Enron Mail

From:venturewire@venturewire.com
To:jdasovic@enron.com
Subject:VentureWire, Thursday, May 24, 2001
Cc:
Bcc:
Date:Thu, 24 May 2001 01:28:00 -0700 (PDT)

=09=09?=09
?=09VentureWire
=09Thursday, May 24, 2001=09=09?
?=09CONTENTS | COMPANIES | INVESTORS | ADVERTISE | TELL A FRIEND=09VentureW=
ire Index
=09=09'VentureWire
=09=09today: 736.0 ? -0.03%=09?
? =09=09
=09=09
=09=09top stories
=09=09
=09=09 =01=07 Online Financial Technology Firm Xigo Closes Down
=09=09 =01=07 Auxyn Bioscience Ventures Raising $200 Million Fund
=09=09 =01=07 SpaceVest III Makes First Closing at $82M, Targets $150M
=09=09 =01=07 BlueLight.com to Make Layoffs; Will Use More Kmart Staff
=09=09
=09=09
=09=09TODAY'S FEATURES=20
=09=09Concord Ventures Begins Raising Fourth Fund
=09=09By Jonathan Shieber
=09=09Concord Ventures, an Israeli venture capital investor, has begun rais=
ing its=20
fourth fund, Concord Ventures III, according to partner Batsheva Elran.=20
more<<
=09=09UPCOMING EVENTS=20
=09=09June 5-6: San Francisco
=09=09 Mobile Outlook 2001
=09=09
=09=09Anthony Alles, formerly of Shasta Networks (acquired by Nortel for $3=
40=20
million) is back with a new venture called Tahoe Networks. Mobile Outlook=
=20
will showcase for the first time their plans to merge the worlds of data an=
d=20
mobility.=20
=09=09With industry leaders such as Anthony Alles planning to be at Mobile =
Outlook,=20
you should be too.
=09=09Less than 2 weeks, register today!
=09=09
=09=09
=09=09Entrepreneurs and VC-backed company CEOs:
=09=09* Where can you obtain FREE detailed information on the
=09=09latest quarter'sventure funding by region, industry,
=09=09round and stage of development?
=09=09* Where are there FREE tools and templates for writing a
=09=09business plan and securing venture funding?
=09=09* And if you're a young tech company CEO, where can you
=09=09hear other CEOs discuss the issues of the day?
=09=09VISIT PricewaterhouseCooper's Entrepreneur Resource Center
=09=09for this and more --<http://www.pwcerc.com
=09=09
=09=09
=09=09
=09=09New Endymion CEO Thinks Acquisitions, IPO
=09=09By Michelle Tsai
=09=09Steve King, the new CEO of Endymion Systems, an information technolog=
y=20
consultancy, won't have much time to bask in his recent promotion. more<<
=09=09
=09=09
=09=09
=09=09
=09=09new money
=09=09
=09=09 =01=07 ATM Software Firm KAL Raises $3.5M First Round
=09=09 =01=07 Malaysian Software Maker BizAid Scores $2.4M in Series A
=09=09 =01=07 Property Protection Firm Infraworks Gets $9 M Series A
=09=09 =01=07 Alphion Works On $35 Million Series B Close=20
=09=09=01=07 Bharti Televentures Lands $460 Million Capital Injection
=09=09 =01=07 IpSEAL Wants $8 Million in Second Round
=09=09 =01=07 Molecular Mining Gets $8 Million Round Two
=09=09 =01=07 Point Therapeutics Closes $5.4M Series B
=09=09 =01=07 Workspeed Raises $15 Million in Series B=20
=09=09=01=07 Supply Chain Software Developer Viewlocity Gets $30 Million
=09=09 =01=07 Wireless Services Firm InfoMove Has $6.2 million Third Round
=09=09 =01=07 Be Here Raises $6 Million in Series D
=09=09 =01=07 Japanese Consumer Finance Firm Priva Secures Funding
=09=09 =01=07 CapMan Invests in Danish Distribution Company SMEF Group
=09=09 =01=07 Blue Tie Looking for Up To $30 Million
=09=09
=09=09
=09=09bad news
=09=09
=09=09 =01=07 Black Hog Lays Off 35% of Staff
=09=09
=09=09
=09=09new deals
=09=09
=09=09 =01=07 Jenoptik and Lambda Form UV Lasers JV Xtreme
=09=09
=09=09
=09=09new products
=09=09
=09=09 =01=07 Law Firm Gray Cary Launches VC Business Services Subsidiary
=09=09
=09=09
=09=09m&a
=09=09
=09=09 =01=07 PocketMail Acquires Pocket.com's Assets for Cash & Stock
=09=09 =01=07 Evolve Buys Vivant for $2.7 Million in Stock and Cash
=09=09 =01=07 Training Software Firm Baydon Buys Human Dynamics for $1M=20
=09=09=01=07 World Internetworks Merges With Trace Affex=20
=09=09=01=07 JB Oxford Buys Certain Assets of eCapitalist Financial
=09=09 =01=07 EverythingTele.com Acquires TekSell.com in Stock Deal
=09=09
=09=09
=09=09new directors
=09=09
=09=09 =01=07 E-Marketplace OneMade Names John J. McLaine Chair. of Board
=09=09
=09=09
=09=09new people
=09=09
=09=09 =01=07 Mobile Software Provider Bwirelezz Names New CEO
=09=09 =01=07 Ronald Brumback Named Pres. & COO of Top Layer Networks
=09=09 =01=07 Sur La Table Names Tim Hopkins as New CEO
=09=09
=09=09
=09=09vc fund news
=09=09
=09=09 =01=07 Irish Investment Firm Crucible to Open New Office in Belfast
=09=09
=09=09
=09=09vc personnel
=09=09
=09=09 =01=07 VC Management Firm Beacon Telco Appoints Avi Legmann as VP
=09=09
=09=09
=09=09vw corrections
=09=09
=09=09 =01=07 Bridium
=09=09 =01=07 Saipx
=09=09
=09=09 TOP STORIES... NEW MONEY... BAD NEWS... NEW DEALS... NEW PRODUCTS...=
M&A...=20
NEW DIRECTORS... NEW PEOPLE... VC FUND NEWS... VC PERSONNEL... VW CORRECTIO=
NS
=09=09
=09=09
=09=09top
=09=09
=09=09
=09=09This year to date, over $750 million has been
=09=09invested in private equity deals in the financial
=09=09services sector (source: VentureWire). In this age
=09=09of liquidation preference provisions and
=09=09retroactive repricings, that's a strong
=09=09performance. Financial Services Outlook allows
=09=09you a unique insight into where the investment strength
=09=09in this market lies, and which private companies are leading
=09=09the strongest sectors of the financial technology
=09=09and solutions market.
