Ontology Works, Inc. was founded in 1998 by Computer Scientists, Linguists and Analysts from the National Security Agency. At its founding, the Company resolved to be a product company with support services for implementation of our software. We decided to create software that uses high-fidelity models (ontologies) of the things a customer cares about and instantiate these models in deductive databases that inference over the models (ontologies), providing knowledge discovery, not just data retrieval. While this is the most technically challenging path to take, our success means that users have question-answering capabilities never before available. Consequently, we call these systems “Ontology Works Knowledge Servers,” not “databases”. We continue to build on this success and now offer a suite of capabilities that offer proven returns on investment.

The Company emphasizes ethical conduct in all its endeavors and complete honesty with customers. If we can't solve a customer problem, we will clearly say so. For our employees we offer a family-friendly work environment that values outcome and output over any particular process, while providing technically and intellectually challenging work.

In February 2006, Ontology Works moved to the old National Brewery complex in Baltimore, Maryland. Now converted to offices, the brewery offers a terrific view of the Baltimore waterfront and is part of a large redevelopment effort in the Canton and Brewer's Hill neighborhoods of Baltimore.

What's with the dirigibles?

We chose the dirigible theme for our logo and marketing so that people would ask, “What's with the dirigibles?” We think they give, paradoxically, the sense of gravitas and inevitability that characterizes Ontology Works. And they get your attention. No, dirigibles built by the United States were filled with non-flammable helium. New dirigible efforts are under way in different countries – so they are retro-modern.