======================================================
VENTUREWIRE --- Thursday, November 16, 2000
======================================================
Private Company Business News
------ Published Daily by Technologic Partners -------
http://technologicpartners.com
======================================================

Top Stories:

o ICG Commerce to Merge with Andersen Consulting Venture
o Petsmart Takes Controlling Interest in Petsmart.com
o Ex-U.S. West Chief Joins Wireless Sensor Firm Graviton
o Grassroots.com Names Ex-White House Press Secretary as CEO

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* John Bowers, Director, Multidisciplinary Optical Switching
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* Patrick Nettles, Chairman & CEO, Ciena
* Don Smith, President, Optical Internet, Nortel Networks
* Kerry Valhala, Professor, Applied Physics, Caltech

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Also in This Issue:

New Money:
o Distribution Tech Firm Aerocast Gets $15 Million First Round
o Online Payments Firm Xign Closes $14.3 Million Series A
o Content Distribution Firm Synovial Closes First Round
o Enterprise Tech Firm Performant Gets $2.5 Million Series A
o Linux Provider RidgeRun Raises $5 Million in First Round
o Publishing ASP Docnet.com Secures First Round Funding
o Online Security Firm SecureWorks Lands $20 Million Round Two
o Wireless Tech Firm MeshNetworks Has $26 Million Second Round
o Contract Worker Firm b2people Raises $8 Million Round Two
o Domania.com Secures $5 Million in Second Round of Funding
o Net Marketing Firm B2BMalls.com Lands $1 Million Round Two
o Softbank to Invest in Education Network Bigchalk.com
o Web App Developer Altio Raises $9.2 Million Second Round
o Web Site Coming2America Raises $2.3 Million in Series B
o Electrostatis Management Firm Ion Systems Gets $45 Million
o Wireless Data Firm VisionAir Secures $24 Million In Series D
o YourHomeDirect.com Secures $3 Million
o Deutsche Bank eVentures Invests In Financial Manager, Trema
o Identification Firm KeyNetica Raises $1 Million Seed Round

New Products:
o GroceryStreet.com Debuts Grocery Application in Michigan

New Deals:
o Overstock.com Buys More Inventory From Three Retail Sites

M&A:
o ChannelWave Acquires E-Commerce Infrastructure Firm Accurus
o OneTravel.com Acquired by Amadeus and Terra Lycos
o Procurement Firm WorldCrest Acquires SCMG
o Tarsus Group Acquires Tradeshow Site TSNN.com

New Directors:
o Earth-Friendly Product Exchange GreenOrder Names New Board
o Data Firm Knightbridge Solutions Names Finance Exec to Board
o E-Services Firm DWL Names Software Firm Consultant to Board
o Fiber Optics Firm Radiant Taps Broadband Exec for Board
o Online Services Firm vCustomer Names Two to Board
o Veredex Logistics Appoints Ex-Freight Executive as Chairman
o Auto Web Site Developer BVerticals Names New Board Member

New People:
o Moblie Services Firm Covigo Appoints New CEO
o Take-Out Firm Food.com Names MarchFirst Exec. as CEO
o ASP CustomerLink Systems Taps  E-Commerce Exec as Pres, CEO
o E-business Integrator Emerging Names New CEO, Board Member
o HomeGain COO, John Baker, Named Company President
o Industrial Vortex Founder Named CEO of TheAgZone
o Music Industry Technology Firm CantaMetrix Names New CEO

VC Personnel:
o Former Mannesmann Chairman Joins General Atlantic Partners
o Former OnDisplay Exec Named Partner at Norwest Venture

VW Corrections:
o Cinta
o InnHanse

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======= Top Stories =======

o ICG Commerce to Merge with Andersen Consulting Venture

PHILADELPHIA -- ICG Commerce, an Internet procurement
service provider, said it agreed to merge with ePValue,
the Internet procurement service subsidiary of Andersen
Consulting. Both AC Ventures, Andersen Consulting's
venture unit, and Sun Microsystems, which has an
equity stake in ePValue, will take equity in ICG
Commerce. ICG Commerce will continue to be led by
president and CEO Rick Berry. ICG Commmerce will
be Andersen Consulting's preferred Internet procurement
service and will eventually manage the firm's global
indirect spending. Sun Microsystems will serve as
the merged company's preferred hardware platform.
ICG Commerce, which raises a $117 million second
round this summer, is backed by Entertech Capital,
Graham Partners, Internet  Capital Group, Invest,
Keppel, Koch Ventures, SMM Five, Staples, and Unisys.
http://www.icgcommerce.com/
http://www.epvalue.com/
_____________________________________________

