?	
?	VentureWire
	Wednesday, December 13, 2000	?
?	CONTENTS | COMPANIES | INVESTORS | ADVERTISE | TELL A FRIEND	?
?	
	
	
	top stories
	
	* E-Government Site govWorks in Desperate Search For Cash
	* News Site LocalBusiness.com Lays Off 27% of Staff
	* Broadview Holdings Launches $250 Million Kennet II Fund
	* Compaq Adds $100 Million to Storage Investment Fund
	
	
	TODAY'S FEATURE
	RecordTV Hangs On Against the Movie Goliath
	By Lizbeth Scordo
	It's not easy getting funding these days, especially for Internet startups. 
more>>
	
	
	
	
	100 PRE-IPO NETWORKING BUSINESSES
	THE INDUSTRY'S KEY EXECUTIVES AND INVESTORS
	
	Network Outlook
	March 12-13, 2001
	San Francisco Airport Marriott, Burlingame, CA
	
	Featuring Vivek Ragavan, President and CEO of Redback
	Networks and Gordon Stitt, President and CEO of Extreme
	Networks together with incisive panels and roundtables --
	the perfect opportunity to network with the industry's best
	and brightest.   Visit: http://networkoutlook.net/?vw=20001213
	to reserve your place for this annual sell out event.
	
	
	
	new money
	
	* App Infrastructure Firm Exenet Has $35 Million First Round 
	* Ad Tech Firm Addition Systems Gets First Round Funds
	* Healthcare Transaction Firm EDIT Gets Seed from VeriFone 
	* Manufacturing Tech Firm EMT Has $5.5 Million in First Round
	* Online Buying Tech Firm DuoCash Raises Series A Funding
	* Portable Use Software Firm ANM Has $2.25 Million Round One
	* Router Replacement Services Firm Gets $5 Million First Round
	* Diode Laser Firm Alfalight Gets $28 Million in Second Round
	* Cisco Invests in Cogency Semiconductor's Second Round
	* Dresdner Kleinwort Benson Invests $6 Million In Croatia
	* E-Government Firm FreeBalance Has $1.3 Million Round Two 
	* Web Entertainment Site Tribe Gets $9 Million Round Two
	* Auto Parts Firm NextPart Gets Addt'l Round Two Funds in Deal
	* B2B Suppliers Rating Firm SupplierInsight Gets Funding
	* Interactive TV Firm Commerce.TV Lands $23 Million Series C
	* Remote Net Access Firm iPass Adds $20 Million to Round Four
	* Securant Technologies Lands $31 Million in Series C
	* Albert Lands $10 Million in First Phase of Mezzanine Round
	* Omneon Video Networks Raises $24.8 Million Third Round
	* FIS Gets Funds from Autodesk; Autodesk Invest in Two Others
	* Investment Management Firm IPMG Invests in StoreBusters.
	* Myutility Raises $3.5 Million, Buys Utility Business 
	* Digital Media Firm eZedia Has $655,481 in Third Round
	* Managed ASP Cosential Raises $1.8 Million in Funding 
	* Swedish VC Invests $134,000 in DNA Chip Developer Picron 
	
	
	bad news
	
	* Web File and Application Service Desktop.com Closes Down
	
	
	new products
	
	* Doc-to-Patient Site GoToMyDoc Changes to AviaHealth
	
	
	new deals
	
	* National Geographic Takes 19% Stake in Art Site Novica.com
	
	
	m&a
	
	* ProAct Technologies to Acquire Interlynx for $60 Million
	* eBay Subsidiary Half.com Acquires Deja.com Technology
	* eKiosks Acquires Net Security Tech Firm InterNetStation 
	* Home Product Site OurHouse to Acquire Retail Site Tavolo 
	* Net Software Firm Reef Acquires Net Content Tech Firm Edapta
	