=09=09
=09=09Register before June 19 and SAVE=20
$100:http://www.financialservicesoutlook.com/register.asp
=09=09
=09=09
=09=09
=09=09 top stories=20
=09=09?
=09=09Online Financial Technology Firm Xigo Closes Down
=09=09 mail? top
=09=09
=09=09 SAN FRANCISCO (VENTUREWIRE) -- Xigo, a developer of online financial=
=20
technology, said it is closing down. According to CFO Skip Smith, the compa=
ny=20
could not secure the additional funding it needed. Mr. Smith said the compa=
ny=20
still has a handful of employees on staff while it tries to sell its assets=
.=20
He would not say how many employees the company originally had on staff.=20
Xigo's real-time technology searches through streaming data to provide user=
s=20
with financial and investment information via e-mail, cell phone, or pager.=
=20
Last May the company raised $22 million in a second round of financing from=
=20
Capital Z Financial Services Fund II, Angel Investors LP, New Enterprise=20
Associates, and John McKinley, Jr., executive vice president and CTO of=20
Merrill Lynch.=20
=09=09http://www.xigo.com
=09=09
=09=09
=09=09Auxyn Bioscience Ventures Raising $200 Million Fund
=09=09 mail? top
=09=09
=09=09 ST. LOUIS (VENTUREWIRE) -- Auxyn Bioscience Ventures, a fund dedica=
ted to=20
life science investments, said it is raising $200 million. The firm's chief=
=20
scientist Ganesh Kinore said that the fund has already received a good=20
portion of the $50 million it is seeking from investors in the St. Louis=20
area. He said the fund, slated to close this fall, will invest in life=20
sciences companies focused on gene discovery to modify nutritional quality =
of=20
crops to treat human diseases, as well as genomics and infomatics sectors.=
=20
Mr. Kinore formed the firm with former Monsanto colleagues, including Arnol=
d=20
Donald and Andy Bursky. Telephone 314-657-1050=20
=09=09
=09=09
=09=09SpaceVest III Makes First Closing at $82M, Targets $150M
=09=09 mail? top
=09=09
=09=09 RESTON, Va. (VENTUREWIRE) -- SpaceVest, a private equity firm that =
invests=20
in companies in the space industry, announced that it had made the first=20
closing for its newest fund, SpaceVest III, at $82 million in the middle of=
=20
April. SpaceVest began raising the fund in October 2000 and plans on closin=
g=20
the fund at $150 million by the end of the year. Ransom J. Parker, the=20
managing partner responsible for administering the fund, said SpaceVest III=
=20
will make expansion-stage investments ranging from $5 million to $7 million=
=20
in space industry companies and in networking firms. The $150 million is=20
targeted to be fully invested in 15 to 20 companies and will have no=20
exclusive geographical focus. Mr. Ransom also said SpaceVest was seriously=
=20
evaluating five North American space industry and networking companies at=
=20
present. He said SpaceVest planned to make at least one investment in this=
=20
quarter. John B. Higginbotham, Roger P. Widing, Ransom J. Parker, and Richa=
rd=20
L. Harris are the managing partners for SpaceVest III. Knickerbocker Capita=
l=20
joined the fund as a new limited partner along with previous investors=20
Sofical, a subsidiary of Caisse de Depot et Placement du Quebec; the Swiss=
=20
Reinsurance Company; Boeing; and the Fuller Foundation. SpaceVest previousl=
y=20
closed SpaceVest II at $138 million in December 1999.=20
=09=09http://www.spacevest.com
=09=09
=09=09
=09=09BlueLight.com to Make Layoffs; Will Use More Kmart Staff
=09=09 mail? top
=09=09
=09=09 SAN FRANCISCO (VENTUREWIRE) -- BlueLight.com, an independent e-comm=
erce=20
site majority owned by Kmart, said it will begin using more of Kmart's=20
marketing and merchandising staff in order to become more efficient and=20
reduce operating costs. It will also make an undisclosed number of layoffs =
to=20
cut down on duplicate jobs. "Using these resources will keep us on our path=
=20
to profitablitlity in a rather soft e-commerce market," said David Karraker=
,=20
a company spokesperson. BlueLight's backers include Softbank and Martha=20
Stewart Living.=20
=09=09http://www.bluelight.com
=09=09
=09=09
=09=09 new money=20
=09=09?
