MAKE THE RIGHT MOVES NOW --
SO YOU'RE READY FOR THE UPTURN

Dear Jeffrey:

Sandy Robertson and Les Vadasz -- if the term "key"
could be applied to anyone financing private technology
companies, you'd be hard pressed to find anyone to match
their experience and portfolios. What is their take on
what companies need to prove to attract investment?
What financing models do they see are best suited for
2002? What valuations are you likely to be getting in
your next rounds? On November 6, in San Jose, they'll
be sharing the answers to these and many other
questions at:

Managing the downturn: Survival strategies for 2002
VentureWire Executive Summit
The Fairmont, San Jose
November 6, 2001

http://events.venturewire.com/summit/default.asp

Robertson is a true pioneer in start-up finance. Since
1999, he has been running Francisco Partners, the firm
he co-founded, which is the world's largest private
equity fund focused on technology. Of course, prior
to that he had founded Robertson, Stephens & Company
as well as Montgomery Securities. In all, he has financed
over 500 technology companies, including AOL, Dell, Siebel
and Sun, and supported companies and CEOs in good times
and bad. What does he think should be the focus for
technology entrepreneurs and financiers in 2002? What
are your best options for preventing your company from
suffering a liquidity crunch?

Vadasz operates the world's most extensive corporate
development program at Intel Capital. Last year, they
put $1.3 billion into start-ups, and their portfolio
currently includes 550 companies. As part of Intel's
founding team in 1968, he's had various management
responsibilities within the company. He brings a great
blend of operational management expertise and investment
focus to the summit. He'll help us understand the
investment and valuation criteria that Intel applies
to candidates and share insight on the organizational
structures and focus best suited to ride out the
current market malaise.

We're delighted the roster of contributing speakers is
a "who's who" of the industry. Take a look at the panel
on the right to get a sense of others who are participating.
Through both flush and difficult times, they have built,
financed and led great companies, and gone on to turn
those companies into major industry players. Their
leadership ability and insight on people management
and motivation has been put to the test in the past.
What do they believe are the key factors influencing
their own and others' success? Discovering how to pull
through the down market and emerge well-positioned to
exploit the rebound will be fascinating.

How are you structuring your company to survive and
grow in 2002? These and other key experts will share
best-practice strategies for all operational aspects.
Whether you're looking for new financing, cash management
models, product development, sales and marketing
strategies, human resources insight or the building
of corporate partnerships and other strategic
relationships, attending VentureWire's Executive
Summit on November 6 will be a key. Join the valley's
leading executives and investors. Learn from the direct
experiences of the heavy hitters on how to manage your
company through the downturn and be among the first to
ride the upturn when it comes.

This unique event is bound to fill up quickly. To
register single (or multiple) places, please link to

http://events.venturewire.com/summitEvent.asp

today. Team discounts are available should 3 or
more of your colleagues wish to attend.

I hope you'll be able to join us. Should you have any
questions, please do not hesitate to contact me by
phone or e-mail.

Best Wishes,
Allan Cunningham
Managing Director
VentureWire Events
212 343 1900
cunningham@venturewire.com

SPEAKERS and Panelists (Right hand Column)

William V. Campbell
Chairman, Intuit
Built Intuit and Apple's software business

L. William Krause
President, LWK Ventures
Currently re-molding Exodus Communications

Charles McMinn
Chairman, Covad Communications
The driving force behind Covad's current turnaround

Karl C. Powell, Jr.
Former Chairman and CEO of Sequent Computer Systems
Founded, built and sold Sequent through wide-ranging
market conditions

Sanford Robertson
Founder, Francisco Partners
Financed over 500 tech companies, including AOL, Dell,
Siebel and Sun

Stephen Smith
Vice Chairman, Broadview Holdings
Built Broadview's west coast M&A business from the
ground up

Leslie Vadasz
Executive VP, Intel & President, Intel Capital
Oversees the largest corporate development program
with a portfolio of 500 companies

Ken Wilcox
President & CEO, Silicon Valley Bank
Runs the best-known bank in venture capital

AGENDA-AT-A-GLANCE

November 6, 2001
The Fairmont, San Jose
http://events.venturewire.com/summit/agenda.asp

8:00 am
Welcome and Opening Perspectives

8:10 am
Opening Address
Retrenching and Rebuilding:
Business leadership in a slowing economy

8:40 am
View from the Boardroom:
Mastering the challenges of 2002
Seasoned venture capitalists discuss strategies for
financing and managing private technology companies
in the year ahead.

9:25 am
Working Capital:
Cash is king -- and queen and prince.
Leading venture capitalists and executives discuss
financing options and cash management strategies for
growing business in turbulent times.

10:10 am
Break

10:30 am
Sales and Marketing:
Making your numbers when customers are sitting on
their wallets
What experienced marketers are doing to generate
revenue these days.

11:15 am
Bigger Brothers:
What to expect from corporate partners and investors
Experts discuss the M&A outlook for 2002 and the role
of corporate venture capital and strategic relationships

12:00 noon
Lunch and Keynote

Coaching the Team:
Leadership when the direction keeps changing

1:30 pm
Staying in the Game:
Tactics that work, and those that don't
Veteran CEOs tell what they would do differently the
next time around.

2:15 pm
Best Face Forward:
Getting your corporate communications right
Strategies for positioning your company and getting the
story to investors and customers.

3:00 pm
Break

3:20 pm
The Workforce:
How to do more business with fewer people
Authorities in human resources, management, and the law
discuss downsizing, rightsizing, layoffs and productivity.

4:05 pm
Turning to Plan D:
What to do when the worst-case scenario becomes the
best case
Experts provide advice on the end-game for companies
in trouble.

4:50 pm
Looking Across the Valley:
When will the upturn start and what will be the first
signs?
Current market conditions and future prospects from a
financial point of view.

5:35 pm
Reception

7:30 pm
Conference Concludes