o Petsmart Takes Controlling Interest in Petsmart.com

PHOENIX -- Petsmart, a publicly traded pet retailer,
said it plans to acquire a controlling interest
in Petsmart.com for $20 million in cash, as well
as its pet catalog business, valued at approximately
$10 million, to form an integrated direct marketing
subsidiary. Petsmart previously held a 48.2% stake
in Petsmart.com and will now hold an 81% interest
and will assume full control and consolidation rights.
The deal will dilute the number of shares of Internet
incubator Idealab!, which had been Petsmart.com's
second largest shareholder. Idealab! will keep a
smaller stake in the company.
http://www.petsmart.com/
_____________________________________________

o Ex-U.S. West Chief Joins Wireless Sensor Firm Graviton

LA JOLLA, Calif. -- Graviton, a developer of wireless
sensor networks that enable machines to communicate
with each other, said it appointed Solomon D. Trujillo,
as its new chairman, president and CEO. Mr. Trujillo
is the former chairman and chief executive of US
West, which recently merged with Qwest Communications.
Graviton is backed by Kleiner Perkins Caufield &
Byers, Early Bird Ventures, Mitsui USA, Siemens,
Sun Microsystems, OMRON and Qualcomm, as well as
the CIA's venture fund In-Q-Tel.
http://www.graviton.com/
_____________________________________________

o Grassroots.com Names Ex-White House Press Secretary as CEO

WASHINGTON -- Grassroots.com, a provider of Internet-based
communications and mobilization products for the
American political market, said it appointed former
White house press secretary Mike McCurry as chief
executive officer. Mr. McCurry served as White House
press secretary for President Clinton from 1995
to 1998. He also served as a member of both the
board of advisors and the board of directors of
Grassroots.com and will remain on its board of directors.
Hem replaces Craig Johnson, Grassroots.com co-founder,
who had been serving as interim CEO. Mr. McCurry
will remain a principal of Public Strategies, a
Washington-based public affairs and strategic communications
consulting firm, where he has practiced since leaving
the White House.  Grassroots.com's investors include
Advanced Technology Ventures, Knight Ridder Ventures,
and AIG Horizon Partners.
http://www.grassroots.com/

======= New Money =======

o Distribution Tech Firm Aerocast Gets $15 Million First Round

SAN DIEGO -- Aerocast, which makes secure content
distribution technology for broadband delivery,
said it has raised $15 million in its first round
from Liberty Media and Motorola. Management team
and board member changes have not been released
yet. Aerocast said it will use the funds to accelerate
product research and development, sales and marketing,
and operations.
http://www.aerocast.com/
_____________________________________________

o Online Payments Firm Xign Closes $14.3 Million Series A

PLEASANTON, Calif. -- Xign, which develops Internet-based
payment technologies, said it closed its Series
A round of funding for a total of $14.3 million
from new investors Charles River Ventures and Matrix
Partners, which led the round. Charles R. Schwab
also invested in the round. The company will use
the funding to launch its first products and services
and for sales and marketing. Xign is also backed
by RDM, a subsidiary of CVF Technologies. Xign's
technologies, which it demonstrated in securing
its new funding, enable users to send and receive
payments over the Internet.
http://www.xign.com/
_____________________________________________

o Content Distribution Firm Synovial Closes First Round

FREMONT, Calif. -- Synovial, a content delivery
technology firm, said it raised an undisclosed amount
in its first round from Ark Capital Management and
Telecommunications Development Fund. Michael Granger,
general partner at Ark Capital Management, and Darrel
Williams, chief investment officer at Telecommunications
Development Fund, will join Synovial's board of
directors. Synovial also said Jo Rabin, CTO of Reuters
Mobile, and Jim Normile, professor of computer science
at University College in Ireland and founder of
Shannon Communications Systems, a compression technology
firm, will join Synovial's advisory board. Synovial
added it will use the funds to develop its products
and increase sales.
http://www.synovial.com/
_____________________________________________

