do you enjoy doing?

Family time of course. But otherwise if/when time will allow I enjoy skiing, playing guitar, pleasure travel and hanging out with friends.

What are some things that people might not know about you?

That I am a survivor of Traumatic Brain Injury from a road bicycle accident in 2005 which put me in a coma for a week and sent me to the hospital for almost three months. I had lost my short term memory, had to learn to read and write effectively again and could not work for a few years.

What’s your life motto?

‘Trust your gut.’ It is usually right.