Enron Mail

From:venturewire@venturewire.com
To:jdasovic@enron.com
Subject:VentureWire, Thursday, May 17, 2001
Cc:
Bcc:
Date:Thu, 17 May 2001 00:49:00 -0700 (PDT)

=09=09?=09
?=09VentureWire
=09Thursday, May 17, 2001=09=09?
?=09CONTENTS | COMPANIES | INVESTORS | ADVERTISE | TELL A FRIEND=09VentureW=
ire Index
=09=09'VentureWire
=09=09today: 712.9 ? +1.26%=09?
? =09=09
=09=09
=09=09top stories
=09=09
=09=09 =01=07 Mobile Internet Firm Tahoe Launches with $38M First Round
=09=09 =01=07 Accelerator Startups.com Changes Model & Name, Cuts 30%
=09=09 =01=07 Hermes Set to Invest $965M for BTPS in Companies and Funds
=09=09 =01=07 OffRoad Capital Splits into Two Divisions, Lays Off 50% =20
=09=09
=09=09UPCOMING EVENTS
=09=09Enterprise Outlook 2001
=09=0990 private enterprise companies already comfirmed to present their bu=
siness=20
plans Register for Enterprise Outlook to learn more!
=09=09
=09=09TODAY'S FEATURES
=09=09Flatiron Denies Rumours of Demise
=09=09By Taran Provost
=09=09Flatiron Partners is not being dismantled and will continue to aggres=
sively=20
seek out new investment opportunities, a partner at the firm told=20
VentureWire. more<<
=09=09
=09=09
=09=09The Industry Standard
=09=09THE INDUSTRY STANDARD provides a critical and irreverent
=09=09look at how information and technology are changing the
=09=09rules of business. Get the business intelligence you need
=09=09to stay ahead of the competition.
=09=09TRY THE INDUSTRY STANDARD -- RISK FREE. Get 4 FREE issues
=09=09and find out why THE INDUSTRY STANDARD is the news magazine
=09=09you can't lead without. Take advantage of this special
=09=09offer at:http://secure.thestandard.com/subscribe/7JAT
=09=09
=09=09
=09=09
=09=09Kodiak Venture Partners Looking At Data Deals
=09=09By Suzanne Segers Travers
=09=09Kodiak Venture Partners of Concord, Mass. more<<
=09=09
=09=09iBase Wants to Broaden Its Base To US
=09=09By Jonathan Shieber
=09=09London-based digital asset management firm iBase is looking to expand=
its US=20
operations, according to Brendan Flattery, the company's chief executive=20
officer. The company, which raised GBP 4.2 million ($6 million) in a Series=
B=20
funding last week, has established an office in New York and has hired=20
Parthenon Group, a market analysis firm with offices in Boston, London, and=
=20
San Francisco, to help determine where iBase will concentrate its initial=
=20
efforts to penetrate the American market. more<<
=09=09
=09=09DataSynapse To Close $15 Series B
=09=09By Michelle Tsai
=09=09DataSynapse, a peer-to-peer software platform for distributed computi=
ng in=20
the financial services and energy industries, expects to close $15 million =
in=20
Series B funding within two weeks, said CEO Peter Lee. more<<
=09=09
=09=09
=09=09
=09=09
=09=09new money
=09=09
=09=09 =01=07 InterWest Makes Series A Investment in Pharma Company Algorx
=09=09 =01=07 Alphamosaic Spins Out from Arthur D. Little with $9 Million
=09=09 =01=07 Fiber-Optics Components Firm Comlase Gets $3.5M Series A
=09=09 =01=07 Mobile Apps Firm Xora Secures $7M Round One
=09=09 =01=07 E.Intelligence Caps $8M Round Two Led by Commonwealth
=09=09 =01=07 Foundstone Closes Series B at $9 Million
=09=09 =01=07 Customer Services Firm Yube Gets $2 Million in Series B=20
=09=09=01=07 eVentures Group Takes Minority Stake in White Amber
=09=09 =01=07 Beyond Genomics Secures $5 Million Strategic Investment
=09=09 =01=07 Korean Online Transaction Firm Cpocket Gets $1.1M
=09=09 =01=07 Embark Gets $3 Million, Bringing Series F to $8 Million
=09=09 =01=07 Orange to Become Third Co-owner in 3G Infrastructure
=09=09
=09=09
=09=09bad news
=09=09
=09=09 =01=07 Linux-based Software Developer Eazel Closes
=09=09 =01=07 RoundArch Cuts 12% of North American Staff
=09=09
=09=09
=09=09new products
=09=09
=09=09 =01=07 Online and Analytical Consultancy Compete Announces Launch
=09=09 =01=07 EdgeMatrix and MobileOne Form Wireless Intellect Labs
=09=09 =01=07 Sightward Launches and Introduces First Product
=09=09 =01=07 Terrace Mountain Changes Name to Impart Technology
=09=09
=09=09
=09=09m&a
=09=09
=09=09 =01=07 All Bases Covered Makes Second Acquistion in a Week
=09=09 =01=07 Princeton eCom Buys Venture Finance Software from Intuit
=09=09 =01=07 Net Printing Products Firm PrintCafe Buys Assets of Impresse
=09=09 =01=07 Lost Boys, Incubation and Design Firm, Makes Acquisitions
=09=09 =01=07 Pitman Acquires Online Printing Equipment Firm PrintNation
=09=09 =01=07 Poster Firm Bignose Acquires Photo Finishing Site Eframes
=09=09 =01=07 eKit.com Buys Call Sciences' International Calling Card Biz
=09=09
=09=09
=09=09new directors
=09=09
=09=09 =01=07 Clarity Names First Chairman=20
=09=09
=09=09
=09=09new people
=09=09
=09=09 =01=07 SmartBargains Appoints Former Barnes&Noble.com Exec to CEO
=09=09 =01=07 Creative Planet Promotes CFO to President
=09=09 =01=07 CyLex Systems Appoints New President & CEO
=09=09 =01=07 Net Security Firm Zone Labs Names First President and COO
=09=09 =01=07 PrivateExpress Appoints New President & CEO
=09=09 =01=07 EVLogix Officially Appoints Founder as President & CEO
=09=09
=09=09
=09=09vc fund news
=09=09
=09=09 =01=07 Israeli Telecom Firm Bezeq Teams Up to Start $50M VC Fund
=09=09
=09=09
=09=09vc personnel
=09=09
=09=09 =01=07 Encompass Ventures Adds New Associate to Team
=09=09 =01=07 Atlas Venture Names Entrepreneur as Venture Partner
=09=09
=09=09
=09=09vw corrections
=09=09
=09=09 =01=07 MolecularWare
=09=09
=09=09 TOP STORIES... NEW MONEY... BAD NEWS... NEW PRODUCTS... M&A... NEW=
=20
DIRECTORS... NEW PEOPLE... VC FUND NEWS... VC PERSONNEL... VW CORRECTIONS
=09=09
=09=09
=09=09top
=09=09
=09=09
=09=09Hot New Development - Mobile Outlook, June 5 & 6,
=09=09San Francisco Airport Marriott
=09=09
=09=09Exciting, new speakers have just been added to Mobile
=09=09Outlook. George Davis, vice chairman and president of
=09=09Aether Systems, will discuss how his company powers
=09=09mobile and wireless data services for Charles Schwab,
=09=09National Discount Brokers, Allegiance Health Care, the
=09=09U.S. Postal Service, Office Depot, Nissan, and more.