o Enterprise Tech Firm Performant Gets $2.5 Million Series A

BELLEVUE, Wash. -- Performant, a developer of performance
optimization technology for back-end enterprise
systems, said it has secured $2.5 million in its
Series A round of funding led by Madrona Venture
Group. Cronus Ventures, Pinpoint Venture Group,
and WRF Capital also participated in the round.
Madrona's venture partner, Matt McIlwain, and Vijay
Vashee of Cronus will take a seat on Performant's
board of directors.
http://www.performant.com/
_____________________________________________

o Linux Provider RidgeRun Raises $5 Million in First Round

BOISE, Idaho -- RidgeRun, a provider of embedded
Linux systems for Internet appliances using DSP
components, said it secured $5 million in its first
round of funding. Investors included Texas Instruments,
TechSpace Xchange, PAC West Technology Funds, and
the Matthew G. Norton Company.
http://www.ridgerun.com/
_____________________________________________

o Publishing ASP Docnet.com Secures First Round Funding

EXTON, Pa. -- Docnet.com, an ASP focused on the
publishing and content industry, said it has completed
its first round of funding provided by Rockham Capital
Ventures and Epoch Partners. Docnet.com did not
disclose the amount it raised, but said it will
use the funds to launch its services. John Silverman
of Epoch will take a seat company's board of directors.
http://www.docnet.com/
_____________________________________________

o Online Security Firm SecureWorks Lands $20 Million Round Two

ATLANTA -- SecureWorks, a provider of Internet security
services to businesses, said it closed its second
round of funding with $20 million led by Mellon
Ventures. GE Equity and SBK Capital also participated
with previous investors Alliance Technology Ventures,
ITC Holdings, and Noro-Moseley Partners. The company
said it will use the funds to expand operations
and marketing.
http://www.secureworks.net/
_____________________________________________

o Wireless Tech Firm MeshNetworks Has $26 Million Second Round

ORLANDO, Fla. -- MeshNetworks, a developer of broadband
wireless Internet technology, said it raised $26
million in its second round of funding, led by Redwood
Ventures. Additional investors included ITT Industries,
BancBoston Ventures, Partricof & Co. Ventures, 3Com
Ventures, and individual investors. The company
said it will use the funds to expand its operations
and toward product development.
http://www.meshnetworks.com/
_____________________________________________

o Contract Worker Firm b2people Raises $8 Million Round Two

NAPERVILLE, Ill. -- b2people, an Internet procurement
software firm for the contract worker market, said
it has raised $8 million in its second of round
of financing led by Blue Stream Ventures. Dain Rauscher
Wessels and previous investor Prism Opportunity
Fund also participated. Board changes have not been
announced yet. The company said it will use the
funds for corporate operations, sales, marketing,
and product development.
http://www.b2people.com/
_____________________________________________

o Domania.com Secures $5 Million in Second Round of Funding

BOSTON -- Domania.com, which has developed customer
acquisition and retention programming to serve real
estate and financial services companies, said it
has raised about $5 million in its second round
of funding from Fleet Venture Resources and Adams,
Harkness & Hill. The round brings the total venture
capital received by the company to $10 million.
Domania.com said it will use the funding to improve
its technology infrastructure and grow its user
relationship management programs.
http://www.domania.com/
_____________________________________________

o Net Marketing Firm B2BMalls.com Lands $1 Million Round Two

BURNSVILLE, N.C. -- B2Bmalls.com, an Internet marketing
and database provider, said it received $1 million
in financing from undisclosed individual investors
as part of its second round of funding. The company,
which has raised $5 million to date, is seeking
$12 million in capital. B2Bmalls.com said it hopes
to raise at least another $5 million by the end
of the first quarter of 2001 and plans to offer
an IPO sometime next year. B2Bmalls.com will use
the money to expand into the international market.
http://www.b2bmalls.com/
_____________________________________________

o Softbank to Invest in Education Network Bigchalk.com

NEW YORK -- Softbank Finance said it plans to invest
an undislcosed amount in bigchalk.com, an education
online network, through one of its funds. Softbank
Finance also said it plans to invest in a new entity,
bigchalk Japan, to distribute bigchalk.com's online
research services into Japan.  bigchalk's eLibrary
research service includes magazines, newspapers,
TV and radio transcripts, books and reference collections,
photographs, images and maps. Users can type in
a question and sort results by relevance, date,
file size, publication or source.
http://www.bigchalk.com/
_____________________________________________

