|
This is why we believe L-Soft is unique:
- L-Soft's flagship product, LISTSERV, is a widely used, time-tested program that launched the email list communication industry in 1986. LISTSERV sets the industry standard as the first and one of the most respected solutions of its kind.
- Many Internet software innovations with international success are dominated by U.S. companies. L-Soft is a European company, and LISTSERV was invented in Europe, so we offer a fresh alternative.
- L-Soft's largest office is in the United States because the Swedish authorities did not allow our founder to start a corporation in Sweden. This turned out to have some advantages, but the corporate culture is more European than American, even at the U.S. offices. At the same time, we have adopted the dynamism and career growth opportunities of U.S. companies, where only results count and age does not matter.
- Diversity is one of our core values. We welcome employees of all ages and national origins and, needless to say, of both sexes. Currently, 45 percent of our employees are women – including 50 percent of our managers – and more than 10 languages are spoken at L-Soft. Five citizenships are represented among our management team. We believe that this diversity makes us stronger and more creative.
- We think long term. Perhaps what makes us really unique is our history. We had to do everything the hard way, learning and finding creative solutions to problems as we went along.
When our founder, Eric Thomas, started looking for funding in 1992, he found out that nobody had the time to listen to a 26-year-old immigrant with no money and no business degree. This was long before Internet companies were commonplace on the NASDAQ, but even today it is unlikely that a European investor would fund a new company like L-Soft. Shortly before the "dot-com crash", a representative from a leading European venture capital firm told Eric:
"If you have the right profile – at least 40 years old, a degree from a top business university, and relevant professional experience – and if you can contribute about $150,000 from your own pocket, we will probably fund your venture."
The closest L-Soft came to obtaining funding was when a Swedish bank reluctantly agreed to think about lending Eric 100.000kr at a 17 percent interest rate. The bank never got back to him, and one cannot do much with money borrowed at 17 percent.
But starting a company is not supposed to be easy, and Eric did not give up when he realized that he would not be able to find any funding, nor when he was told that he could not start a company in Sweden with the type of work permit he had. In the end, L-Soft started with $3,000, a laptop and a plane ticket to NYC!
With this background, we are open to creative and even daring proposals, and indeed we have made "Who dares wins" one of our mottos; of course, everything has to make sound business sense, both in the short and long term.
Back to current job openings at L-Soft
LISTSERV is a registered trademark licensed to L-Soft international, Inc.
All other trademarks, both marked and not marked, are the property of their respective owners.
|