=09=09
=09=09With industry leaders and trendsetters such as George
=09=09Davis planning to be in attendance at Mobile Outlook,
=09=09why aren't you? Mobile Outlook is less than 3 weeks away,
=09=09so register online today:http://www.mobile2001.net/register.asp
=09=09
=09=09
=09=09
=09=09top stories
=09=09?
=09=09Mobile Internet Firm Tahoe Launches with $38M First Round
=09=09 mail? top
=09=09
=09=09 SAN JOSE, Calif. (VENTUREWIRE) -- Newly launched Tahoe Networks, a=
=20
developer of networking infrastructure for mobile data networks, announced=
=20
the completion of a $38 million first round led by Redpoint Ventures, with=
=20
participation from Accel Partners. Geoff Yang of Redpoint and Jim Goetz of=
=20
Accel are taking seats on Tahoe's six-member board of directors. Tahoe said=
=20
the financing would be used for product development, sales, and to increase=
=20
its staff of 50 to over 120 by the end of the year. The company said it=20
expects to launch commercially in the latter half of 2002. Mika Uusitalo, t=
he=20
former CTO of Sonera, heads Tahoe Networks' European office in Tampere,=20
Finland. Tahoe Networks was founded in January 2001 by CEO Anthony Alles an=
d=20
president and CTO Arthur Lin, formerly Cisco executives and the co-founders=
=20
of Shasta Networks. Nortel Networks acquired Shasta Networks in April 1999=
=20
for $340 million.=20
=09=09http://www.tahoenetworks.com
=09=09
=09=09
=09=09Accelerator Startups.com Changes Model & Name, Cuts 30%
=09=09 mail? top
=09=09
=09=09 NEW YORK (VENTUREWIRE) -- Startups.com, previously a company acceler=
ator,=20
said it changed its business model to become a market intelligence firm,=20
changed its name to Startups, Inc., and laid off 11 of its 35 member staff =
in=20
its latest round of layoffs. The company will still offer some of the same=
=20
services to startup companies, but its primary clients will now be service=
=20
providers to which the firm will offer online decision support tools, marke=
t=20
insights, and help with facilitating relationships with startups. CEO Donna=
=20
Jensen said the company will no longer go out and physically set up=20
companies. At the end of January, Startups said it was preparing to lay off=
=20
some of its then 65-member staff. Ms. Jensen said the company cut those=20
employees involved with services it no longer offered and the company will=
=20
hire more staff for its new products and services. She said Startups, which=
=20
will most likely be back to having a 35-member staff by the end of the year=
,=20
has enough funding to last through the end ! of next year when the company=
=20
expects to be profitable. Startups has raised $15 million over two rounds o=
f=20
funding. Backers include Redleaf Venture Management, Garage.com, Constantin=
=20
Partners, CrossFire Ventures, Roni Capital, Staenberg Venture Partners,=20
Venture Factory, and individuals. =20
=09=09http://www.startups.com
=09=09
=09=09
=09=09Hermes Set to Invest $965M for BTPS in Companies and Funds
=09=09 mail? top
=09=09
=09=09 LONDON (VENTUREWIRE) -- Hermes Pensions Management, the manager of t=
he=20
British Telecommunications Pension Scheme (BTPS) and other pension funds,=
=20
said BTPS had allocated $965 million for investing in private companies and=
=20
funds that invest in private companies. Hermes said it will invest up to $5=
0=20
million in the Botts Capital Partners 2 fund, a recently started fund manag=
ed=20
by the London-based private investment bank Botts & Co. In addition, Hermes=
=20
said it has committed $7.1 million for a 10.5% equity stake in Botts & Co.=
=20
and has the option to invest an additional $7.1 million to gain up to 21%=
=20
equity in Botts. Tony Watson is the chief investment officer for Hermes.=20
Hermes Pensions Management has $71.5 billion in assets under management.=20
=09=09http://www.hermes.co.uk
=09=09
=09=09
=09=09OffRoad Capital Splits into Two Divisions, Lays Off 50% =20
=09=09mail? top
=09=09
=09=09 SAN FRANCISCO (VENTUREWIRE) -- OffRoad Capital, an online private se=
curities=20
and technology firm that helps raise funding for startups and venture funds=
=20
using its online network, said it is reorganizing into two independent but=
=20
related businesses: OffRoad Technologies and OffRoad Capital. Both business=
es=20
will be subsidiaries of OffRoad, Inc., the new name for the parent holding=
=20
company. The firm also said it will cut 50% of its staff, from 60 to 30=20
employees. OffRoad said the reorganization and reductions will lower its=20
capital requirements and give it flexibility for financing and growing the=
=20
businesses independently of each other. OffRoad Technologies will focus on=
=20
marketing its private finance technology platform and services. OffRoad=20
Capital, the company's investment banking business, will continue to operat=
e=20
under the OffRoad Capital name and will be headed by its current leaders=20
Richard Bowman and Tripp Brower. John A. Forlines III and David B. Weir,=20
co-CEOs of OffRoad, have both resigned, but w! ill remain on the board of=
=20
directors of OffRoad Inc. Stephen D. Pelletier, OffRoad's founder and=20
chairman, resumes the role of CEO of the holding company. The company made =
41=20
layoffs in February after a $6 million round of funding. OffRoad's backers=
=20
include Mayfield Fund and ING Barings.=20
=09=09http://www.offroadcapital.com
=09=09
=09=09
=09=09new money
=09=09?