o Web App Developer Altio Raises $9.2 Million Second Round

LONDON -- "London-based Web applications developer
Altio said it has raised $9.2 million in its second
round of funding from lead investor Atlas Venture
and previous investor Amadeus Capital Partners.
Vic Morris of Atlas Venture will join Altio's board
of directors.
http://www.altio.com/
_____________________________________________

o Web Site Coming2America Raises $2.3 Million in Series B

SAN JOSE, Calif. -- Coming2America.com, a Web site
for people who want to or recently immigrated to
the U.S., said it raised $2.3 million in its Series
B round of funding led by previous investor Silicon
Valley Angels. Individual investors also participated.
The company said it will use the funds for general
business development. The site offers advice and
resources for education, careers, business, travel,
immigration, and American culture.
http://www.coming2america.com/
_____________________________________________

o Electrostatis Management Firm Ion Systems Gets $45 Million

BERKELEY, Calif. -- Ion Systems, a provider of electrostatics
management technology, said it has secured $45 million
from Thomas Weisel Capital Partners (TWCP), which
now owns a majority interest in the company. Ion
said it will use the funding for expansion into
new markets, development of its enterprise portal,
and growth of the company's consulting practice.
In addition to capital, TWCP will supply Ion with
advice and access to its network of relationships.
http://www.ion.com/
_____________________________________________

o Wireless Data Firm VisionAir Secures $24 Million In Series D

CASTLE HAYNE, N.C. -- VisionAIR, a designer and
developer of wireless data applications for mobile
workforces, said it has raised $24 million in its
Series D round of funding led by GE Equity. The
round also included funding from Bank of America
Capital Investors, Southeast Interactive Technology
Funds, Sinclair Ventures, a division of Sinclair
Broadcast Group, and Barnard & Co. GE Equity vice
president Trevor Kienzle and Todd Binkowski,  vice
president of Bank of America, will each take a seat
on VisionAIR's board of directors.
http://www.visionair.com/
_____________________________________________

o YourHomeDirect.com Secures $3 Million

WEST LONG BRANCH, N.J. -- YourHomeDirect.com, an
online real estate agency, secured $3 million in
venture capital from Palisade Capital Management.
The funding is part of a targeted $10 million to
$20 million round, which YHD.com expects to raise
over the next three to six months. The company said
it will use the funding for expansion. YHD.com has
received backing from a number of home builders
including, K. Hovnanian, Ryland Homes, Toll Brothers
and Kushner Companies, as well as the Wall Street
Merchant Bank and First Level Capital.
http://www.yourhomedirect.com/
_____________________________________________

o Deutsche Bank eVentures Invests In Financial Manager, Trema

NEW YORK -- Trema, which provides integrated treasury,
risk, cash, and asset management systems, said it
received an investment from Deutsche Bank private
equity investment arm, DB eVentures. The investment
firm has acquired a 6% stake in the company. The
investment will facilitate the company's international
growth and accelerate the introduction of new products
and services.
http://www.trema.com/
_____________________________________________

o Identification Firm KeyNetica Raises $1 Million Seed Round

LAS VEGAS -- KeyNetica, an identification software
and applications firm, said it raised $1 million
in a seed round from M-Systems Flash Disk Pioneers,
a public company that focuses on secure data storage
for the Internet appliance and infrastructure industry.
KeyNetica said it will use the funds for marketing
and sales and to develop secure Internet access
products.
http://www.keynetica.com/

======= New Products =======

o GroceryStreet.com Debuts Grocery Application in Michigan

BIRMINGHAM, Mich. -- GroceryStreet.com, which has
developed an application that allows online groceries
to expand services to customers, said its first
application is debuting today in Michigan. Value
Center Market in Livonia, Michigan, will be the
first grocery store to use the application for the
online portion of its business. GroceryStreet raised
close to $1 million in its first round of funding
from individual investors and is working on raising
its second round.
http://www.grocerystreet.com/

