Brothers revel in success of Web company

VND managing partners Manuel and Javier Oblitas have had a long-standing love affair with technology. It started when they were kids in Peru; the brothers enjoyed video games so much they toyed with the idea of creating their own.

“If we couldn’t buy ’em, we made ’em,” Javier said.

After graduating from high school, they came to the United States, where both brothers took different turns with their future. Javier studied Information Systems/Electrical Engineering, while Manuel jumped from one job to another from managing restaurants to dabbling in the human resources field.

In 1999 they began taking on freelance projects, Javier specialized in computer repair and Manuel in Web-based business. It was during this time the brothers developed a database for Apartment Listing Service, which would find the best deal for apartment seekers. They maintained the Web site and database, while also being housed in the San Antonio office until 2005.

In 2002, they decided to open their business after the freelance work became more frequent. As the years progressed, the Oblitas brothers realized they needed a larger staff. They currently have 18 staff members with a 40 percent bilingual workforce bringing in annual revenues of $720,000.

“We’ve been growing and growing,” Manuel said.

Not only is the staff growing but the services VND offers are expanding as well. Manuel stresses that the business is “more than a Web design firm;” they break it down to three types of services they offer: web design/programming, IT tech/consulting support and hosting services. Manuel estimated that 60 percent of their business deals with Web design and hosting services.

“We do it all,” Javier said. “From beginning to end, we’re a one-stop shop.”

Manuel added, “If its technology we want to be exposed to it.”