=09=09InterWest Makes Series A Investment in Pharma Company Algorx
=09=09 mail? top
=09=09
=09=09 MENLO PARK, Calif. (VENTUREWIRE) -- InterWest Partners, a venture fi=
rm in=20
Menlo Park, Calif., has told VentureWire that it has made an undisclosed=20
Series A investment in Wilton, Conn.-based Algorx Pharmaceuticals, a compan=
y=20
developing prescription pain relief medications. Together with J.P. Morgan=
=20
Partners and Sofinova Ventures, Algorx has raised a total of $1.5 million.=
=20
Each firm has received a board seat as a result of its investment. The=20
company may land as much as $9 million in the round if it meets various=20
milestones, said InterWest senior associate Chris Ehrlich. Algorx was=20
developed in house at InterWest Partners. Algorx will use the Series A=20
funding for product development and other purposes. =20
=09=09http://www.algorx.com =20
=09=09
=09=09
=09=09Alphamosaic Spins Out from Arthur D. Little with $9 Million
=09=09 mail? top
=09=09
=09=09 CAMBRIDGE, U.K. (VENTUREWIRE) -- Alphamosaic, which designs fabless=
=20
semiconductor chips for mobile video, announced spinning off from Arthur D.=
=20
Little and securing $9 million in venture funding from Prelude Trust. Prelu=
de=20
director Alan Duncan will become the fourth member of the board as a result=
=20
of the funding. The company said it will use the funds for product=20
development. The company said it expects the funding to last until early=20
2002. Alphamosaic began developing technology at Arthur D. Little's=20
technology arm Cambridge Consultants last May.=20
=09=09http://www.alphamosaic.com
=09=09
=09=09
=09=09Fiber-Optics Components Firm Comlase Gets $3.5M Series A
=09=09 mail? top
=09=09
=09=09 STOCKHOLM (VENTUREWIRE) -- Comlase, a Swedish developer of active co=
mponents=20
for metropolitan fiber-optics networks, said it has received Series A=20
financing of $3.5 million from European Equity Partners and=20
InnovationsKapital. The company plans to dedicate the new funds to chip and=
=20
module development. Comlase was founded in January 2001.
=09=09http://www.comlase.com
=09=09
=09=09
=09=09Mobile Apps Firm Xora Secures $7M Round One
=09=09 mail? top
=09=09
=09=09 MOUNTAIN VIEW, Calif. (VENTUREWIRE) -- Xora, a provider of wireless =
and=20
speech-enabling data applications, announced that it has secured $7 million=
=20
in a first round of venture funding led by Wit SoundView Ventures, with=20
unnamed individuals participating. The company plans to use the new funds f=
or=20
marketing and research and development. Post-money, the company is valued a=
t=20
$18 million. As a result of this financing, Ned Carlson, senior vice=20
president of Wit SoundView Ventures, joined as the third member of the Xora=
=20
board of directors, which still has two seats open. Xora plans to seek a=20
second round between $15 million and $20 million by the end of this year an=
d=20
expects it to close in the first quarter of 2002.=20
=09=09http://www.xora.com
=09=09
=09=09
=09=09E.Intelligence Caps $8M Round Two Led by Commonwealth
=09=09 mail? top
=09=09
=09=09 MINNEAPOLIS (VENTUREWIRE) -- e.Iintelligence, which provides softwar=
e for=20
demand chain management, said it has closed an $8 million second round led =
by=20
new investor Commonwealth Capital Ventures with participation from other ne=
w=20
investors Brightstone Capital, Barnard & Co., and Discovery Ventures.=20
Existing investor JMI Equity Fund, which had held a majority of the company=
=20
after round one, participated in this round but did not maintain its share.=
=20
First round investor SPSS did not reinvest. Post-money, the company garnere=
d=20
a valuation of about $20 million in this up round. Justin Perreault, genera=
l=20
partner at Commonwealth Capital, and Arnold Silverman, principal of Discove=
ry=20
Ventures, join the board, bringing the total number of directors to six.=20
Funds will be used for marketing and sales and are expected to last for at=
=20
least a year. e.Intelligence expects to become cash flow positive in 2002.
=09=09http://www.eintelligence-inc.com
=09=09
=09=09
=09=09Foundstone Closes Series B at $9 Million
=09=09 mail? top
=09=09
=09=09 IRVINE, Calif. (VENTUREWIRE) -- Foundstone, which provides managed a=
nd=20
professional security assessment services and education, said it closed its=
=20
Series B at $9 million with funding from new investors Riordan, Lewis &=20
Haden, and Wilson; Sonsini, Goodrich, & Rosati; and return investor OVP=20
Venture Partners, which invested $2.7 million. The company said that the=20
money will be used for business development, sales and marketing, and=20
research and development. In March 2000, Foundstone announced it had launch=
ed=20
and raised $3 million in first-round financing from OVP.