======= New Deals =======

o Overstock.com Buys More Inventory From Three Retail Sites

SALT LAKE CITY -- Overstock.com, a site that acquires
excess inventory and liquidates it through the Internet,
said it purchased Adornis.com, BabyStripes.com and
eHats.com inventories valued at more than $6.5 million
retail. Overstock.com said it has bought $44 million
retail worth of inventory in the last two months.
The retail sites could not be reached for comment.
Adornis.com sells jewelry, Babystripes sells baby
gifts, clothing and furnishings, and ehats sells
hats and helmets. Overstock is backed by Haveford
Group and individual investors.
http://www.overstock.com/

======= M&A =======

o ChannelWave Acquires E-Commerce Infrastructure Firm Accurus

CAMBRIDGE, Mass. -- ChannelWave Software, which
provides technology that enables channel partners
to share information and resources over the Internet,
said it has acquired Accurus, an electronic commerce
infrastructure company, for an undisclosed amount.
ChannelWave said the acquisition of Accurus' marketplace
engine technology will broaden its electronic commerce
services. ChannelWave is backed by ABS Capital Partners,
MF Private Capital, Blue Rock Capital, Lazard Technology
Partners, and Softbank Technology Ventures.
http://www.channelwave.com/
_____________________________________________

o OneTravel.com Acquired by Amadeus and Terra Lycos

MADRID -- Amadeus, a publicly traded information
technology company that provides online distribution,
marketing and sales tools to international travel
professionals, and Terra Lycos, a Madrid-based publicly
traded provider of Internet access and interactive
content for the Spanish and Portuguese speaking
world, said they have acquired the majority stake
in OneTravel.com, a U.S. travel Web site. Terms
of the deal were not disclosed. OneTravel.com will
continue to be headquartered in East Greenville,
Pennsylvania, and led by its current management
team. Terra Lycos and Amadeus will each take two
seats on the seven-member board.  OneTravel.com
had been previously backed by individual investors
and Amadeus.
http://www.amadeus.net/
http://www.onetravel.com/
http://www.terralycos.com/
_____________________________________________

o Procurement Firm WorldCrest Acquires SCMG

ATLANTA -- WorldCrest, a procurement services firm,
said it acquired Strategic Chemical Management Group,
a chemical life-cycle management company for an
undisclosed amount. Anita Neidert, co-founder and
CEO of SCMG, will be the new company's vice president
of chemical markets. SCMG will function as a division
of WorldCrest, offering electric utilities and energy
companies an electronic procurement service for
indirect goods and services. WorldCrest is backed
by Kohlberg Kravis Roberts & Co.
http://www.scmg.com/
http://www.worldcrest.com/
_____________________________________________

o Tarsus Group Acquires Tradeshow Site TSNN.com

LONDON -- Publicly traded Tarsus Group, a London-based
provider of business media including Internet sites,
exhibitions, conferences, and publishing, said it
acquired TSNN.com, a U.S. online tradeshow industry
resource. The terms of the deal were not disclosed.
The company plans to create a global exhibition
portal on the Internet by integrating Tarsus's online
properties with TSNN.com. Tarsus Group will launch
integrated exhibition portals in other countries,
beginning with France in the first quarter of 2001.
TSNN.com CEO David Larkin will keep his position
and the site will change its name to Expohub.com.
TSNN.com had been backed by Tarsus Group and individual
investors.
http://www.tarsus-group.com/

======= New Directors =======

o Earth-Friendly Product Exchange GreenOrder Names New Board

NEW YORK -- GreenOrder, a Web site that provides
businesses with suppliers of environmentally friendly
products, announced its board of directors. The
new board consists of: David Blumberg, former senior
vice president at Merrill Lynch; F. Henry Habicht
II, former EPA Deputy Administrator in the Bush
administration; Laurent Hourcle, professor and co-director
of the Environmental Law Program at George Washington
University and former Defense Department official;
Saul Klein, founding partner of the Accelerator
Group; Joel Makower, writer and editor for environmental
publications; Andy Sack, Softbank entrepreneur-in-residence
who co-founded Firefly Network and Abuzz; Steven
Schooner, professor of government contracts law
at George Washington University and former official
at the Office of Federal Procurement Policy; Lawrence
Lessig, Stanford law professor; Greg Simon, policy
aide to Vice President Al Gore; and Christine Varney,
an  Internet lawyer and former FTC commissioner.
GreenOrder is backed by individual investors.
http://www.greenorder.com/
_____________________________________________

