Leaping Into ActionFrogPad uses vendor relationships to jump-start its financial success.

Linda Marroquin, CEO of computer-peripheral company FrogPad,turned dreams into dollars by sharing her vision with vendors. Tofund everything from production to marketing for her product--aone-handed keyboard for portable devices--Marroquin convincedvendors it would be a smash with consumers.

Buying into the vision, vendors offered payment terms thathelped Houston-based FrogPad defer over $1 million in costs duringthe product's launch and growth. "With sales increasing 25percent per month, vendor contributions have allowed us to sellproduct before we pay for it," says Marroquin, noting thatsome vendors give them extra time to pay invoices or have agreed toconvert debt into equity.