=09=09http://www.foundstone.com
=09=09
=09=09
=09=09Customer Services Firm Yube Gets $2 Million in Series B=20
=09=09mail? top
=09=09
=09=09 SANTA CLARA, Calif. (VENTUREWIRE) -- Yube, a provider of Web-based s=
oftware=20
for customer services, announced that it has raised $2 million from Labrado=
r=20
Ventures in its first closing of a Series B round financing. Yube plans to=
=20
use the new capital for sales and marketing expansion. The company expects =
to=20
raise an additional $5 million before closing the round within the next few=
=20
months. Larry Kubal, a managing director at Labrador, currently holds a sea=
t=20
on the company's three-member board of directors, which also includes priva=
te=20
investor Reza Mikaili. The company expects to make two appointments to its=
=20
board once the Series B is completed. To date, Yube has raised $4 million i=
n=20
venture capital, and has a valuation of $10.5 million.=20
=09=09http://www.yube.com
=09=09
=09=09
=09=09eVentures Group Takes Minority Stake in White Amber
=09=09 mail? top
=09=09
=09=09 LAKE SUCCESS, N.Y. (VENTUREWIRE) -- White Amber, a provider of Web-e=
nabled=20
staffing management services, said it has received an undisclosed amount of=
=20
strategic financing from First Union's eVentures Group. The company plans t=
o=20
dedicate the new funds to sales and marketing. In conjunction with the=20
minority stake, White Amber announced that First Union has decided to=20
implement its flagship staffing technology to manage its contract workforce=
.=20
To date, White Amber has raised approximately $32 million in two rounds of=
=20
financing. Previous venture investors include Infinity Capital Venture Fund=
,=20
Venrock Associates, and RRE Ventures.
=09=09http://www.whiteamber.com
=09=09
=09=09
=09=09Beyond Genomics Secures $5 Million Strategic Investment
=09=09 mail? top
=09=09
=09=09 CAMBRIDGE, Mass. (VENTUREWIRE) -- Beyond Genomics, which is developi=
ng a=20
systems biology platform to provide new insights into molecular mechanisms =
of=20
health and diseases, announced that it has secured a $5 million strategic=
=20
equity investment from Elan Corp., a pharmaceutical company focused on=20
Alzheimer's disease therapeutics and diagnostics. The investment was made a=
s=20
part of partnership between the two companies to jointly apply novel system=
s=20
biology technologies in Alzheimer's disease research. Beyond Genomics was=
=20
co-founded by NewcoGen, a unit of NewcoGen Group, and has received $5.5=20
million of Series A funding from NewcoFunds and OneLiberty Ventures.=20
=09=09http://www.beyondgenomics.com
=09=09
=09=09
=09=09Korean Online Transaction Firm Cpocket Gets $1.1M
=09=09 mail? top
=09=09
=09=09 SEOUL, Korea (VENTUREWIRE) -- Cpocket, which provides billing and pa=
yment=20
services online, has raised KRW 1.5 billion ($1.1 million) from Korea=20
Development Bank and KDB Capital, according to president K. H. Kim.=20
Post-money, the company has a valuation of $20 million. Funds will be used=
=20
for infrastructure and are expected to last until September. The company=20
expects to have $3 million in revenues this year.=20
=09=09http://www.cpocket.com
=09=09
=09=09
=09=09Embark Gets $3 Million, Bringing Series F to $8 Million
=09=09 mail? top
=09=09
=09=09 SAN FRANCISCO (VENTUREWIRE) -- Embark, which provides software for h=
igher=20
education, said it has secured $3 million from Norwest Venture Partners, Do=
ll=20
Capital Management, and Morgan Stanley Dean Witter Venture Partners, bringi=
ng=20
Series F funding to $8 million. The company, which received $5 million in=
=20
debt financing from those three investors in November, declined to say=20
whether the debt financing converted to equity. The company said that funds=
=20
will be used for product development.
=09=09http://www.embark.com
=09=09
=09=09
=09=09Orange to Become Third Co-owner in 3G Infrastructure
=09=09 mail? top
=09=09
=09=09 STOCKHOLM (VENTUREWIRE) -- Orange, a wireless communications company=
, said=20
it has signed a letter to buy a third of of 3G Infrastructure, a joint=20
venture between Europolitan Vodafone and Hi3G Access that will provide 3G=
=20
mobile telephony infrastructure. 3G will operate in areas outside of=20
Goteborg, Malmo, and Stockholm. Orange is owned by France Tlcom, Bredband=
=20
Mobil, Skanska, NTL, and Schibsted. Hutchison Whampoa has a 60% stake in Hi=
3G=20
and Sweden's Investor AB holds the remaining 40%.=20
=09=09http://www.orangecommunications.nu
=09=09
=09=09
=09=09bad news
=09=09?
=09=09Linux-based Software Developer Eazel Closes
=09=09 mail? top
=09=09
=09=09 MOUNTAIN VIEW, Calif. (VENTUREWIRE) -- Eazel, a developer of user-in=
terface=20
software and system management services for Linux, said it has ceased=20
operations. In a note posted on its Web site, the company said it could not=
=20
secure additional funding. The company laid off 40 of its 75 employees two=
=20
months ago, citing the difficult funding environment and its efforts to=20
release a new product, a services platform slated for roll out this spring.=
=20
The company had already launched its first product, Nautilus I, a front-end=
=20
client product. In the note, the company stated "We are confident ... that=
=20
Nautilus' development will continue forward." The company raised=20
approximately $15 million over two rounds of funding. Backers included Acce=
l=20
Partners. When asked last Friday about a possible shutdown, Eazel said it h=
ad=20
no comment. The company's phone has since been disconnected. Accel Parnters=
=20
did not return calls. Eazel was founded by several widely-known veterans of=
=20
Apple Computer, including Mike Boich, Andy Hertzfeld! , and Mike Homer.
=09=09http://www.eazel.com
=09=09
=09=09
=09=09RoundArch Cuts 12% of North American Staff
=09=09 mail? top
=09=09
=09=09 CHICAGO (VENTUREWIRE) -- RoundArch, a provider of customer relations=
hip=20
services, said it cut approximately 34 people, or 12% of its 290 member=20
staff, from its North American offices. The company said the cuts were=20
prompted by a need to adjust the company's size to current growth=20
projections. The company said that all of the laid-off employees received=
=20
severance. RoundArch said it is profitable and has no plans to seek=20
additional funding. The company was founded in May 2000 with $10 million fr=
om=20
Deloitte Consulting, Broadvision, and the WPP Group. RoundArch also has=20
offices in Toronto and London.
=09=09http://www.roundarch.com
=09=09
=09=09
=09=09new products
=09=09?