o Data Firm Knightbridge Solutions Names Finance Exec to Board

CHICAGO -- Knightsbridge Solutions, a data applications
firm, said it has appointed Louis B. Susman to its
board as its fifth member. Mr. Susman is the vice
chairman of Citigroup Global Corporate Investment
Bank and of Salomon Smith Barney Investment Bank,
serves on the boards of various corporate and non-profit
organizations, and was an executive at Saloman Smith
Barney. Knightsbridge Solutions raised $9 million
in a second round of funding led by Brinson Partners
in August.
http://www.knightsbridge.com/
_____________________________________________

o E-Services Firm DWL Names Software Firm Consultant to Board

NEW YORK -- DWL, a provider of transactional Internet
services for insurance, financial services, consumer
products, retail, and healthcare companies, said
it elected Ian Giffen to its board of directors.
Mr. Giffen currently serves as a consultant and
advisor to a number of software companies and tech-focused
investment funds. He also serves on the boards of
several e-commerce and technology companies, including
Macromedia, Delano Technology, and Changepoint.
DWL is backed by AIM Funds, Ten-Squared, AGF, Royal
Trust, and Vengrowth Investment Fund.
http://www.dwl.com/
_____________________________________________

o Fiber Optics Firm Radiant Taps Broadband Exec for Board

AUSTIN, Texas -- Radiant Photonics, a manufacturer
of fiber optics components, said it has appointed
Joe Savage, former CEO of broadband management firm
Geyser Networks, as CEO. The company raised $18
million from Smith Investment Partners and KLM Capital
in September.
http://www.radiantphotonics.com/
_____________________________________________

o Online Services Firm vCustomer Names Two to Board

BELLEVUE, Wash. -- vCustomer, which offers outsourced
services for e-business customer support and management,
said Scott Oki and Joachim Kempin have joined its
board of directors. Mr. Oki is chairman of Oki Development
and the Oki Foundation and is also an investor in
vCustomer. Mr. Kempin serves as a senior vice president
at Microsoft. The board now totals four members.
The company's investors include Warburg Pincus.
http://www.vcustomer.com/
_____________________________________________

o Veredex Logistics Appoints Ex-Freight Executive as Chairman

TORONTO -- Veredex Logistics, which provides logistics
applications and Web services for shipping and delivery
companies, said it has appointed Roger Curry, former
CEO of Consolidated Freightways, as chairman of
the board. Veredex raised $4 million from investor
Greybrook in its second round of financing earlier
this month.
http://www.veredex.com/
_____________________________________________

o Auto Web Site Developer BVerticals Names New Board Member

CORTE MADERA, Calif. -- BVerticals, a company which
develops and supports automotive enthusiast Web
sites, said it named Paul Baffico to its board of
directors. Mr. Baffico is former president of Sears
Automotive. He is also founder of Invisible Intellect
Management Services and a senior partner of Swoboda
and Associates, a management consulting firm. BVerticals
was formed earlier this year when PickupTruck.com
merged with VWVortex.com and AudiWorld.com. The
company is backed by outside investors.
http://www.bverticals.com/

======= New People =======

o Moblie Services Firm Covigo Appoints New CEO

BELMONT, Calif. -- Covigo, a company which provides
transactional wireless applications and services
for conducting business over mobile devices, said
Stuart Bagshaw joined the company as chief executive
officer. Mr. Bagshaw previously served as chief
operating officer at ILOG. He replaces Dev Khare,
who served as acting CEO since co-founding the company
in 1999. Mr. Khare will become vice president of
products. Covigo is funded by Norwest Venture Partners
and Nokia Venture Partners.
http://www.covigo.com/
_____________________________________________

o Take-Out Firm Food.com Names MarchFirst Exec. as CEO

SAN FRANCISCO -- Food.com, an online order processing
firm for restaurants on the Web, said it appointed
Trevor S. Fagerskog, former executive in the technology
division at marchFirst, an Internet consulting and
development firm, as president and CEO. He replaces
former president and CEO Richard Frank, who will
retain his position as chairman. Food.com raised
$80 million in its Series E round in March of this
year, with investments from McDonald's, Kraft, Blockbuster,
Clear Channel, Liberty Digital, and TV Guide.
http://www.food.com/
_____________________________________________

