I have blogged about the BRW young rich list and even the rich 200 list, but every now and again either an individual or a group literally jumps out and grabs my attention. Entrepreneur success stories are not rare but are exciting and inspirational, especially when the individuals have tried and failed elsewhere. It speaks directly to the indomitable spirit of the entrepreneur.

Meet Pipe Networks co-founders Bevan Slattery and Stephen Baxter. They have just sold their business to SP Telemedia after the pair had separately tried their hands at many IT businesses in various guises across different parts of Australia. The company is the culmination of a dream of two “nerds” and old friends who re-united to establish Pipe Networks.

When they began, it was a less than stellar start. The gloom of the dotcom crash was everywhere and tech was, if not a dirty word then, certainly it had baggage. The two entrepreneurs decided to do the only thing that business responded to; they sought to build their credibility by making a profit consistently.

A down-to-earth approachable pair, they are humble and very funny, but it is their passion that lights up a room. And it is their passion that not only drives them but has pushed them to succeed.

In just seven short years, they have managed to build the third largest network of fibre optic cable in Australia. Last year Pipe Networks went one step further, building an undersea cable between Sydney and Guam that links Australia, the U.S. and Asia, and provides international bandwidth at competitive prices.

This huge undertaking that was beset by funding problems and countless setbacks has finally yielded a windfall of $51 million. Perseverance pays off. Bevan Slattery and Stephen Baxter’s story certainly serves as inspiration that big dreams are achievable and entrepreneur success stories abound.