=09=09Online and Analytical Consultancy Compete Announces Launch
=09=09 mail? top
=09=09
=09=09 BOSTON (VENTUREWIRE) -- Compete, which provides online and analytica=
l=20
consulting services focused on customer intelligence, announced its launch.=
=20
Founded in August 2000, Compete offers Compete First Take, an online=20
subscription service that provides metrics; Industry Capsule, which looks a=
t=20
subjects like online brokerage and financial information sources; and=20
consulting services. Compete is backed by Charles River Ventures and=20
idealab!. Man Jit Singh is the company's CEO.=20
=09=09http://www.compete.com
=09=09
=09=09
=09=09EdgeMatrix and MobileOne Form Wireless Intellect Labs
=09=09 mail? top
=09=09
=09=09 SINGAPORE (VENTUREWIRE) -- Edgematrix, a developer of information=20
infrastructure technology products and professional services, and MobileOne=
,=20
a mobile operator, announced they have agreed to form Wireless Intellect=20
Labs, an independent wireless research center that will focus on wireless=
=20
broadband software, and multichannel commerce and transactions. Both=20
companies will invest $1 million to fund the center in the first year.=20
Wireless Intellect Labs will begin operations in the third quarter, and wil=
l=20
license its technology to telecommunications operators and manufacturers.=
=20
Approximately 10 employees will staff the company. The company also expects=
=20
to hire a general manager by the third quarter. Mr. Varun Arora, senior=20
director of planning and development at EdgeMatrix, will head the research=
=20
center. EdgeMatrix is backed by over $12 million from 3i, Agency.com, and=
=20
NetworkAsia. MobileOne is backed by Keppel Group, Singapore Press Holdings,=
=20
and Greater Eastern Telecommunications.=20
=09=09http://www.edgematrix.com
=09=09http://www.m1.com.sg
=09=09
=09=09
=09=09Sightward Launches and Introduces First Product
=09=09 mail? top
=09=09
=09=09 BELLEVUE, Wash. (VENTUREWIRE) -- Sightward, a predictive analytics c=
ompany,=20
said it launched and will begin offering products. The company recently=20
changed its name from Applied Inference, but has not changed its direction =
as=20
a result of the new name, a company spokeswoman said. In 1999, CTO Rod Cook=
=20
founded Sightward and is a member of the six person board. Kevin Klustner i=
s=20
the company's president and CEO. The company has raised $5 million to date=
=20
from Northwest Venture, Fluke Venture Partners, Timberline Venture Partners=
,=20
eFund, and an undisclosed individual.=20
=09=09http://www.sightward.com
=09=09
=09=09
=09=09Terrace Mountain Changes Name to Impart Technology
=09=09 mail? top
=09=09
=09=09 AUSTIN (VENTUREWIRE) -- Terrace Mountain Systems, a provider of soft=
ware for=20
embedded wireless services, said it has changed its name to Impart=20
Technology. The company, which had previously provided consulting services=
=20
for embedded communication systems, has refocused on its software business.=
=20
Impart expects to launch its first product in about four weeks. To date, th=
e=20
company has raised $2.5 million in two rounds from AV Labs, Convergent=20
Investors, G51 Capital, and Techxas Ventures. Impart expects to begin raisi=
ng=20
$5 million to $7 million in Series C funding within 60 days.
=09=09http://www.imparttech.com
=09=09
=09=09
=09=09m&a
=09=09?
=09=09All Bases Covered Makes Second Acquistion in a Week
=09=09 mail? top
=09=09
=09=09 REDWOOD CITY, Calif. (VENTUREWIRE) -- All Bases Covered (ABC), which=
=20
provides IT consulting and outsourcing services for small offices, said it=
=20
has acquired Mission Critical Systems, an outsourced IT services provider t=
o=20
Denver's legal community, in a cash and stock deal. Full terms of the=20
transaction were not disclosed. Mission Critical employed five people that=
=20
will move into ABC's offices. Earlier this week, ABC announced it acquired=
=20
Boston-based Advanced Network Technology Services (ANTS), a technology=20
service provider. ABC has raised $77 million to date from backers Ironwood=
=20
Capital, Red Rock Ventures, and Technology Crossover Ventures. ABC was=20
founded in October 1997.=20
=09=09http://www.allcovered.com
=09=09
=09=09
=09=09Princeton eCom Buys Venture Finance Software from Intuit
=09=09 mail? top
=09=09
=09=09 PRINCETON, N.J. (VENTUREWIRE) -- Princeton eCom, which provides ele=
ctronic=20
billing and payment services to corporations and banks, said it acquired=20
Intuit's online bill and payment service, Quicken Bill Manager, and all the=
=20
outstanding shares of Venture Finance Software, a wholly owned subsidiary =
of=20
publicly traded Intuit. Financial details of the deal were undisclosed. As=
=20
part of the deal Intuit has the option to take a 20% equity stake in=20
Princeton or the cash equivalent in February 2002. Princeton also said it=
=20
made employment offers to the 25 employees from Intuit's Quicken division a=
nd=20
plans to open an office in the vicinity of Intuit's Quicken offices in=20
Mountain View, Calif. Princeton eCom raised $20 million in convertible debt=
=20
in April from existing investors Mellon Ventures and New Century Equity=20
Holdings. The company has raised over $104 million from BT Investment=20
Partners; Bottomline Technologies; Mellon Ventures; New Century Equity=20
Holdings, which owns 42.5% of the firm; SG Capital P! artners; and Terra=20
Lycos Ventures.
