Ninety is a business operating system that helps organizations run better meetings, track goals and performance (e.g., scorecards/to-dos), and work more effectively toward their vision. Pulse 2.0 interviewed Ninety founder and CEO Mark Abbott to gain a deeper understanding of the company.
Mark Abbott’s Background
Could you tell me more about your background? Abbott said:
“Over the past four decades, I’ve been a founder, investor, business coach and advisor. I’ve had the privilege of working across finance, private equity and organizational development. Those experiences gave me a front-row seat to the challenges leaders face and the patterns that make some companies thrive while others struggle. This led me to found Ninety, a cloud-based platform that helps teams run on EOS by simplifying the tools, disciplines, and meetings needed to build a great organization.”
“Before Ninety, I served as president of a $4 billion merchant banking platform, helped take its parent company public (NYSE: HFI), founded a $400 million commercial finance firm, and was a senior partner at a middle-market private equity firm. Over my career, I’ve lent more than $12 billion to over 450 companies, invested in over 100 organizations and helped generate over $1 billion in capital gains for investors. I’ve also served as a chairman or board member for dozens of companies, coaching leadership teams on growth, governance and building strong cultures.”
Formation Of The Company
How did the idea for the company come together? Abbott shared:
“The idea for Ninety came from years of sitting in boardrooms, coaching founders and watching well-intentioned teams struggle to run companies consistently. I kept seeing the same issue: they’d embrace a business operating system (like EOS), but the tools they used (spreadsheets, docs, whiteboards) made it hard to implement the system. The work was scattered, and accountability fell through the cracks.”
“That gap lit a fire in me, so I started building a platform to embed the rhythms, tools and disciplines of great companies into daily business operations. While the concept for Ninety initially started out as a tool, it evolved into a way for organizations to work productively, humanely and resiliently. Once I saw the problem clearly, I couldn’t help but build the solution.”
Core Products
What are the company’s core products and features? Abbott explained:
“Ninety is a cloud-based platform designed to embed the rhythms, tools, and disciplines of a high-functioning company into everyday work. It started by digitizing the key tools of EOS — Vision/Traction Organizer (V/TO), Rocks, Scorecard, Issues List, To-Dos, Level 10 Meetings, and the Accountability Chart — but has since grown into a full-scale Business Operating System (BOS) platform that helps teams build alignment, accountability, and clarity across the entire organization.”
“The real power of Ninety lies in how it brings everything together. Instead of scattered spreadsheets and siloed documents, teams operate in a single, integrated system. Every tool is built to support the habits and cadences of great work, including 90-day planning, weekly check-ins and continuous improvement. Over time, Ninety has evolved to include assessments, diagnostics, and the 90os framework to help companies not just run, but grow stronger, more resilient and future-ready.”
Challenges Faced
Have you faced any challenges in your sector of work recently? Abbott acknowledged:
“One of the biggest challenges in our sector is the sheer amount of noise. There’s no shortage of software platforms claiming to help organizations run better. Some are so lightweight they barely scratch the surface, while others are so complex they overwhelm teams before they can even get started. Our challenge has been to stand apart in that environment.”
“We’ve done that by staying relentlessly focused on what endures. We don’t chase trends for trend’s sake—we listen closely to what leaders actually need to build companies that last. That mindset shaped how we built Ninety, and it’s the same mindset behind Maz, our AI-powered assistant.”
“Maz wasn’t built to dazzle; it was built to help. It takes the rhythms and principles we know work — like great meetings, smart planning, and clear goals — and makes them easier to apply day in and day out. With Maz, we’re removing friction. That’s how we stay grounded: real problems, real work, real value.”
Evolution Of The Company’s Technology
How has the company’s technology evolved since launching? Abbott noted:
“We started small, focusing primarily on meetings and accountability tools. As we worked with more companies, it became clear they needed more than point solutions. They needed a true operating platform that offered a single space where they could track everything from their data and processes to their people and company vision.”
“Each iteration has made the product more intuitive, flexible and aligned with the real-world rhythms of how organizations grow and change. We’ve built Ninety to scale with a company, from ten people to a hundred people.”