=09=09ATM Software Firm KAL Raises $3.5M First Round
=09=09 mail? top
=09=09
=09=09 EDINBURGH, U.K. (VENTUREWIRE) -- KAL, a software company developing=
=20
asynchronous transfer mode (ATM) applications, said it closed its first rou=
nd=20
at $3.5 million co-led by Royal Bank Ventures and Scottish Equity Partners=
=20
(SEP), with additional participation from CA Nominees. Royal Bank Ventures=
=20
and SEP will be approving the addition of one independent board seat to KAL=
's=20
board of directors, which will now have five directors. The company said th=
e=20
financing would be used for sales, marketing, and for establishing its U.S.=
=20
office in Cincinnati. KAL said it plans to hire eight to 10 people for the=
=20
Cincinnati office. Founded in 1998, the company said it had no plans for=20
additional funding for the rest of the year. In addition to its Edinburgh=
=20
headquarters and new U.S. office, KAL also has offices in Japan and=20
Australia.=20
=09=09http://www.kal.com
=09=09
=09=09
=09=09Malaysian Software Maker BizAid Scores $2.4M in Series A
=09=09 mail? top
=09=09
=09=09 KUALA LUMPUR, Malaysia (VENTUREWIRE) -- BizAid, which develops softw=
are for=20
business consultants and small- and medium-sized businesses, has closed MYR=
9=20
million ($2.4 million) in Series A financing. Sole investor OptixLab, an=20
incubator, gains two seats on the board of directors. Funds will be used fo=
r=20
research and development, marketing, and general business purposes. BizAid =
is=20
preparing to launch its first product in a few months. Formed by OptixLab a=
nd=20
Info-House IT in March 2001, BizAid had received approximately $900,000 fro=
m=20
Info-House IT prior to Series A. The company expects to have positive cash=
=20
flow by 2003. =20
=09=09http://www.mybizaid.com
=09=09
=09=09
=09=09Property Protection Firm Infraworks Gets $9 M Series A
=09=09 mail? top
=09=09
=09=09 AUSTIN, Texas (VENTUREWIRE) -- Infraworks, a provider of digital pro=
perty=20
protection technology, announced that it closed $9 million in Series A equi=
ty=20
financing led by Moore Capital Management with participation from unnamed=
=20
individuals. The company plans to dedicate the new funds to marketing and=
=20
sales. As a result of this investment two board seats have been granted to=
=20
Moore Capital: James Caccavo, who is managing director, private equity=20
investments and Quinn Morgan, who is principal, private equity investments,=
=20
join the seven-member board. In addition to the equity funding, Moore Capit=
al=20
Management has also devoted $4.2 million in convertable debt financing to=
=20
Infraworks. The company is currently seeking a Series B round between $15 a=
nd=20
$25 million, to close in early autumn.
=09=09http://www.infraworks.com
=09=09
=09=09
=09=09Alphion Works On $35 Million Series B Close
=09=09 mail? top
=09=09
=09=09 EATONTOWN, N.J. -- Alphion, an end-to-end optical network provider, =
expects=20
to close $35 million in Series B funding by July, said CEO Bharat P. Dave.=
=20
Founded in July 2000, the Eatontown, N.J.-based company expects to ship its=
=20
first product in June of next year, with an eye toward reaching profitabili=
ty=20
in third quarter of 2003. Mr. Dave, who said the company has received offer=
s=20
from venture capitalists to lead the upcoming financing, expects the Series=
B=20
to be an up round. He will hold discussions with top tier VCs in New York,=
=20
Boston, and on the west coast. Battery Ventures, the sole investor in=20
Alphion's $16.9 million Series A, will maintain its stake in round two,=20
according to Jim Orlando of Battery Ventures. With Series B funding, Alphio=
n=20
will complete its beta trials and prepare the product for shipping. The=20
company, which has a staff of 55, expects to double by the end of the year.=
=20
With its all-optical network, Alphion will provide companies with "a huge=
=20
cost advantage," said Mr. Orlando. Alphion's competitors include Nortel=20
Networks and Lucent Technologies, which provides an all-optical switch for=
=20
communications networks. Alphion will target its all-optical networks for=
=20
large North American and European telecommunications carriers such as Globa=
l=20
Crossing. For 2002, the company anticipates $15 million in revenues. Plans=
=20
may call for an IPO in 2003, said Mr. Orlando.=20
=09=09http://www.alphion.com
=09=09
=09=09
=09=09Bharti Televentures Lands $460 Million Capital Injection
=09=09 mail? top
=09=09
=09=09 NEW DELHI, India (VENTUREWIRE) -- Bharti Televentures, an Indian tel=
ecom=20
firm, said it received a $460 million capital injection. The funding came=
=20
from Warburg Pincus, which contributed $200 million; Singapore=20
Telecommunications, which provided $200 million; AIF Funds Management, whic=
h=20
invested $35 million; International Finance, which provided $20 million; an=
d=20
New York Life, with a $5 million investment. Bharti previously received $10=
0=20
million from Warburg Pincus and $400 million from Singapore=20
Telecommunications. =20
=09=09http://www.bhartibt.com
=09=09
=09=09
=09=09IpSEAL Wants $8 Million in Second Round
=09=09 mail? top
=09=09
=09=09 WESTMINSTER, Col. (VENTUREWIRE) -- IpSEAL, a Westminster, Colo. star=
tup=20
developing a software platform for coordinating activity within a service=
=20
provider's network, is raising a second institutional round of funding for=
=20
between $6 million and $8 million, president and CEO Marvin L. Hutchens tol=
d=20
VentureWire. Mr. Hutchens plans to bring in a new lead investor as well as=
=20
the company's previous investors, iVention Group, Oak Hill Venture Partners=
,=20
and Rock Mountain Ventures. Mr. Hutchens said he planned to close the round=
=20
by the end of August. He added that the company, which raised $300,000 fro=
m=20
Rock Mountain Ventures in early 2000 and a $7.5 million round from iVention=
=20
Group and Oak Hill Venture this past October, would most likely have an up=