=09=09http://www.princetonecom.com
=09=09
=09=09
=09=09Net Printing Products Firm PrintCafe Buys Assets of Impresse
=09=09 mail? top
=09=09
=09=09 PITTSBURGH (VENTUREWIRE) -- printCafe, which provides Internet-based=
,=20
business-to-business products and services for the printing and publishing=
=20
industry, announced it has acquired all of the intellectual property assets=
=20
of Impresse, a provider of Internet commerce services focused on commercial=
=20
printing procurement that has gone bankrupt, for an undisclosed amount.=20
printCafe purchased the assets from Sherwood Partners, a technology busines=
s=20
advisory firm, that is the assignee of Impresse's assets for the benefit of=
=20
its creditors. Last October, following the resignation of its CEO Nimish=20
Mehta, Impresse laid of an undisclosed number of employees. Impresse, which=
=20
has since shut down, was funded by Adobe Ventures, Amerindo Investment=20
Advisors, Atlas Ventures, BancBoston Ventures, Benchmark Capital, Comdisco,=
=20
Gilbert Global Equity Partners, Hambrecht & Quist Ventures, JW Seligman &=
=20
Co., Kleiner Perkins Caufield & Byers, Palantir Capital, and Van Wagoner=20
Capital Management. printCafe, which has raised ! $113 million in funding t=
o=20
date, is backed by Creo Products; Prography Systems; HarbourVest Partners;=
=20
Weiss, Peck & Greer; and Mellon Ventures. =20
=09=09http://www.printCafe.com
=09=09
=09=09
=09=09Lost Boys, Incubation and Design Firm, Makes Acquisitions
=09=09 mail? top
=09=09
=09=09 AMSTERDAM (VENTUREWIRE) -- Lost Boys, a pan-European provider of inc=
ubation=20
and new media services based in the Netherlands, said it has merged with th=
e=20
German branding and design firm MetaDesign. MetaDesign also has operations =
in=20
Zurich and San Francisco. The merger with MetaDesign comes two days after t=
he=20
company announced the acquisition of French interactive technology company=
=20
Lab Production. Lost Boys is backed Roel Pieper, which took an undisclosed=
=20
equity stake in the company in 1998. In May 2000 the Amsterdam-based firm=
=20
acquired two Dutch companies, Netcast, an Internet business-to-business=20
services firm, and Internet consulting firm MVLG. The Lost Boys incubator h=
as=20
launched one company, NedCargo, an online marketplace for ocean container=
=20
transportation.
=09=09http://www.lostboys.com
=09=09
=09=09
=09=09Pitman Acquires Online Printing Equipment Firm PrintNation
=09=09 mail? top
=09=09
=09=09 TOTOWA, N.J. (VENTUREWIRE) -- Pitman, which provides digital imaging=
=20
services, traditional pre-press and pressroom products, announced it has=20
acquired PrintNation, an online printing equipment and supplies store, for =
an=20
undisclosed amount. Pitman said it will retain the PrintNation name for the=
=20
e-commerce site, which will be relaunched this month with Pitman's full=20
product line. Founded in 1906, Pitman has 20 fully-stocked warehouse=20
locations across the U.S. Pitman said it will continue to support its own w=
eb=20
site at www.pitman.com for customer information, support services, product=
=20
sales, technical resources and industry information. PrintNation was funded=
=20
by Lehman Bros. Venture Partners, Partech International, U.S. Venture=20
Partners, and Venrock Associates.
=09=09http://www.pitman.com
=09=09http://www.printnation.com
=09=09
=09=09
=09=09Poster Firm Bignose Acquires Photo Finishing Site Eframes
=09=09 mail? top
=09=09
=09=09 BREMERTON, Wash. (VENTUREWIRE) -- Bignose.com, a provider of custom=
=20
large-format printing products, said it acquired San Francisco-based=20
eframes.com, a supplier of custom framed prints and online photo finishing.=
=20
Financial terms of the deal were not disclosed. Eframes will operate as a=
=20
division of Bignose, but will consolidate its administration and Web=20
development with Bignose. Brian Dunham, president of eframes.com, will serv=
e=20
as president of the eframes division. A Bignose spokesperson said the compa=
ny=20
will be taking on all five eframes employees. Last September, Zing Network,=
=20
an online photo service, acquired eframes but then spun it out again into a=
=20
stand-alone company a few months ago, Mr. Dunham said. Eframes.com has=20
received funding from Villante Capital Partners. Bignose.com is self-funded=
.=20
=09=09http://www.bignose.com
=09=09http://www.eframes.com=20
=09=09
=09=09
=09=09eKit.com Buys Call Sciences' International Calling Card Biz
=09=09 mail? top
=09=09
=09=09 EDISON, N.J. (VENTUREWIRE) -- Call Sciences, an international corpor=
ation=20
that develops and markets unified communications services, announced it has=
=20
sold its international calling card business to eKit.com, an internet and=
=20
communications provider specializing in the travel industry. A Call Science=
s=20
spokesman declined to disclose the financial terms of the transaction and=
=20
could not say if the sale would affect any of Call Science's employees.=20
However, He said that the proceeds of the sale will go to finance its recen=
t=20
acquisition of Vocal Link, a communications services provider specializing =
in=20
e-mail hosting and voice-activated messaging. Call Sciences acquired Vocal=
=20
Link for an all-stock deal valued around $15 million. Call Sciences is back=
ed=20
by the Chatterjee Group. eKit.com is backed Escor, Allen & Buckeridge and A=
MP=20
Private Capital UK. =20
=09=09http://www.callsciences.com
=09=09http://www.ekit.com
=09=09
=09=09
=09=09new directors
=09=09?
=09=09Clarity Names First Chairman=20
=09=09mail? top
=09=09
=09=09 TROY, Mich. (VENTUREWIRE) -- Clarity, which provides software produc=
ts for=20
voice-activated telecommunications and human-to-machine interfaces, said it=
=20
appointed John H. Duerden as its first chairman. Mr. Duerden was CEO of=20
Lernout & Hauspie until he left in January 2001 due to differences with the=
=20
company's board. Lernout & Hauspie was being investigated by the SEC at the=
=20
time over its historical accounting and operational practices. Clarity is=
=20
backed by Duchossois TECnology Partners, Sloan Ventures, individual=20
investors, and other undisclosed institutions. President and CEO Raymond Gu=
nn=20
is also a member of the seven-person board. Mr. Duerden was introduced to t=
he=20
company through Robert Frost, a partner of Investor Access and a member of=
=20
Clarity's advisory board.=20
=09=09http://www.clarityco.com
=09=09
=09=09
=09=09new people
=09=09?
