Coffee Bean: one of the Cool Vendors in CRM Sales, 2011

Earlier this month, Coffee Bean Technology was recognized by Gartner as one of the “Cool Vendors in CRM Sales, 2011”. According to this publication, this year edition showcases technologies that facilitate daily sales activities using social, mobile and web-based tools to strengthen relationships with customers and prospects, improving the probability of closing more deals, faster.

Indeed, it is exactly what Coffee Bean Technology does. The company was founded in 2007 by John Lima and is based in Pleasanton, California, with engineering and sales offices in Campinas, Brazil. It develops solutions for Social Marketing and Social Sales, helping companies to use Social Media in Sales and Marketing to develop and nurture Customers Relationships.

According to John Lima, this award helps to position the company’s solution in the market and “it is the result of the hard work of a passionate team”, says John.

John is a successful entrepreneur of Silicon Valley, starting as a co-founder of Cyclades Corporation. Cyclades started in São Paulo during the 90’s and moved to California, having as customers 85% of the “Fortune 100 Companies” and being present in 16 countries. This company was sold in 2006 and in 2007 John founded Coffee Bean Technology.

An alumnus of Unicamp, he alternates his life between California and Campinas and his history inspires entrepreneurs to believe in their passions and to take advantage of the business opportunities offered by the globalization process and social media.

John has been positioning Coffee Bean as a company with R&D and development in California and Campinas, “doing this, I’m carrying our ecosystem flag. I’m proud to say that our software is partially made in the Polis*, in Campinas”, he says.

*Polis is a complex in Campinas where several successful companies and R&D institutes have their offices and operations.