Significant Milestones
What have been some of the company’s most significant milestones? Abbott cited:
“We closed a $35 million Series B funding round led by Blue Cloud Ventures, with participation from Catalyst Investors and Insight Partners. That investment validated our long-term strategy and has helped us accelerate product innovation.”
“More recently, we launched Maz, our AI-powered assistant that helps leaders build smarter work processes and refine their company goals.”
“We’ve also surpassed 17,000 customers globally, achieved over 80% year-over-year growth, and evolved Ninety from a digital implementation of EOS tools into a full business operating platform that helps organizations of all sizes align, measure and execute more effectively.”
Customer Success Stories
Can you share any specific customer success stories? Abbott highlighted:
“J&C Tropicals, a third-generation family-owned business based in Miami, faced challenges managing its growing remote teams and maintaining productivity. By implementing Ninety, they streamlined weekly meetings, tracked over 60 key performance indicators and enhanced communication across their six remote teams.”
“CEO Jessie Capote noted that, ‘Ninety allows us to simplify meeting schedules on a weekly basis, whether it is virtual or at the office. Ninety Meetings also eliminates unproductive and ad hoc meetings, which saves a lot of time. That’s what the big difference is for us.’”
“By providing a clear vision and disciplined planning framework, Ninety helped J&C Tropicals align their teams and effectively track KPIs. This clarity allowed them to reimagine their packing facilities and distribution centers, enhancing operational precision and scalability.”
Funding/Revenue
Are you able to discuss funding and/or revenue metrics? Abbott revealed:
“In 2024, Ninety achieved over $34 million in revenue, up from $24 million the previous year, reflecting our strong growth trajectory. We’ve been profitable since our inception and have bootstrapped our way to this point, which is a testament to the value our platform delivers to over 17,000 companies worldwide.”
“As noted previously, we raised a $35 million Series B funding round led by Blue Cloud Ventures. This investment, which valued Ninety at over $200 million, is fueling our expansion into new markets, enhancing our product development, and scaling our team to better serve the growing demand for our EOS native platform.”
Differentiation From The Competition
What differentiates the company from its competition? Abbott affirmed:
“At Ninety, we’ve spent the past eight years immersed in the lives of the entrepreneurial teams we serve, building an operating system that helps people run their companies with greater clarity, accountability, and confidence. What sets us apart isn’t just our EOS expertise or the scale of our platform — though we’re proud to support over 17,000 companies and work with more than 2,000 referring partners. It’s the depth of connection we have with our users. We’re deeply embedded in the communities they trust, partnering with organizations like EO, Vistage, YPO, and the Exit Planning Institute. We live the same rhythms as our customers: trying to win the week, to win the month, to win the quarter, to win the year.”
“We consider ourselves customer #1. That means we build with first-hand understanding of what high-performing teams actually need — from guided tools for Rocks and meetings to real-time insights and AI-powered support. Ninety is designed to meet teams where they are and grow with them, aligning work to the outcomes that matter most. That’s why leaders know us, love us, and trust us — not just to help them run EOS, but to help them build great, better, and better companies.”
Future Company Goals
What are some of the company’s future goals? Abbott emphasized:
“We want Ninety to become the world’s leading provider of EOS software and the category-defining BOS platform. To achieve this, we are continuing to evolve the product so it remains the best EOS software available and fully aligned with how workplaces are changing.”
“Our goal is to become the go-to solution for EOS implementers, coaches and companies running EOS at scale. By differentiating ourselves from EOS-adjacent tools, we highlight our unmatched depth, usability, and support for EOS practices. And through practical, scalable guidance, we continue helping leaders upgrade their BOS while positioning Ninety as both a champion and innovator within the EOS ecosystem.”
Additional Thoughts
Any other topics you would like to discuss? Abbott concluded:
“The only thing I’ll add is this: we’re living through one of the most extraordinary transitions in the history of work. Technology, demographics and global dynamics are reshaping how companies operate at a pace we’ve never seen before. The organizations that embrace clarity, structure and accountability will thrive. At Ninety, we’re actively building the tools to help companies shape this evolution. And that’s what excites me most.”