=20
round. Mr. Hutchens said that ipSEAL would conduct beta testing this summer=
=20
and that it expects to roll out its first product in the fall, with its fir=
st=20
product delivery and service by the first quarter or second quarter of 2002=
.=20
The company will use the next round of funding for continued product=20
development and future marketing initiatives. Mr. Hutchens said that ipSEAL=
's=20
staff would likely grow from 30 to just over 60 by the end of the year.=20
IpSEAL recently hired Robert M. Holburn Jr., former Rogue Wave Software=20
chief financial officer, as its chief operating officer. The company also=
=20
plans to announce a new head of marketing. Mr. Hutchens said that while=20
revenues "are still basically three quarters away" the company is moving=20
along slowly and steadily, with a burn rate of well under $300,000 per mont=
h.=20
He said that the company would be profitable by some time in 2003, but=20
wouldn't wager a guess as to when when the company might hold an IPO.=20
=09=09http://www.ipseal.com
=09=09
=09=09
=09=09Molecular Mining Gets $8 Million Round Two
=09=09 mail? top
=09=09
=09=09 KINGSTON, Ontario (VENTUREWIRE) -- Molecular Mining, a provider of d=
ata=20
mining technology for the life sciences market, said it closed $8 million i=
n=20
second round funding led by CDP Sofinov, a subsidiary of the Caisse de depo=
t=20
et placement du Quebec (CDP), with participation from the Business=20
Development Bank of Canada, Cardinal Partners, CMDF Queen's Scientific=20
Breakthrough Fund, and S.R. One Limited, a subsidiary of GlaxoSmithKline.=
=20
S.R. One Limited and Cardinal Partners co-led the company's first round of=
=20
financing of $2 million in March 1999. As a result of this financing, the=
=20
company anticipates an additional appointment to its six-member board of=20
directors, which now includes John Clarke of Cardinal Partners. The company=
,=20
which officially launched operations this March, anticipates to be profitab=
le=20
within the next two years.=20
=09=09http://www.molecularmining.com
=09=09
=09=09
=09=09Point Therapeutics Closes $5.4M Series B
=09=09 mail? top
=09=09
=09=09 BOSTON (VENTUREWIRE) -- Point Therapeutics, a biotechnology company,=
said it=20
raised $5.4 million in its Series B led by the Kaufmann Fund, which=20
contributed $5 million, and from undisclosed institutional and private=20
investors. The money will be used for clinical testing of its lead compound=
,=20
PT-100, which is being developed to treat hematopoietic disorders. This rou=
nd=20
is expected to last until the middle of 2002. The board of directors remain=
s=20
at five members, since no new seats were granted. The company has raised $2=
0=20
million to date. Past investors include Boston-based Claflin Capital and=20
Chicago-based Portage Ventures. Don Kiepert is the president and CEO of Poi=
nt=20
Therapeutics. Point Therapeutics develops therapeutics for the treatment of=
=20
cancer and hematopoietic disorders. Telephone 617-636-0673.=20
=09=09
=09=09
=09=09Workspeed Raises $15 Million in Series B=20
=09=09mail? top
=09=09
=09=09 SAN FRANCISCO (VENTUREWIRE) -- Workspeed, a provider of Internet and=
=20
wireless collaborative applications for commercial real estate, said that i=
t=20
has raised $15 million in Series B financing led by previous investor Parte=
ch=20
International with participation from Apollo Real Estate Advisors; Archon=
=20
Group, a wholly owned subsidiary of Goldman Sachs; Insignia Financial Group=
;=20
Mack-Cali Realty; Newmark and Company Real Estate; Peregrine Systems; Jack=
=20
Resnick & Sons, Inc.; Lawrence Ruben Company; Vornado Realty Trust; and=20
unnamed individuals and funds. The company said it plans to use the new fun=
ds=20
for product development. The company raised $18 million in Series A financi=
ng=20
in May 2000.=20
=09=09http://www.workspeed.com
=09=09
=09=09
=09=09Supply Chain Software Developer Viewlocity Gets $30 Million
=09=09 mail? top
=09=09
=09=09 ATLANTA (VENTUREWIRE) -- Viewlocity, which provides supply chain eve=
nt=20
management software, said it has opened its latest funding round with $30=
=20
million in capital commitments from undisclosed new investors and previous=
=20
investors. The company said the total round could exceed $30 million and it=
=20
expected to close the funding within the next two weeks. Viewlocity said it=
=20
would use the funding to expand its sales, marketing, and product=20
development. The company, which closed a Series E round in July of last yea=
r,=20
withdrew a planned IPO in January 2001. The company's previous investors=20
include BancBoston Ventures, Battery Ventures, BCI Partners, Beacon Group,=
=20
CommVest, DHL, Deutsche Post, Marconi Ventures, SingTel, and SK Global.=20
Viewlocity has offices in Atlanta, London, Singapore, and Tokyo.=20
=09=09http://www.viewlocity.com
=09=09
=09=09
=09=09Wireless Services Firm InfoMove Has $6.2 million Third Round
=09=09 mail? top
=09=09
=09=09 KIRKLAND, Wash. (VENTUREWIRE) -- InfoMove, a developer of personaliz=
ed,=20
location-based applications and wireless services, said it raised $6.2=20
million in its third round of funding led by previous investor ComROAD, a=
=20
German telematics networks company. A number of undisclosed individual=20
investors participated in the round, along with previous InfoMove investors=
,=20
whose names the company declined to disclose. InfoMove's COO Thomas Ross sa=
id=20
the company will start to seek additional financing again soon. This latest=
=20
round will be used for product development, and to fully launch the company=
's=20
services in the third quarter. Mr. Ross said InfoMove plans to introduce it=
s=20
services in Europe through its partnership with ComROAD. InfoMove has raise=
d=20
about $15 million to date. Its investors include Broe Companies, BSquare,=
=20
Encompass Europe, Garage.com, NTT-ME, and Mitsui Comtek.
