White Plains-based Spiral Universe, which has been gaining global recognition for its technological innovation as well as its business acumen, offers a web-based education information management platform. Its founders come from different parts of the world and span multiple generations.
The spiral begins with Reuben Kerben, Chief Executive Officer, a 26-year old entrepreneur, and his partner Andrei Volgen. It continues with David Blickstein, Director of Technology, and swirls to Andrew Fader, Marketing representative. Home base is located at 1300 Mamaroneck Ave., where a beehive of over 40 techies work, seated in the center of a huge room with lime green walls. Silicon Valley has come to White Plains. The city was chosen for corporate headquarters because it is considered a technical hub and very close to Manhattan, with a far less expensive rent.

Sub Head: The Team
Kerben, a native of Peru graduated from Yeshiva University in Manhattan and holds a degree from Hofstra Law School. He is a self-proclaimed entrepreneur. Since the age of twelve, when his friends spent summers at camp, he opted to stay home and develop Websites.  
In 1992, when the Soviet Union collapsed, Volgen, was a government employee writing for the Russian securities market. At 21, he was the world’s youngest member of the Securities and Exchange Commission. In 1999, the climate changed and the Moscow University graduate became “bored.”  Immigrating to the United States, he eventually teamed up with Kerben. Three years ago, they founded Spiral Universe.  
Enter, David Blickstein, Director of Technology, an engineer, with 30-years under his belt as an executive at Digital Equipment Corporation. The Rutgers graduate is well known for his many patents and published papers.
Marketing representative, Carnegie Mellon computer science major, Andrew Fader, came to Spiral Universe as an intern during the summer of 2009. Management was as impressed with Fader as he was with them, and arrangements were made with his school to allow him to remain as an employee, while earning college credits with his on-the-job training.  

Sub Head: The Product
Spiral 2.0 is an integrated software suite with over 30 modules that cover the many facets of a school's administration and educational processes. The entire system is Web-based, providing real-time access from any standard Internet browser. There are several levels of support packages with varying monthly costs, but the basic integrated system is free and available to all schools, regardless of financial means. In some ways, the Spiral system can be compared to distance learning. If educational material is not available in the classroom, students and teachers can access the data center to glean the information they need.
The company recently provided its program to the KeKaaya Vocational School and College in Uganda, where 900 underprivileged students from the poverty stricken area study. For Spiral, this agreement marked a major step forward in its worldwide presence.
The company’s technology, according to Kerben, has put Spiral Universe at the top of the list over its twelve closest competitors. They sell the support services at one-fiftieth of the cost of their largest competitor.  
Although Spiral does not advertise, approximately ten schools sign up every week. The big draw is the system’s simplicity—there is no hardware or software maintenance.
Spiral Universe is presently used in 45 countries. It is offered in English, French, Spanish, Chinese, Arabic and Russian. There are requests for Ukrainian, Hebrew, and Italian.  Program designers work worldwide from Ireland to Bangladesh to Westchester County.  
At home base in White Plains, Kerben says a happy employee is a good employee. He feels the open workspace is conducive to sharing ideas as well as developing professional and personal relations. There is a refrigerator filled with snacks and soft drinks, and an employee lounge where games are offered to keep the employees in good spirits. Interns are welcome.

Visit spiral.com for information about the company.