VIZIO, Inc.

Type: Private
On the web: http://www.vizio.com
Employees: 105

VIZIO wants to do for HDTVs what Dell did for PCs and Southwest Airlines did for air travel: sell for less. The company sells low-cost flat panel and plasma LCD HDTVs. It has gone head to head with Japanese giants such as Sony and Samsung, but its products are made in China and Taiwan. Each year VIZIO has logged large revenue gains by selling quality televisions for hundreds, if not thousands, less than its competitors. The company was founded in 2003 and, initially, its TVs were only sold at membership retailers such as Costco Wholesale, BJ's Wholesale Club, and Sam's Club. Since then it has extended its reach to discount retailers Wal-Mart and Sears.

Key numbers for fiscal year ending December, 2007:
Sales: $1,970.0M

Officers:
CEO and CTO: William Wang
COO: Elson Chang
VP and CFO: Kyle Wescoat

Competitors:
Funai Electric
Samsung Electronics
Sony