Partners making a name for themselves with IT startup: despite economy, business off to wild start.

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The definition of the American dream may be getting lost in transition, but if it still involves leaving your job and starting your own wildly successful business with expertise honed in your former corporate days, then the three founders of Aeon Computing are living the good life.

Since launching their information technology services company in San Diego in March, it has raked in at least $100,000 in early revenue estimates released by Connect, a technology trade group that tracks local startups.

However, the revenue figure rises to $800,000, according to a timelier estimate by the three entrepreneurs, formerly senior engineers at Western Seientilic, who are making a name for themselves and Aeon: brothers Doug and Jeff Johnson, and Peter Pelekis.

To what do they attribute their success? They all agree. It's the result of the freedom to do things their own way. Gone are days of meeting sales quotas based on what's piling up in the warehouse. No more overstated performance goals.

"At times, it used to be like, 'Pick from our menu of products and services--and then we were out of there,'" recalled Jeff Johnson. "And you'd see that a lot. Much of the mass-produced, IT cookie-cutter production falls under: It's good enough."

Client Focus

Now, they say they can focus exclusively on a client's requirement and go to work supplying the hardware, software and platform integration to get the job done--without allegiance to a brand or a large company's latest equipment supplier.

"The three of us work very closely on every operation," said Doug Johnson. "We're out to meet or exceed the customer's expectations. A lot of times salespeople will overextend themselves, and the engineers have to work on closing the gap. But because we work so closely, whatever comes out of the truck is exactly what's needed--no less, no more."

As an example of teamwork, the three self-employed executives--Aeon's only workers--spent the past few weeks on a project at Princeton University, installing a high performance computer to be used in tandem with an MRI machine to better learn how human memory works.

Executives there had worked unsuccessfully with other IT brokers, and were impressed by the trio's approach, Jeff Johnson says.

Aeon's customers also include Morgan Stanley and the Department of Defense.

"When we went into this situation, we said, 'Let's not even discuss budgets. First, we're here to focus on problems and objectives.' We put together a wish list and went from there," he recalled.

Solid Signs

Steve Hoey, a program manager at Connect, refers to Aeon as a standout among local startups and says the business looks solid.

"When I looked at them, for such an early startup they were showing one of the highest levels of revenue along with a team of seasoned managers who had worked years in the same industry" before striking out on their own, Hoey said. "What also stood out was that they already had products and customers. Those were clear signs of traction."

In terms of growth, the company's executives will, once again, be doing things their way.

"We do plan to grow," Pelekis said. "But we're not going to pick a revenue number out of thin air and say, 'now.' We want to remain client advocates and contribute to their success. We're only willing to grow at a pace that doesn't dilute that."

AEON COMPUTING

Founders and chief executives: Doug Johnson, Jeff Johnson and Peter Pelekis.

Startup capital: $20,000.

Year-to-date revenue: $800,000.

Headquarters: 4905 Morena Blvd., Suite 1313, San Diego.

Company description: Information technology services and equipment provider.