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Velocity11 is a laboratory automation and robotics company founded in 1999 and based in Menlo Park, CA. The company designs and builds a range of products designed to handle microplates.

Velocity11 was founded in 1999 in Palo Alto, CA by four engineers working together at Incyte's automation group. These four pulled together a team from employees at Incyte, Stanford grads and other alumni connections. The company was originally based in Palo Alto near the Fry's off El Camino, but then in 2005 moved 8 miles north to their current building in Menlo Park.

There are three different stories as to where the name came from.

1. On Earth, the escape velocity of an object is roughly 11 km/s. The founders had to escape Incyte, and they made fast equipment, so the 11 symbolized their need to escape Incyte with a certain amount of momentum, while "Velocity" was meant to convey that they were a fast-moving dynamic company that makes speedy automation solutions.

2. There were 11 original employees that were pulled from Incyte to start Velocity11. That explains the number 11, and again "Velocity" just means "fast".

3. A quote from Spinal Tap "These go to eleven" spoken by the guitarist Nigel when talking about their high-powered amplifier.

None of these explanations are completely true, but taken as a conglomeration they sum up what the founders were trying to convey. Each explanation illustrates a facet of the early history of the company and accurately describes the company's driving forces.

Velocity11 was ranked #16 in the 2006 Silicon Valley Technology Fast 50 rankings of the fastest growing companies in the Scientific & Medical Equipment and Bio-Technology category.

• Velocity11

• Technology Fast 50: Silicon Valley - Deloitte & Touche USA LLP