=09=09http://www.infomove.com
=09=09
=09=09
=09=09Be Here Raises $6 Million in Series D
=09=09 mail? top
=09=09
=09=09 LOS ANGELES (VENTUREWIRE) -- Be Here, a provider of software and ser=
vices=20
for panoramic navigable video and still pictures, announced that it has=20
secured $6 million in a Series D round of equity financing led by Snider=20
Capital with participation from prior investors Eastman Kodak, Enterprise=
=20
Partners, Intel Capital, Philips Electronics, Totem Investment Partners, an=
d=20
Wasserstein Adelson Ventures. The company plans to dedicate the new funds t=
o=20
sales, marketing, product development, and infrastructure expansion. As a=
=20
result of this financing, Walther Ramos of Snider Capital has joined as the=
=20
ninth member of the company's board. Prior to this round the company raised=
=20
$17 million in three rounds of financing.=20
=09=09http://www.behere.com
=09=09
=09=09
=09=09Japanese Consumer Finance Firm Priva Secures Funding
=09=09 mail? top
=09=09
=09=09 TOKYO (VENTUREWIRE) -- Residential Funding Corp. (RFC), a wholly own=
ed=20
subsidiary of GMAC Financial Services, announced it has made an undisclosed=
=20
investment in Priva, a consumer finance company based in Japan that provide=
s=20
loans via the Internet and call centers. RFC invested jointly with Japanese=
=20
consumer finance company Credia, Itochu Finance, and United Asia Finance.=
=20
Priva said it will soon offer its product nationwide through targeted=20
advertising in selected national publications. RFC, which has an office in=
=20
Minneapolis, Minn., will own 13.5% of Priva when the transaction is=20
completed. Katsuhiro Saito, president and CEO of Priva, is a member of the=
=20
board of directors of Credia. =20
=09=09http://www.gmacrfc.com
=09=09
=09=09
=09=09CapMan Invests in Danish Distribution Company SMEF Group
=09=09 mail? top
=09=09
=09=09 HELSINKI, Finland (VENTUREWIRE) -- CapMan, a private equity investor=
in=20
Finland, announced it will invest in SMEF Group, a Denmark-based company th=
at=20
distributes machinery, tools, fittings, and assembly parts to the Northern=
=20
European furniture, door, and window industry. The investment, which is=20
CapMan's first in Denmark, was made in cooperation with Nordic Private Equi=
ty=20
Group, an investment group that CapMan acquired last month. SMEF Group is=
=20
expected to acquire three Danish companies, Ludvig M. Larsen, Lind Maskiner=
,=20
and nissenpack. At the close of the transaction, CapMan will own 50% of SME=
F=20
Group and the rest will be owned by the shareholders of the three companies=
=20
and key managers of SMEF, which made approximately EURO 70 million ($60=20
million) last year and reaped about $3.2 million in profit. Peter Buch Lund=
,=20
a senior partner of CapMan, has joined SMEF Group's board. CapMan has=20
invested about $995 million in 100 companies through 12 funds.=20
=09=09http://www.capman.fi
=09=09
=09=09
=09=09Blue Tie Looking for Up To $30 Million
=09=09 mail? top
=09=09
=09=09 ROCHESTER, N.Y. (VENTUREWIRE) -- BlueTie, a Rochester, N.Y. applicat=
ion=20
service provider, is on the prowl for a second round of funding of between=
=20
$20 and $30 million, the company's chief executive officer, David Koretz,=
=20
told VentureWire. The company, which offers applications such as e-mail,=20
calendar planning, and secure document transferring to small and mid-sized=
=20
businesses, will use the funding for product development and to begin an=20
aggressive sales and marketing campaign. BlueTie, founded in March 1999,=20
officially launched in February 2001. It raised about $10 million in its se=
ed=20
round from individual angel investors, including Paychex founder B. Thomas=
=20
Golisano. Hewlett-Packard, which chose BlueTie for its Garage Program last=
=20
year, provided $2.5 million. BlueTie reportedly has a pre-money valuation o=
f=20
between $200 million and $300 million, but Mr. Koretz would not confirm tho=
se=20
numbers. He said the company is operating in a market he estimates to be on=
=20
the order of $22 billion per year. BlueTie, which has about 30 employees, i=
s=20
burning through "less than $250,000 per month," he said. BlueTie expects to=
=20
break even by the fourth quarter of this year. Roughly 1,000 customers are=
=20
using BlueTie services now, said Mr. Koretz. "We require less than 15,000=
=20
users and we're profitable," he said. Mr. Koretz expects the company to hav=
e=20
50,000 users by the end of the year and 200,000 by the end of next year.=20
BlueTie's applications have all been developed in house, Mr. Koretz said. H=
e=20
said the company closed on six new patents last week, which he did not=20
discuss. He believes small customers who don't need a complex package of=20
applications will opt to use his company's services. "Microsoft and Lotus a=
re=20
selling 34 million units per year each, but if you want to buy them, you ha=
ve=20
to buy a server, software and IT people to manage it all," he said. "By=20
contrast, we charge $25 per user per month, and can have them up and runnin=
g=20
in an afternoon."=20
=09=09http://www.bluetie.com
=09=09
=09=09
=09=09 bad news=20
=09=09?
=09=09Black Hog Lays Off 35% of Staff
=09=09 mail? top
=09=09
=09=09 SUNNYVALE, Calif. (VENTUREWIRE) -- Black Hog, a provider of supplie=
r=20
relationship management products for complex product manufacturing, laid of=
f=20
20 people, or 35% of its staff, according to a company spokesperson. Black=
=20
Hog executives could not be reached to provide a reason or to comment on=20
whether the employees received severance. Thirty-seven people remain with t=
he=20
company. The company has raised $24 million in two rounds from Accel Partne=
rs=20
and Invesco Private Capital, and is currently raising a new round.
=09=09http://www.blackhog.com
=09=09
=09=09
=09=09 new deals=20
=09=09?
=09=09Jenoptik and Lambda Form UV Lasers JV Xtreme
=09=09 mail? top
=09=09
=09=09 JENA, Germany (VENTUREWIRE) -- Jenoptik, a technology holding compan=
y which=20
also makes private equity investments, and Lambda Physik, a developer of=20
pulsed UV lasers based in Gottingen, Germany, announced the formation of a=
=20
new joint venture called Xtreme technologies to develop extreme ultraviolet=
=20
light lasers for manufacturing chip structures. Jenoptik's subsidiary,=20
Jenoptik Laser, Optik Systeme, and Lambda each control 50% of Xtreme, which=
=20
will be headquartered in Jena, Germany. Jenoptik said each company would=20
invest sums in the eight-figure deutsche mark range.
=09=09http://www.jenoptik-los.de
=09=09http://www.lambdaphysik.com
=09=09
=09=09
=09=09 new products=20
=09=09?