=09=09SmartBargains Appoints Former Barnes&Noble.com Exec to CEO
=09=09 mail? top
=09=09
=09=09 BOSTON (VENTUREWIRE) -- SmartBargains.com, an online retailer of bar=
gain and=20
closeout merchandise, said it appointed Carl S. Rosendorf as its new CEO an=
d=20
board member. He replaces interim CEO and current board member Malcolm L.=
=20
Sherman, the chairman of the board at Gordon Brothers. Mr. Rosendorf spent=
=20
the last four years with Barnes&Noble.com as an executive vice-president fo=
r=20
e-commerce. He was introduced to the company through Ossining, N.Y.-based=
=20
executive search firm Ramsey Beirne Associates. Founded in September 2000,=
=20
SmartBargains raised $33 million in one round of funding from Highland=20
Capital Partners, America Online, Dorset Capital, General Catalyst, Berkshi=
re=20
Partners, Madison Dearborn, and Gordon Brothers Group. =20
=09=09http://www.smartbargains.com
=09=09
=09=09
=09=09Creative Planet Promotes CFO to President
=09=09 mail? top
=09=09
=09=09 LOS ANGELES (VENTUREWIRE) -- Creative Planet, a business-to-business=
=20
technology and information services firm for media industry professionals,=
=20
announced it has promoted its chief financial officer, Kelyn Brannon, to=20
president. Ms. Brannon, who joined Creative Planet late last year, will=20
report to Chairman and CEO Allen DeBevoise and will head operations,=20
including the company's newly established Movie Magic Producer and Studio=
=20
System business unit. Before joining Creative Planet, Ms. Brannon was chief=
=20
accounting officer of Amazon.com. Creative Planet, which plans to break eve=
n=20
in 2002, has raised nearly $100 million in funding to date. Investors in th=
e=20
company include Ares Management, Chase Capital Partners, East River Venture=
s,=20
J. & W. Seligman Funds, PaineWebber Capital, SunAmerica Investments, Times=
=20
Mirror Chandler Trust Ventures, Trekk Opportunity Partners, and Waterview=
=20
Advisors.
=09=09http://www.creativeplanet.com
=09=09
=09=09
=09=09CyLex Systems Appoints New President & CEO
=09=09 mail? top
=09=09
=09=09 BOCA RATON, Fla. (VENTUREWIRE) -- CyLex, which provides services for=
the=20
management and organization of data, announced the appointment of Bill E.=
=20
Newell as president and CEO. Mr. Newell replaces co-founder Zijad Aganovic,=
=20
who has been named chairman of the board. Mr. Newell most recently served a=
s=20
vice president of Safeguard Scientifics, where he provided managerial and=
=20
strategic guidance to selected portfolio companies. He has also held=20
president and CEO positions for companies including US Data, Micro Dynamics=
,=20
and PPS/Husky Computers. As president and CEO, Mr. Newell will report to th=
e=20
company's seven-member board of directors, which includes Brian Schwartz,=
=20
managing director of HIG Ventures, and Bjorge Gretland, managing partner an=
d=20
head of NorgesInvestor Vekst AS. To date, CyLex has raised approximately $2=
0=20
million in three rounds of funding. Backers include Alpine Venture Capital=
=20
Partners, Antares Capital Fund III, Carnegie ASA, Documentum, Greer=20
Investors, H.I.G. Documents, NorgesInvestor Vekst, ! and Stonehenge Capital=
.
=09=09http://www.cylexsys.com
=09=09
=09=09
=09=09Net Security Firm Zone Labs Names First President and COO
=09=09 mail? top
=09=09
=09=09 SAN FRANCISCO (VENTUREWIRE) -- Zone Labs, which develops Internet se=
curity=20
software, announced it has appointed Irfan Salim as the company's first=20
president and COO. Gregor Freund, CEO and co-founder, had previously held=
=20
those responsibilities. Mr. Salim, who was introduced to the company throug=
h=20
mutual contacts at Zone Labs, had previously served as president of U.S. an=
d=20
European operations for Trend Micro. He had also served as president and CE=
O=20
of Software Publishing Corp. Zone Labs is backed by EastWest Ventures, Inte=
l,=20
Oxford Bioscience, Pacific Venture Group, and John McAfee.
=09=09http://www.zonelabs.com
=09=09
=09=09
=09=09PrivateExpress Appoints New President & CEO
=09=09 mail? top
=09=09
=09=09 SAN MATEO, Calif. (VENTUREWIRE) -- PrivateExpress, a provider of sec=
urity=20
software for Internet-based business communications, said that it has=20
appointed Richard W. Ormond to president and CEO. Mr. Ormond most recently=
=20
served as chief operating officer at e-commerce provider Glovia=20
International, a subsidiary of Fujitsu Limited. He replaces Jim Levy, who w=
as=20
interim chief executive officer and will remain with the company as chairma=
n.=20
Mr. Ormond also joins as the seventh member of the board, which includes=20
Alberto J. Yepez, president of Entrust Ventures, Philip Wang, president of=
=20
F.V.I.G. Fortunetech Partners, Susan E. Hopkinson, vice president of Nomura=
=20
Securities International, David Wynne, senior vice president of Transpac=20
Capital, and private investor Eugene Flath. To date, PrivateExpress has=20
received $20 million in venture financing. Investors include Entrust=20
Ventures, F.V.I.G. Fortunetech Partners, Harbinger Venture Management, Nomu=
ra=20
Securities International, and Transpac Capital.
=09=09http://www.privateexpress.com
=09=09
=09=09
=09=09EVLogix Officially Appoints Founder as President & CEO
=09=09 mail? top
=09=09
=09=09 DEERFIELD BEACH, Fla. (VENTUREWIRE) -- EVLogix, a provider of Web-ba=
sed=20
supply chain management software for mid-sized businesses, said it appointe=
d=20
founder Andreas Kozma as chief executive officer and president. Before=20
starting the company, Mr. Kozma was head of European development at=20
Nutraceutics, a pharmaceutical company. The company officially launched in=
=20
January and is backed by undisclosed individuals. EVLogix said it is=20
currently seeking to raise its first round.