	
	new directors
	
	* Broadband Service Firm Incanta Names Edaflow CEO as Chairman
	* CES International Names Cinergy Managing Director to Board
	* Ex-IBM Exec Joins Optical Transport Firm White Rock's Board 
	* Peer-to-Peer Tech Developer Porivo Names New Board Member
	* ASP Aspire Names Former Latitude Seven CEO as Chairman
	
	
	new people
	
	* Former ConvergeNet Executive Named CEO of Scale Eight
	* Integrated Circuit Firm Legerity Names Former Dell Exec CEO
	* Streaming Measurement Firm BroadStream Names Chairman
	* Capital Marketplace Firm Round1 Names its Leadership
	* Logistics.com Names New CEO and President
	* Web Grocery Store Netgrocer Promotes VP to President
	
	
	vc fund news
	
	* WebVestors Equity Partners Raises $20 Million in First Fund
	
	
	vc personnel
	
	* Jafco Taps Ex-FAC/Equities Executive for Managing Director
	
	
	vw corrections
	
	* Enamics
	* I-Escrow
	* Faber Consulting
	
	TOP STORIES... NEW MONEY... BAD NEWS... NEW PRODUCTS... NEW DEALS... M&A... 
NEW DIRECTORS... NEW PEOPLE... VC FUND NEWS... VC PERSONNEL... VW CORRECTIONS
	
	
	top
	
	
	Optix 2001 Features Creme de la Creme of the Industry
	
	Ask yourself: if Patrick Nettles, Chairman and CEO of Ciena,
	and Kerry Vahala, Professor of Applied Physics at the
	California Institute of Technology, are speaking at Optix
	2001, shouldn't I register to attend? It's been labeled the
	"must-attend" event of the year and is certain to be the
	optimal chance for networking with key players in the industry.
	
	In addition, 48 CEOs representing the best and brightest
	private optical communications companies will expound their
	business plans and future goals to others in the industry.
	
	Participation at this event is subject to approval and is
	limited to senior executives involved in the optical com-
	munications industry. For your registration pack, link to:
	http://www.optix2001.com/optix_reg.html?vw=20001213
	
	
	top stories
	?
	E-Government Site govWorks in Desperate Search For Cash
	mail this story? top
	
	NEW YORK (VENTUREWIRE) -- Electronic government services firm govWorks is 
taking last ditch measures in a bid to keep the company running. CEO Kaleil 
Isaza Tuzman said the company is "cutting costs in every way possible" in an 
effort to stay afloat, and is "every day pounding the pavement" to find 
further financing or a buyer. Mr. Isaza said that as part of the company's 
efforts to scale back, in the last sixty days govWorks has stopped 
contributing cash to its subsidiary govWorks Latin America, a fifty-fifty 
joint venture with Argentine firm Consultora Tecnologica (Cotesa), and that 
the company "will continue to make that decision until we're okay." Under 
that agreement govWorks and Cotesa each contributed funds on a monthly basis 
to govWorks Latin America, and Cotesa has picked up govWorks' payments in the 
meantime. Mr. Isaza also clarified the scale of the company's cuts. After a 
p! eak of 233 employees in March, he said, govWorks cut positions in April 
and mid-August, with a final round of 41 layoffs in November. The company now 
has 56 employees in its domestic operations, with approximately 40 more in 
its international staff through govWorks Latin America. Mr. Isaza said the 
company would close rather than make further staff cuts. "This is the number 
we believe we need to adequately service clients," he said. But closing shop, 
said Mr. Isaza, "is not the mode we're in." The company is in post-term sheet 
negotiations with three potential acquirers, he said, and is looking for "the 
first fully negotiated reasonable situation that allows us to survive as a 
company." He said acquisition by a competitor "makes less sense because other 
companies in the market are facing similar challenges." Mr. Isaza said the 
company is hitting projections made in June for an 18-month road to 
profitability, but that pace was no longer in line with market expectations. 
I! n April, govWorks received funding from the Mayfield Fund, Kohlberg Kravis 
Roberts, American Management Systems, the Safra Group, Hearst Corp., Global 
Bridge Ventures, and Metropolis Ventures. Mr. Isaza, also co-founder and 
chairman of govWorks, made the comments in an interview after speaking at a 
luncheon on sponsored by The Colombian American, Ecuadorean American, and 
Venezuelan American Associations in New York.
	http://www.govworks.com
	