=09=09Law Firm Gray Cary Launches VC Business Services Subsidiary
=09=09 mail? top
=09=09
=09=09 PALO ALTO, Calif. (VENTUREWIRE) -- Gray Cary Ware & Freidenrich, a l=
aw firm=20
representing technology firms, said it launched Gray Cary Venture Pipeline,=
a=20
subsidiary which will provide non-legal business services to the technology=
=20
venture community. Mike Krenn, formerly with the law firm of Cooley Godward=
=20
and a founding board member and executive director of the San Diego Band of=
=20
Angels and the San Diego Telecom Council, will serve as managing director o=
f=20
the new subsidiary. Mr. Krenn said that while the subsidiary will begin as =
a=20
free service offered to clients of the law firm, it will eventually take fe=
es=20
from some clients and equity stakes from others.=20
=09=09http://www.graycary.com
=09=09
=09=09
=09=09 m&a=20
=09=09?
=09=09PocketMail Acquires Pocket.com's Assets for Cash & Stock
=09=09 mail? top
=09=09
=09=09 SANTA CLARA, Calif. (VENTUREWIRE) -- PocketMail Group, a publicly tr=
aded=20
company based in Sydney, Australia, said it acquired Pocket.com's assets fo=
r=20
cash and stock. Full terms of the deal were not disclosed. Pocket.com, whic=
h=20
provides a mobile e-mail service, will become a U.S. subsidiary of PocketMa=
il=20
and has retained 17 of its 25 employees, former president and COO Seth=20
Rosenblatt of Pocket.com said. Mr. Rosenblatt will act as a consultant for=
=20
the combined company. Pocket.com began shopping the company around in the=
=20
summer of 2000 and arrived at a letter of intent from Pocketmail, a license=
e=20
of its product, in December 2000. Pocket.com raised $30 million since its=
=20
inception from JAFCO American Ventures, InveStar Capital, Doll Capital=20
Management, and NIF Ventures USA. Pocket.com was advised by Palo Alto,=20
Calif.-based law firm Wilson Sonsini Goodrich & Rosati in the transaction.
=09=09http://www.pocket.com
=09=09http://www.pocketmail.com.au
=09=09
=09=09
=09=09Evolve Buys Vivant for $2.7 Million in Stock and Cash
=09=09 mail? top
=09=09
=09=09 EMERYVILLE, Calif. (VENTUREWIRE) -- Evolve, a publicly traded compan=
y that=20
provides strategic workforce optimization software, announced it has acquir=
ed=20
the core assets of Vivant, which operates an Internet marketplace for=20
sourcing and managed IT contractors, for $2.7 million in stock and cash plu=
s=20
certain future contingent payments. The assets being acquired include=20
Vivant's contractor management technology and Vivant's marketplace service.=
=20
Evolve said it will also retain key Vivant employees, including Jennifer=20
Callison, Vivant's vice president of product marketing. Cindy Padnos,=20
Vivant's President and CEO, will join Evolve as a consultant. Vivant is=20
backed by AVI Management Partners, E*O Investors, Imperial Ventures, and=20
Internet Capital Group.
=09=09http://www.evolve.com
=09=09http://www.vivant.com
=09=09
=09=09
=09=09Training Software Firm Baydon Buys Human Dynamics for $1M=20
=09=09mail? top
=09=09
=09=09 DUBLIN, Ireland (VENTUREWIRE) -- Baydon Solutions, which develops so=
ftware=20
for training and supporting employees, said it acquired Human Dynamics, a=
=20
consulting and training services firm, in a cash-and-stock deal valued at=
=20
approximately $1 million at the end of April. Baydon, which had a four-year=
=20
working relationship with Human Dynamics, said it will integrate all of Hum=
an=20
Dynamics' offerings and services into its company, and will also occupy Hum=
an=20
Dynamics' offices in Overland Park, Kan. The company will not lay off any=
=20
employees and is looking to hire a minimum of seven to 10 people in the=20
services and development divisions. Baydon received financial advice from=
=20
Andersen Accounting in London and Human Dynamics received legal counsel fro=
m=20
Douthit Frets Rouse & Gentile. In addition Baydon said it was currently=20
raising a $4 million to $5 million second round targeted to close this=20
summer. Andersen Accounting is acting as the underwriter for this round.=20
Baydon Solutions previously raised $1.5 millio! n in first round funding at=
=20
the end of 1999.
=09=09http://www.baydon-solutions.com
=09=09http://www.hdynamics.com
=09=09
=09=09
=09=09World Internetworks Merges With Trace Affex=20
=09=09mail? top
=09=09
=09=09 SAN JOSE, Calif. (VENTUREWIRE) -- World Internetworks (WINS), a publ=
icly=20
traded company that provides repair, remarketing, and logistics application=
s=20
to the data storage market, said it will merge with San Jose, Calif.-based=
=20
Trace Affex, which provides duplication and printing system applications an=
d=20
CD/DVD storage systems. Terms of the deal were not disclosed. WINS said tha=
t=20
no layoffs or office closings will occur and Trace Affex's management=20
structure will maintain intact. WINS is currently completing an acquisition=
=20
of San Jose-based Gtdata. When the deal is finished, WINS will change its=
=20
name to Gtdata and become a holding company of Trace Affex and TSLI, anothe=
r=20
recently acquired company. WINS is advised by investment bank Canaccord=20
Capital, based in Toronto, Ontario. Trace Affex is backed by Toronto-based=
=20
Quorum Growth Partners and private investors. It had raised appoximately $1=
=20
million to date.=20
=09=09http://www.trace.com
=09=09
=09=09
=09=09JB Oxford Buys Certain Assets of eCapitalist Financial
=09=09 mail? top
=09=09
=09=09 LOS ANGELES (VENTUREWIRE) -- JB Oxford & Co., a provider of discount=
=20
brokerage services and a subsidiary of publicly traded JB Oxford Holdings,=
=20
announced it has agreed to acquire the customer assets of eCapitalist=20
Financial Services, a broker dealer. Terms of the cash acquisition, which i=
s=20
expected to close in the second quarter, were not disclosed. The market val=
ue=20
of eCapitalist's customer assets is approximately $30 million, said a JB=20
Oxford & Company spokesperson. Some e-Capitalist employees may join JB Oxfo=
rd=20
& Company in an agreement separate from the asset acquisition. Law firm=20
O'Melveney and Myers advised eCapitalist in the deal, while JB Oxford &=20
Company used inside advisors. eCapitalist Financial Services is backed by=
=20
undisclosed venture capital firms and individual investors.=20
=09=09http://www.ecapitalist.com
=09=09http://www.jboxford.com
=09=09
=09=09
=09=09EverythingTele.com Acquires TekSell.com in Stock Deal
=09=09 mail? top
=09=09
=09=09 GERMANTOWN, Miss. (VENTUREWIRE) -- EverythingTele.com, a=20
business-to-business telecommunications portal, said it has acquired the=20
assets of TekSell.com, which provides business-to-business auctions of=20
information technology equipment, in an all-stock deal. Terms of the=20
acquisition were not disclosed. TekSell.com, which had received more than $=
1=20
million from North Carolina Enterprise Fund and individuals, ran out of cas=
h.=20
EverythingTele.com will operate TekSell.com's auction platform and will=20
integrate the platform into EverythingTele.com's offerings. No TekSell.com=
=20
employees will join EverythingTele.com. Bass, Berry & Sims advised=20
EverythingTele.com in the deal. EverythingTele.com is backed by more than=
=20
$250,000 from individual investors, and expects to have positive cash flow =
in=20
the third quarter.