=09=09http://www.evlogix.com
=09=09
=09=09
=09=09vc fund news
=09=09?
=09=09Israeli Telecom Firm Bezeq Teams Up to Start $50M VC Fund
=09=09 mail? top
=09=09
=09=09 TEL AVIV (VENTUREWIRE) -- Bezeq, an Israeli national telecommunicati=
ons=20
provider; Discount Capital Markets, an investment firm; said they are=20
establishing Stage-One Ventures, a new $50 million venture capital fund. Th=
e=20
fund will focus on seed investments in communications startups. Bezeq said =
it=20
will invest $20 million, while Discount Capital Markets will invest at leas=
t=20
$10 million. Yuval Cohen, managing director of Clal Group's Infinity fund,=
=20
and Adam Gaash, a former managment team member of ECI and RAD Group, will=
=20
manage the fund. Bezeq has invested in two other Israeli venture capital=20
firms, BRM Capital and Eurofund 2000.=20
=09=09http://www.bezeq.co.il
=09=09
=09=09
=09=09vc personnel
=09=09?
=09=09Encompass Ventures Adds New Associate to Team
=09=09 mail? top
=09=09
=09=09 BELLEVUE, Wash. (VENTUREWIRE) -- Encompass Ventures Management said =
it has=20
added Rob Jacobs as an associate. Mr. Jacobs will help portfolio companies =
to=20
evaluate international market opportunities. The firm currently has $65=20
million under management and 23 portfolio companies, and is raising a $100=
=20
million fund. Encompass Ventures has a staff of two managing partners, one=
=20
senior associate, and one associate.
=09=09http://www.encompassventures.com
=09=09
=09=09
=09=09Atlas Venture Names Entrepreneur as Venture Partner
=09=09 mail? top
=09=09
=09=09 NEW YORK (VENTUREWIRE) -- Atlas Venture, an international venture ca=
pital=20
firm investing in communications, information technology, and life sciences=
=20
companies, said it named Bill Bryant as a venture partner at Atlas Venture'=
s=20
Seattle office, which opened in January. Mr. Bryant co-founded Qpass, a=20
provider of digital commerce services, where he served as CEO until 1998 an=
d=20
as chairman until January 2001. He currently serves as the chairman of the=
=20
company's advisory board. Mr. Bryant alos co-founded and served as presiden=
t=20
of Netbot, which was acquired by Excite@Home. Atlas Venture's most recent=
=20
investments on the West coast include Asta Networks, a Seattle-based provid=
er=20
of network reliability and management services, and Mspect, a Sunnyvale,=20
Calif.-based provider of performance measurement services for the mobile=20
internet. Founded in 1980, Atlas Venture has six international funds and=20
manages more than $2.5 billion in committed capital. It recently closed a=
=20
$950 million venture fund. http://www.atlasventure.com
=09=09
=09=09
=09=09vw corrections
=09=09?
=09=09MolecularWare
=09=09 mail? top
=09=09
=09=09 NEW YORK (VENTUREWIRE) -- A story in Friday's VentureWire about=20
MolecularWare's new funding from KnowledgeCube incorrectly omitted Aspen=20
Investment Group as a prior investor in the company.
=09=09
=09=09
=09=09company index
=09=09top
=09=09
=09=09Algorx Pharmaceuticals, All Bases Covered, Alphamosaic, Atlas Venture=
, Beyond=20
Genomics, Bezeq, Bignose.com, Call Sciences, Clarity, Comlase, Compete,=20
Cpocket, Creative Planet, CyLex Systems, DataSynapse, e.Intelligence, Eazel=
,=20
EdgeMatrix, eframes.com, eKit.com, Embark.com, Encompass Ventures, EVLogix,=
=20
Flatiron Partners, Flatiron Partners, Foundstone, Hermes Pensions Managemen=
t,=20
Impart Technology, Kodiak Venture Partners, Lost Boys, MobileOne, OffRoad=
=20
Capital, Orange, Pitman Company, Princeton eCom, printCafe, PrintNation.com=
,=20
PrivateExpress, Roundarch, Sightward, smartBargains, Startups, Tahoe=20
Networks, White Amber, Xora, Yube.com, Zone Labs=20
=09=09
=09=09
=09=09Technologic Partners' renowned Enterprise Outlook
=09=09conference is returning to San Francisco for a two-day
=09=09run in June. You'll hear CEOs from 100 of the most
=09=09promising start-ups in burgeoning markets like
=09=09collaborative systems, outsourced services, application
=09=09integration, and information management.
=09=09
=09=09Enterprise Outlook
=09=09San Francisco Airport Marriott
=09=09June 26 & 27, 2001
=09=09
=09=09Register before May 11 and SAVE $300 off the regular
=09=09conference fee:http://www.enterpriseoutlook.com
=09=09
=09=09
=09=09
=09=09investor index
=09=09top
=09=09
=09=09Barnard & Co., Brightstone Capital, Commonwealth Capital Ventures, Di=
scovery=20
Ventures, Doll Capital Management, Elan, European Equity Partners, First=20
Union Capital Partners, InnovationsKapital, InterWest Partners, J.P. Morgan=
=20
Capital, JMI Equity Fund, KDB Capital, Korea Development Bank, Morgan Stanl=
ey=20
Dean Witter Venture Partners, Norwest Venture Partners, OVP Venture Partner=
s,=20
Prelude Trust, Riordan Lewis & Haden, Sofinnova Ventures, Wilson Sonsini=20
Goodrich & Rosati
=09=09
=09=09
=09=09your account
=09=09
=09=09click on the following links to:
=09=09=01=07 Switch to the plain-text version
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=09=09=01=07 Thoughts, suggestions, commentary
=09=09=01=07 This newsletter was mailed to you at: jdasovic@ENRON.COM
=09=09
=09=09contact
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wire.com
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=09=09legal
=09=09
=09=09This copy of VentureWire and the information within it may not be rep=
roduced,=20
saved, or otherwise copied into a database without the prior written consen=
t=20
of Technologic Partners.
=09=09
=09=09VentureWire is a service mark of Technologic Partners
=09=09,2001 Technologic Partners
=09=09=09?