	
	News Site LocalBusiness.com Lays Off 27% of Staff
	mail this story? top
	
	FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. (VENTUREWIRE) -- LocalBusiness.com, an online provider 
of local news, tools, and research resources for small and medium-sized 
businesses, said it laid off 34 employees, 27% of its staff. The cuts include 
members of the editorial, marketing, and technology departments. The company 
said the layoffs were intended to bring it closer to profitability. The 
company also announced it is nearing an agreement to sell the majority stake 
of its wholly owned subsidiary TrueAdvantage, a provider of sales lead 
services, to a group of current LocalBusiness shareholders. LocalBusiness.com 
is backed by U.S. Equity Partners, Rustic Canyon Ventures, and Tribune 
Ventures, which invested $16 million in March. 
	http://www.localbusiness.com
	
	
	Broadview Holdings Launches $250 Million Kennet II Fund
	mail this story? top
	
	LONDON (VENTUREWIRE) -- Broadview Holdings, an international mergers and 
acquisitions advisor and late stage venture capital investor, said it is 
launching a new early stage venture capital fund. The $250 million global 
venture capital fund will be managed by Kennet Capital, a wholly owned 
venture of Broadview originally established with Electra Partners. The fund 
which is currently investing as Kennet II will do business as Broadview 
Venture Partners, subject to regulatory approval. The new fund will invest in 
early stage information technology companies in Europe with a secondary focus 
on the U.S. Industry segements including networking and data communications, 
optical and wireless technology and services, and Internet infrastructure and 
e-commerce are all potential investment areas for the new fund. The firm said 
it will divide ts staff between London and Silicon Valley, with eight 
professionals o! perating from London and five from Silicon Valley.  
	http://www.broadview.com
	
	
	Compaq Adds $100 Million to Storage Investment Fund
	mail this story? top
	
	HOUSTON (VENTUREWIRE) -- Compaq Computer said it is expanding its storage 
investment fund with an additional $100 million in 2001. The company's 
investment program focuses on accelerating the development and adoption of 
storage hardware, software, and utility provider technology. Compaq has 
invested in storage firms such as HighGround Systems, Prisa Networks, and 
StorageNetworks.  
	http://www.compaq.com
	
	
	new money
	?
	App Infrastructure Firm Exenet Has $35 Million First Round 
	mail this story? top
	
	NEW YORK  (VENTUREWIRE) -- Exenet Technologies, an application infrastructure 
provider, said it closed its $35 million initial round of funding. Telecom 
Partners and CIBC Capital Partners participated in the round.  Exenet will 
use the funding to expand its outsourced infrastructure service for ASPs, 
independent software vendors, value added resellers (VARs), Regional Bell 
operating companies, local exchange carriers, and other corporations.  Exenet 
provides lT outsourcing and application infrastructure services, including 
directory services, management services, storage services, database 
management, and bandwidth provisioning services.   
	http://www.exenet.com
	
	
	Ad Tech Firm Addition Systems Gets First Round Funds
	mail this story? top
	
	LOS ANGELES (VENTUREWIRE) -- Addition Systems, a provider of targeted 
advertising insertion technology, said it has raised an undisclosed amount of 
equity funding from Digital Media Campus as part of its first round. The 
company also announced it has acquired the proprietary server-side assets of 
eWave Networks, a streaming media technology firm. Digital Media Campus is a 
new media business development firm that focuses on interactive content and 
content distribution and infrastructure companies.    
	http://www.addition.net
	http://www.thecampus.com
	
