The Utah Valley Entrepreneurial Forum (UVEF) announced winners of its 2009 “Top 25 Under Five” Awards spotlighting outstanding Utah entrepreneurs and start-up companies. Award recipients were recognized today at ceremonies held at the Provo Novell Campus. InnoVentures Captial Partners and The Daily Herald sponsored the event. UVEF recognized ZAGG, Inc. (www.zagg.com), a designer, manufacturer and distributer of protective clear coverings and accessories for electronic and hand-held devices, as the number one performer among Top 25 nominees.

"This is a tough economic climate for all businesses, right now, especially start-ups,” said UVEF 2009 chairman Roger Andrus. “These Top 25 winners overcame great odds by growing their revenues and creating jobs. They represent the spirit of entrepreneurship that will serve this state well.”

Lieutenant Governor Gary R. Herbert praised the winners during his keynote address at the event. He discussed the strength of entrepreneurship in Utah, and its impact on jobs.

This year’s other award recipients are Imagine Learning, OrangeSoda, Allegiance, Aribex, Navigator Business Solutions, LaneLinks, InsideSales.com, ZenPrint, FamilyLink.com, iTOK, Pfadt Race Engineering, Rockwell, Infuse Medical, Snapp Conner PR, IntelliSchematic, SEO.com, CastleWave, Jive Communications, Spoon Me, Rocketship, Big Brainz, The Ready Project, Isis Dei and CFOWise. Nominations were judged on revenue growth and job creation.

This is UVEF’s tenth Top 25 Under Five competition. UVEF has highlighted the development of more than 200 individuals and their companies through the ceremony, including Utah success stories like Agel Enterprises, Omniture, and Xango, among many others.