=09=09http://www.everythingtele.com
=09=09http://www.teksell.com
=09=09
=09=09
=09=09 new directors=20
=09=09?
=09=09E-Marketplace OneMade Names John J. McLaine Chair. of Board
=09=09 mail? top
=09=09
=09=09 WASHINGTON (VENTUREWIRE) -- OneMade, an online arts and crafts marke=
tplace,=20
announced it has appointed John J. McLaine chairman of the board. Mr.=20
McLaine, who has been a director on the board for a year and a half, serves=
=20
as president and CEO of McLaine Ventures and has served as president of Exc=
el=20
Communications. He replaces Liavin Mallin, who remains on the board. OneMad=
e=20
is backed by Eircon, U.S. Technologies, and individuals. Earlier this week,=
=20
VentureWire reported that OneMade acquired Burlington, Vt.-based Collector=
=20
Online, which operates an online antique mall, in an all-stock deal.=20
=09=09http://www.onemade.com
=09=09
=09=09
=09=09 new people=20
=09=09?
=09=09Mobile Software Provider Bwirelezz Names New CEO
=09=09 mail? top
=09=09
=09=09 AMSTERDAM, The Nethelands (VENTUREWIRE) -- Bwirelezz, a provider of =
mobile=20
business software, announced the appointment of Patrick Morley as chief=20
executive officer. Mr. Morley, who currently serves as chief technical=20
officer and board member of Royal KPN N.V., will assume full executive=20
responsibilities at Bwirelezz by the month's end. He replaces co-founder=20
Tymen Selman, who will remain with the company in a sales, marketing, and=
=20
business development role. To date, Bwirelezz has raised approximately $1.3=
=20
million in financing from The New Economy Trust and unnamed individuals. Th=
e=20
company, which maintains operations in the Netherlands and Sweden, is=20
currently seeking venture capital.=20
=09=09http://www.bwirelezz.com
=09=09
=09=09
=09=09Ronald Brumback Named Pres. & COO of Top Layer Networks
=09=09 mail? top
=09=09
=09=09 WESTBORO, Mass. (VENTUREWIRE) -- Top Layer Networks, which specializ=
es in=20
high-speed, high-performance network security, said it appointed Ronald=20
Brumback as its new president and first chief operating officer. Mr. Brumba=
ck=20
replaces Bruce Cohen in the position of president, and after a short=20
transition period, will also assume Mr. Cohen's CEO title. Mr. Brumback wil=
l=20
also take Mr. Cohen's seat on the eight-member board, which includes chairm=
an=20
Mike Shanahan and Barry Spinney, the company's founder and vice president o=
f=20
engineering. Mr. Cohen, who has been with the company for the last three=20
years, will leave to pursue other opportunities. A Layer Networks=20
spokesperson said the company began searching to fill the COO position in=
=20
January 2001. When Mr. Brumback was introduced to the company through Steve=
=20
Garfinkle of the Boston office of executive search firm Battalia Winston, i=
t=20
was decided that he would join the company in a capacity higher than that o=
f=20
a COO. Prior to joining Top Layer Mr. Brum! back was president of=20
Illinois-based Navigation Technologies. Founded in 1997, Top Layer is backe=
d=20
by 3Com Ventures, Banc of America Securities, Brad Peery Capital,=20
Egan-Managed Capital, Fidelity Ventures, Granite Ventures, ITOCHU Finance,=
=20
LSI Logic, Morgan Stanley Dean Witter, MSD Capital, Raza Ventures, Technolo=
gy=20
Crossover Ventures, TI Ventures, Van Wagoner Capital Management, and privat=
e=20
investors.=20
=09=09http://www.toplayer.com
=09=09
=09=09
=09=09Sur La Table Names Tim Hopkins as New CEO
=09=09 mail? top
=09=09
=09=09 SEATTLE (VENTUREWIRE) -- Sur La Table, an online, traditional retail=
, and=20
catalog kitchenware company, said it has named Tim Hopkins as chief executi=
ve=20
officer. Prior to his appointment, the company was headed by Carl Behnke, w=
ho=20
will remain with the company as chairman. Most recently, Mr. Hopkins served=
=20
as president and CEO for kitchenware retailer Le Gourmet Chef. He will also=
=20
serve on Sur La Table's nine-member board of directors that includes Jon=20
Ralph and Charles Rullman, both of Freeman Spogli & Co, Thomas Simpson of=
=20
Northwest Venture Associates, and Dennis Weston of Fluke Venture Partners. =
In=20
March 2000, Sur La Table raised $20 million in second round financing from=
=20
Fluke Venture Partners, Freeman Spogli & Co., Northwest Venture Associates,=
=20
Pacific NW Partners SBIC, TWB Investment Partners, as well as individual=20
investors including the members of the Behnke family, Arthur and Eva Wahl,=
=20
and Peter Starrett.=20
=09=09http://www.surlatable.com
=09=09
=09=09
=09=09 vc fund news=20
=09=09?