	
	Healthcare Transaction Firm EDIT Gets Seed from VeriFone 
	mail this story? top
	
	ATLANTA (VENTUREWIRE) -- Electronic Direct Internet Transactions (EDIT), 
which provides services linking healthcare providers' offices to insurance 
payers online, said it secured an undisclosed amount of seed funding from 
VeriFone, a Hewlett-Packard division that provides online payment systems. 
EDIT will also offer a VeriFone payment terminal with its medical office 
services. EDIT raised $1.5 million from individual investors in September 
that was also part of its seed round. EDIT said it hopes to raise a Series A 
round next year. 
	http://www.edi-transactions.com
	
	
	Manufacturing Tech Firm EMT Has $5.5 Million in First Round
	mail this story? top
	
	LONDON, Ontario (VENTUREWIRE) -- Executive Manufacturing Technologies, which 
develops manufacturing information software, said it raised CND $5.5 million 
($3.6 million) in its first round of funding. The investment was led by 
Ventures West Management, and included the Canadian Science and Technology 
Growth Fund, and the Bank of Montreal Capital. GATX/MM Ventures also invested 
$1.5 million in debt funds. The company will use the funds for sales and 
marketing of its product, Visual Plant, which manages manufacturing 
information. 
	http://www.visualplant.com
	
	
	Online Buying Tech Firm DuoCash Raises Series A Funding
	mail this story? top
	
	NEW YORK (VENTUREWIRE) -- DuoCash, which offers technology that enables 
online purchasing with prepaid cards, said it raised an undisclosed amount of 
Series A funding. OCI Venture Group led the round, which included law firm 
Greenberg Traurig. Telemedia Accelerator, which is funded by Constellation 
Ventures; New York City Investment Fund; and Psilos Group also participated 
in the funding. OCI Venture Group president Chris Fraser will sit on the 
company's board of directors. DuoCash will use the funding for marketing and 
technology development.
	http://www.duocash.com
	
	
	Portable Use Software Firm ANM Has $2.25 Million Round One
	mail this story? top
	
	VANCOUVER, B.C. (VENTUREWIRE) -- Advanced Numerical Methods (ANM), a software 
firm that provides services enabling information presentation on desktop and 
portable devices, said it raised its first round of funding for $2.25 
million. Discovery Capital led the round with $1.4 million. Fractal Capital 
and individual investors also funded the round. Randy Garg of Discovery 
Capital will sit on the company's board of directors. The company will use 
the funding for further product development and for marketing. ANM provides 
technology for the digital imaging, geographic informations systems and 
remote sensing, medical imaging, and wireless device sectors.
	http://www.numericalmethods.com
	
	
	Router Replacement Services Firm Gets $5 Million First Round
	mail this story? top
	
	PETALUMA, Calif. (VENTUREWIRE) -- ReadyRouter.com, which provides configured 
replacement services for Cisco routers and switches, said it has secured $5 
million in its first round of funding from WR Hambrecht + Co. The company 
said it will use the funding to develop more new services.     
	http://www.readyrouter.com
	
	
	Diode Laser Firm Alfalight Gets $28 Million in Second Round
	mail this story? top
	
	MADISON, Wis. (VENTUREWIRE) -- Alfalight, which develops high-powered diode 
lasers for the optical fiber communications market, said it raised its second 
round of funding for $28 million, bringing its total funding raised to 
approximately $34 million. Advanced Technology Ventures led the round, which 
included Centerpoint Ventures, the Infrastructure Fund, Interwest Partners, 
and first round lead investor ARCH Venture Partners. The company will use the 
funding to commercialize its technology and expand its new facility in 
Madison, Wisconsin, and its operations in Canada.
	http://www.alfalight.com
	
