Orbitz + Surprisingly Entrepreneurial Airlines

Among the top three online travel sites. Late in 1999, United, Delta, Northwest and Continental decided to launch a competitor to upstart Expedia. They tapped Alex Zoghlin (see more at G2 Switchworks profile)as CTO and later Jeffrey Katz as CEO (he headed Swiss Air and Sabre). Orbitz went public, and the airlines cashed out to cover their debts. In 2004 Cendant bought Orbitz for just over $1B, and then consolidated other travel properties - Cheap Tickets, Galileo and Travelport - here in Chicago.  In 2006, the collective properties were sold to the Blackstone Group for $4.3B.

Dimensions:  350 people x 6 years x $240MM (source: Hoovers)
Funding: UAL, Delta, NWA, Continental, AA ~ $50MM total
Customers: Consumer and Corporate travelers
Location: Chicago [Downtown] + www.orbitz.com