=09=09Irish Investment Firm Crucible to Open New Office in Belfast
=09=09 mail? top
=09=09
=09=09 DUBLIN, Ireland (VENTUREWIRE) -- Crucible, an Irish early stage inve=
stment=20
company, announced it plans to open an office in Belfast. The company also=
=20
announced it has raised $10 million in funding, which will be available for=
=20
investments in Northern Ireland technology companies. Crucible said the=20
funding was provided by members of the technology community in Northern=20
Ireland, institutional investors, and undisclosed U.S. venture capital=20
organizations. Crucible said it is currently in Belfast, Ireland, and expec=
ts=20
to open its office by the end of the summer when it also expects to make it=
s=20
first funding announcement. The company said it has appointed Denis Murphy =
of=20
Openwave to head a team of Crucible's board of adviors in Northern Ireland.=
=20
Crucible's portfolio includes Dublin include Mobileware, Marrakech, Aran=20
Technologies and Openet Telecom.
=09=09http://www.cruciblecorp.com
=09=09
=09=09
=09=09 vc personnel=20
=09=09?
=09=09VC Management Firm Beacon Telco Appoints Avi Legmann as VP
=09=09 mail? top
=09=09
=09=09 BOSTON (VENTUREWIRE) -- Beacon Telco, a venture capital management c=
ompany=20
that provides funds and incubation services for broadband communications=20
companies, announced Avi Legmann has joined as the company's first vice=20
president. Mr. Legmann recently served as vice president of business=20
development and marketing at Elron TeleSoft. Beacon Telco, which currently=
=20
employs four investment professionals, said it will add another partner in=
=20
the next quarter. Tech holding company Beacon Photonics formed Beacon Telco=
=20
and has contributed $14 million to the venture capital management company's=
=20
first fund. Beacon Telco is currently raising an additional $30 million to=
=20
$50 million for the same fund, which maintains a carried interest of 20% an=
d=20
5% management fee. The fund will invest between $1 million and $2 million i=
n=20
seed financing for $4 million to $5 million in total investment. Beacon Tel=
co=20
expects to invest in three to five companies each year in the optical=20
component, optical system, and storag! e sectors of broadband communication=
s.=20
So far it has two portfolio companies. Beacon Photonics, which owns Beacon=
=20
Telco, is backed by Boston University, GlobalVest Management Company, and=
=20
consulting company PRTM.
=09=09http://www.beacontelco.com
=09=09
=09=09
=09=09 vw corrections=20
=09=09?
=09=09Bridium
=09=09 mail? top
=09=09
=09=09 NEW YORK (VENTUREWIRE) -- A story in Wednesday's VentureWire about B=
ridium's=20
$3.5 million funding round contained an incorrect description of the=20
company's services. Bridium is a developer of insurance claims software, no=
t=20
marketing claims software.=20
=09=09
=09=09
=09=09Saipx
=09=09 mail? top
=09=09
=09=09 NEW YORK (VENTUREWIRE) -- Due to incorrect information from DataMirr=
or, a=20
story in Monday's VentureWire listed Royal Bank of Canada and RT Capital as=
=20
investors in saipx, which was acquired by DataMirror. Saipx was self-funded=
.=20
=09=09
=09=09
=09=09company index
=09=09top
=09=09
=09=09American Computer Experience, Avexus, Bang Networks, Baydon Solutions=
, Be=20
Here, Beacon Photonics, Bharti Televentures, BizAid, BlackHog.com,=20
BlueLight.com, BlueTie, Brainshark, Bwirelezz, Bwirelezz, CapitalStream,=20
CapMan Capital Management, Captivate Network, CGTime, Colubris Networks,=20
CombineNet, Concord Ventures, Crucible, Cryptek Secure Communications,=20
eCapitalist Financial Services, Endymion Systems, EverythingTele.com, Evolv=
e,=20
fusionOne, GMAC Financial Services, Gray Cary Ware & Freidenrich, Human=20
Dynamics, Iclubcentral.com, InfoMove, Infraworks, IpSEAL, JB Oxford &=20
Company, Jenoptik, KAL, Lambda Physik, MEGA International, Metrika, Milkhau=
s=20
Laboratory, Molecular Mining, OneMade, OneNest.com, PocketMail Group,=20
PocketScience, Reasoning, SigmaTel, SpaceVest Management Group, Stream=20
International, Sur La Table, TekSell.com, TestChip Technologies, Top Layer=
=20
Networks, Top Layer Networks, Trace Affex, Viewlocity, Vivant!, WebEvent,=
=20
WebEvent, Workspeed, Xigo, Zarix=20
=09=09
=09=09
=09=09Free Trial! Hoover's Online Business Subscription
=09=09Sign up now for a free one-week Business Subscription to
=09=09Hoover's Online and boost your business intelligence. With
=09=09coverage of more than 12 million private and public
=09=09companies worldwide, Hoover's Online is the ultimate
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=09=09company and industry profiles, IPO pricings and filings,
=09=09news, financial data, officers, competitors and more!
=09=09Sign up today for your free=20
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=09=09
=09=09
=09=09
=09=09investor index
=09=09top
=09=09
=09=09AIF Funds Management, CA Nominees, ComROAD, International Finance Cor=
p., New=20
York Life Venture Capital Group, Royal Bank Ventures, Scottish Equity=20
Partners, Singapore Telecommunications, Warburg Pincus Ventures
=09=09
=09=09
=09=09your account
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roduced,=20
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=09=09VentureWire is a service mark of Technologic Partners
=09=09,2001 Technologic Partners
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