	
	Cisco Invests in Cogency Semiconductor's Second Round
	mail this story? top
	
	OTTOWA, Ontario (VENTUREWIRE) -- Cogency Semiconductor, a provider of 
semiconductors for the home networking market, said that Cisco Systems has 
invested an undisclosed amount as an add on to Cogency's second round of 
funding that closed in September. The company said it will use the capital to 
support its growth plans, expand research and development capabilities, and 
increase sales and marketing. Its products enable high-speed data 
transmission using existing in-home wiring. A member of Cisco will receive an 
observer seat on Cogency's board of directors. The company's other investors 
include Celtic House International, VenGrowth, and Working Ventures Canadian 
Fund.     
	http://www.cogency.com
	
	
	Dresdner Kleinwort Benson Invests $6 Million In Croatia
	mail this story? top
	
	LONDON (VENTUREWIRE) -- The private equity arm of Dresdner Kleinwort Benson 
said it invested $6 million in Croatian Internet company Iskon Internet. The 
second round investment gives Dresdner an undisclosed "substantial equity 
stake in the business," according to a company press release. The funding 
will be used to increase the capacity, scope, and quality of the company's 
initial product and to develop and market additional Internet-based 
communication, media, and e-commerce products directed towards the Croatian 
market. The investment is the fourth Dresdner has made from its Emerging 
Europe Fund bringing the total amount invested to $35 million. $5 million was 
initially invested in Iskon Internet by a consortium of private investors led 
by Gavin Susman.
	http://www.iskon.hr
	
	
	E-Government Firm FreeBalance Has $1.3 Million Round Two 
	mail this story? top
	
	OTTAWA, Ontario (VENTUREWIRE) -- FreeBalance, a developer of Internet-based 
government products and administrative systems for the public sector, said it 
received CDN 2 million ($1.3 million) as part of its second round of funding, 
which is still open, from GATX/MM Venture Finance Partnership. The company 
plans to raise an additional CDN 10 million to complete the second round. The 
company will use the funds for product development. FreeBalance raised CDN 
2.7 million in 1997.
	http://www.freebalance.com
	
	
	Web Entertainment Site Tribe Gets $9 Million Round Two
	mail this story? top
	
	SYDNEY (VENTUREWIRE) -- Tribe, an Australian online media and entertainment 
company, said it received AUS $17 million ($9 million) in its second round of 
funding. Investors were JP Morgan and United Distillers and Vinters. The 
company said it will use the funds to continue development of its site and 
off-line entertainment interests, as well as for international expansion.
	http://www.tribe.com.au
	
	
	Auto Parts Firm NextPart Gets Addt'l Round Two Funds in Deal
	mail this story? top
	
	EVANSTON, Ill. (VENTUREWIRE) -- Incubator and Web development firm duoDesign 
said it has invested $250,000 in NextPart, an Internet auto-parts 
distributor, in a service-for-equity deal. Under the terms of the agreement, 
duoDesign will use its Web development services to enhance and expand 
NextPart's business-to-business Web site. In addition to hosting the site, 
duoDesign will help NextPart build a customer service application and scale 
its database to handle nationwide inventory. DuoDesign's investment follows 
NextPart's second round of venture funding, which was provided by Silver 
Young Partners and Forefront Capital Management.  
	http://www.duodesign.com
	
	
	B2B Suppliers Rating Firm SupplierInsight Gets Funding
	mail this story? top
	
	CLEVELAND (VENTUREWIRE) -- SupplierInsight, an independent online source for 
qualification and ratings information on business-to-business suppliers, said 
it has secured funding from Capital One Partners. SupplierInsight said it 
will use the funding to expand its market coverage to more industries and 
electronic marketplace partners. The company has received funding from a 
consortium of Northeast Ohio investors, including Forest City Enterprises and 
Symark.  
	http://www.supplierinsight.com
	