o ASP CustomerLink Systems Taps  E-Commerce Exec as Pres, CEO

ROSEVILLE, Calif. -- CustomerLink Systems, a customer
management and marketing applications firm for the
automotive industry, said it has appointed Jeff
Cooke, former executive at e-commerce applications
company onQuo and vice president of global customer
care at Apple, as president and CEO. CustomerLink
raised $2 million from undisclosed outside investors
in September.
http://www.customerlink.com/
_____________________________________________

o E-business Integrator Emerging Names New CEO, Board Member

HOUSTON -- Emerging, a creator of e-business systems,
said Gary Meshell will join the company as chief
executive officer and a member of the board of directors.
Mr. Meshell was previously a partner at Computer
Sciences Corp. (CSC). He replaces Robert Shaw, founder
of the company, who will remain president and chairman
of the board. Emerging is backed by Austin Ventures
and Benchmark Capital.
http://www.emerging.com/
_____________________________________________

o HomeGain COO, John Baker, Named Company President

EMERYVILLE, Calif. -- John Baker, chief operating
officer for online home sales Web site HomeGain,
now also holds the position of president, according
to the company. Mr. Baker joined HomeGain as chief
operating officer after serving as the general manager
and senior vice president of the Business Payroll
Division at Wells Fargo. HomeGain is backed by
investors including BancBoston Ventures, Comdisco
Ventures, Intuit, Mindful Partners, Technology Crossover
Ventures, TMCT Ventures, and Brett Bullinron, executive
vice president of Excite@Home.
http://www.homegain.com/
_____________________________________________

o Industrial Vortex Founder Named CEO of TheAgZone

FRESNO, Calif. -- TheAgZone, a Web site for the
agriculture industry, said it appointed Chuck Steinberger
as president and chief executive officer, replacing
Joseph Penbera, who will remain as chairman. Mr.
Steinberger was formerly founder and chairman of
Industrial Vortex, a business-to-business portal
that closed in July. He also formerly served as
manager of global accounts at Emerson Electric.
TheAgZone is funded by Berg McAfee Ventures.
http://www.theagzone.com/
_____________________________________________

o Music Industry Technology Firm CantaMetrix Names New CEO

BELLEVUE, Wash. -- CantaMetrix, which develops technology,
infrastucture, and a global clearinghouse for the
music industry, said it has appointed William Koenig
as president and chief executive officer. Mr. Koenig
was the president of DiscoverMusic.com, which he
launched as a division of Muzak. He will replace
co-founder John Castle. Mr. Castle will remain an
active board member and advisor. CantaMetrix is
backed by European venture firm Orn Group, in which
musician Eric Clapton is an investor, Four Seasons
Venture, and Pillar Management.
http://www.cantametrix.com/

======= VC Personnel =======

o Former Mannesmann Chairman Joins General Atlantic Partners

GREENWICH, Conn. -- General Atlantic Partners, which
invests in IT, Internet, and Internet-enabled businesses,
said that Klaus Esser, former chairman of the board
of Mannesmann has joined the firm as a partner.
Mr. Esser, who will be based in German, will focus
his attention on telecommunications investment strategy
and assume a leadership role for the fund's European
operations. Through his position with General Atlantic
Mr. Esser will also become chairman of the supervisory
board of Apollis, an developer and accelerator of
new technology ventures. Apollis, based in Munich,
is an independent company established by General
Atlantic focusing on developing wireless-enabled
applications and solutions businesses.
http://www.gapartners.com/
_____________________________________________

o Former OnDisplay Exec Named Partner at Norwest Venture

PALO ALTO, Calif. -- Norwest Venture Partners, which
focuses on emerging IT companies, said it added
Venkat Mohan as partner in charge of the company's
new office in Pleasanton, Calif. Mr. Mohan was formerly
president and CEO of OnDisplay, a provider of Internet
infrastructure software for online business portals
and marketplaces that was acquired by Vignette.
Norwest Venture Partners currently manages $1.1
billion in investments.
http://www.norwestvp.com/

======= VW Corrections =======

o Cinta

NEW YORK -- An item in yesterday's VentureWire regarding
the second round of funding for Cinta incorrectly
listed the company's URL. The correct URL is http://www.cinta-corp.com.

_____________________________________________

o InnHanse

NEW YORK -- An item it Wednesday's VentureWire about
InnHanse acquiring Configurations incorrectly listed
InnHanse's URL. The correct URL is http://www.innhanse.com.


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