Webmail.us, a Blacksburg e-mail hosting service-turned-global business, is recognized in the new issue of Inc. magazine as one of America's fastest growing private companies.

The 1999 startup ranked No. 217 out of 500 in the publication's September issue.

Inc. bills itself as a resource for entrepreneurs and chief operating executives. Its top 500 list is often viewed by business leaders as the who's who guide to the nation's most innovative companies.

"It shows the world what we see every day," said Bill Boebel, 30, co-founder and chief technology officer of Webmail.us. The company, he said, has experienced almost exponential growth, doubling its size every year since 2002. Its services allow businesses to outsource their e-mail accounts.

Webmail.us currently has 60 employees and runs e-mail operations for about 70,000 small- and medium-size businesses around the world. In all, it manages about 580,000 e-mail accounts. Some of its clients are as far away as India and Malaysia.

Revenues for the company have also surged in recent years, jumping from $279,671 in 2003 to $3.2 million in 2006, according to the Inc. report.

Even as the company increases its customer base, Chief Executive Officer Pat Matthews, 30, credited its success to staying focused on one product. "Many companies provide e-mail services, but it is the only thing we do," Matthews said. "We got really good at it. We've become a recognized leader in the industry."

Webmail.us was the only Southwest Virginia company to appear on the 500 list. It ranked 17th among the 35 companies based in the commonwealth.

Asked whether the company's founders had anticipated such rapid global expansion, Boebel replied: "Actually, it sounds arrogant, but yes. We got into the business to build something big and great."

What came as a surprise to him was ranking so high on Inc.'s coveted list. "I pictured we'd be at 489," Boebel said.