	
	Interactive TV Firm Commerce.TV Lands $23 Million Series C
	mail this story? top
	
	BRAINTREE, Mass. (VENTUREWIRE) -- Commerce.TV, an infrastructure provider for 
interactive TV services, said it raised $23 million in its Series C round of 
funding. Investors included Motorola, Audax Group, Center Partners/ITV 
Partners, Sandler Capital, and previous investor Citigroup Technology 
Ventures. The company will use the funds to support upcoming cable 
deployments and to continue development of its services.
	http://www.commerce-tv.com
	
	
	Remote Net Access Firm iPass Adds $20 Million to Round Four
	mail this story? top
	
	REDWOOD SHORES, Calif. (VENTUREWIRE) -- iPass, a provider of global remote 
Internet access services, said it has closed its fourth, Series F round with 
an additional $20 million, bringing in Cisco as a new investor. Total funding 
for the round was $50 million. As reported in September, Crosspoint Ventures, 
Accel Partners, Comdisco, Equant, Rogers Communications and Sand Hill Capital 
also contributed to the round. iPass said it will use the funds to extend the 
development of its settlement and authentication technologies.   
	http://www.ipass.com
	
	
	Securant Technologies Lands $31 Million in Series C
	mail this story? top
	
	SAN FRANCISCO (VENTUREWIRE) -- Securant Technologies, which provides access 
management software and services for Internet business security, said it 
raised $31 million in its Series C round of funding. Oak Investment Partners 
led the round, which included Merrill Lynch and individual investors. Oak 
Investment Partners general partner Fred Harman and Richard Pierce, senior 
vice president and COO of Inktomi, will sit on the company's board of 
directors. The company will use the funding for product development, sales 
and marketing, and for international operating expenses. 
	http://www.securant.com
	
	
	Albert Lands $10 Million in First Phase of Mezzanine Round
	mail this story? top
	
	LAUSANNE, Switzerland (VENTUREWIRE) -- Albert-Inc., a provider of a natural 
language interface system developed for Internet Web sites and intranets, 
said it raised $10 million in the first phase of its mezzanine round led by 
TAG Group. The company is currently negotiating the second phase and expects 
to raise $5 to $10 million. The company will use the funds for expansion into 
other markets.
	http://www.albert.com
	
	
	Omneon Video Networks Raises $24.8 Million Third Round
	mail this story? top
	
	SUNNYVALE, Calif (VENTUREWIRE) -- Omneon Video Networks, a new media 
infrastructure company, said it completed its $24.8 million third round of 
financing led by Meritech Capital Partners. New investors include Chase H&Q, 
Intel Communications Fund, Palo Alto Investors, and Thomas Weisel Partners. 
Previous investors Accel Partners, Mayfield Fund, Norwest Venture Partners, 
Lucent Venture Partners, and The Ignite Group also participated in the round. 
The company has raised more than $57 million to date. Omneon said it will use 
the funds to advance its video area network operating platform that can 
openly support multiple formats, applications, and transmission standards for 
television and Internet applications. 
	http://www.omneon.com
	
	
	FIS Gets Funds from Autodesk; Autodesk Invest in Two Others
	mail this story? top
	
	CAMARILLO, Calif. (VENTUREWIRE) -- Facility Information Systems, a provider 
of enterprise software for facility management and corporate infrastructure 
resource management, said it received funding from Autodesk Ventures. 
Financial details were not disclosed. Separately, Autodesk said it also 
invested in Alchemedia, a developer of technology that protects against 
unauthorized use of digital images, and Izoic, a software firm focused on 
managing underground infrastructure maintenance. Autodesk said the three 
investments totalled $3 million. Alchemedia also received funding in that 
round from Carlyle Venture Partners and Hollinger Capital. Izoic received 
funds from Insight Capital Partners and Bechtel Ventures as well as Autodesk. 
	http://www.autodesk.com
	http:! //www.fisinc.com
	
	
	Investment Management Firm IPMG Invests in StoreBusters.
	mail this story? top
	
	SALT LAKE CITY (VENTUREWIRE) -- InterPacific Management Group (IPMG), an 
early stage investment management firm, said it completed a follow-on 
investment in StoreBusters, a developer of an Internet exposure and 
marketplace feedback information service. IPMG is a joint venture between 
Integran of Tokyo and JapanWorks. StoreBusters closed its first round in July 
with investments from JapanWorks and Utah Technology Finance Corp. 
	http://www.storebusters.com
	
	
	Myutility Raises $3.5 Million, Buys Utility Business 
	mail this story? top
	
	NEW YORK (VENTUREWIRE) -- Myutility, an energy services marketplace and 
information provider for businesses, said it bought the Teldata Solutions 
automated meter reading systems (AMR) and revenue cycle services (RCS) 
business from National Grid Group, which simultaneously invested $3.5 million 
in Myutility. National Grid purchased Teldata, a data acquisition products 
and services firm, last year. Myutility said it will use the funding to 
expand its services and for operations and is still seeking additional 
funding. Myutility raised an undisclosed amount of seed capital from TSG 
Equity Partners in September.
	http://www.myutility.com
	
	
	Digital Media Firm eZedia Has $655,481 in Third Round
	mail this story? top
	
	WINNIPEG, Manitoba (VENTUREWIRE) -- eZedia, a digital media technology firm, 
said it raised CDN 1 million ($655,481) in its third round of funding. Crocus 
Investment Fund and Manitoba Science and Technology Fund participated. The 
company will use the funds to expand its marketing and sales. 
	http://www.ezedia.com
	
	
	Managed ASP Cosential Raises $1.8 Million in Funding 
	mail this story? top
	
	WILTON, Conn. (VENTUREWIRE) -- Cosential, a managed ASP for architecture, 
construction, and engineering companies, said it raised $1.8 million in 
financing. Silicon Alley Venture Partners led the round, which included 
Milestone Venture Partners and Venture Quest. The company will use the 
funding to launch a new ASP service. Cosential said its enhanced ASP product 
will be available in the first quarter of 2001. 
	http://www.cosential.com
	
	
	Swedish VC Invests $134,000 in DNA Chip Developer Picron 
	mail this story? top
	
	STOCKHOLM (VENTUREWIRE) -- Affarsstrategerna, a publicly traded Swedish 
venture capital company, said it invested in Picron Microarrays, which is 
developing a DNA chip to be used in process analysis. The venture firm 
invested SEK 1.3 million ($134,000), for approximately 12% of the company's 
equity. Picron Microarrays' technology is used in genotyping for clinical 
diagnostics and detection. 
	http://www.astrateg.se
	
	
	bad news
	?
	Web File and Application Service Desktop.com Closes Down
	mail this story? top
	
	ATLANTA (VENTUREWIRE) -- Desktop.com, which provided a Web-based service that 
enabled users to create the equivalent of a cutomized computer desktop on the 
Internet, said it will cease operations on Dec. 31. The company has requested 
that users remove documents, files, or other personal information stored on 
the site before that date. Desktop.com laid-off an undisclosed number of its 
staff in October as a result of the company's changed focus from the consumer 
to the business market. Desktop.com has raised $29 million from Accel 
Partners, Kohlberg Kravis Roberts, and Sequoia Capital.
	http://www.desktop.com
	
	
	new products
	?
	Doc-to-Patient Site GoToMyDoc Changes to AviaHealth
	mail this story? top
	
	FARMINGTON, Conn. (VENTUREWIRE) -- GoToMyDoc, a Web site that connects 
patients to their ob/gyn physician or pediatricians, said it changed its name 
to AviaHealth. The company has received $25 million from Bessemer Venture 
Partners, Delphi Ventures, E.M. Warburg, Pincus & Co., InterWest Partners, 
Marquette Venture Partners, Pacific Venture Group, PNC Capital, and the 
Sprout Group.
	http://www.aviahealth.com
	
	
	new deals
	?
	National Geographic Takes 19% Stake in Art Site Novica.com
	mail this story? top
	
	WASHINGTON, D.C.  (VENTUREWIRE) -- National Geographic, a nonprofit 
scientific and educational organization, and Novica.com, an Internet commerce 
site specializing in handcrafted works of fine art and home decor sourced 
from artisans in developing economies, said they entered into a strategic 
agreement. Under the terms of the deal, National Geographic has become a 19% 
shareholder in Novica.com, with the right to increase its interest to nearly 
30 percent.  National Geographic will provide Novica with relevant content 
from its editorial resources, cross-marketing support, and access to its 
commerce  retail, catalog, and online channels. Rick Allen, president and CEO 
of National Geographic Ventures, will now serve on Novica's board of 
directors. National Geographic Ventures is the wholly owned taxable 
subsidiary of the National Geographic Society. Novica is funded by Scripps 
Ventures; Rust Capital ! LLC; Chris Blackwell, founder of Island Records; 
Michael Burns; Theresa Pan; Estella Warren; and other individual investors.  
	http://www.nationalgeographic.com
	http://www.novica.com
	
	
	m&a
	?
	ProAct Technologies to Acquire Interlynx for $60 Million
	mail this story? top
	
	NEW YORK (VENTUREWIRE) -- ProAct Technologies, a provider of human resources, 
employee benefits, and financial and health planning applications, said it 
agreed to acquire self-service software firm Interlynx Technology for $60 
million. Interlynx provides products for human resources applications. ProAct 
Technologies, formerly CFN, recently acquired MyDailyHealth, a developer of 
online incentive-based health management tools. ProAct raised a $150 million 
Series D round from Gateway Computers. ProAct is also backed by GE Capital 
and Chase Capital Partners. Interlynx is also venture backed.
	http://www.interlynx.com
	http://www.proactcorp.com
	
	
	eBay Subsidiary Half.com Acquires Deja.com Technology
	mail this story? top
	
	AUSTIN (VENTUREWIRE) -- Deja.com, a comparison shopping and consumer review 
site, said its precision buying service has been acquired by eBay subsidiary 
Half.com, an online, fixed price person-to-person marketplace, for an 
undisclosed amount. Deja.com withdrew its registration for an IPO in June, 
laid off employees in September, and announced it would soon be split and 
sold. Deja.com is backed by Austin Ventures, Chase H&Q, Comcast, GE Capital, 
Internet Capital Group, Prime New Media Ventures, and ZDNet.   
	http://www.deja.com
	http://www.half.com
	
	
	eKiosks Acquires Net Security Tech Firm InterNetStation 
	mail this story? top
	
	NEW LENOX, Ill. (VENTUREWIRE) -- ekiosk, which designs, manufactures, deploys 
and manages Internet kiosks in public areas, said it has acquired 
Internet-based Security Technology Firm InterNetStation from UnionBancorp, a 
financial services company. The financial terms of the acquisition were not 
disclosed. The stock only transaction also gives UnionBancorp equity interest 
in eKiosk, a privately-held firm that has secured funding from Exodus 
Communications, the Galleon Group, and individual investors.  
	http://www.ekioskdotcom.com
	
	
	Home Product Site OurHouse to Acquire Retail Site Tavolo 
	mail this story? top
	
	EVANSTON, Ill. (VENTUREWIRE) -- OurHouse, the parent company of OurHouse.com, 
a Web site that offers home products and services, said it has entered an 
agreement to acquire Tavolo, an online retailer of cooking and dining 
products. Under the terms of the merger, Tavolo shareholders will receive an 
undisclosed percentage of OurHouse stock. This agreement will add more than 
10,000 of Tavolo's cooking and dining products to OurHouse's existing roster. 
OurHouse is backed by Liberty Digital, J & W Seligman & Co., Meritech Capital 
Partners, Liechtenstein Global, Ace Hardware, Brentwood Venture Capital, 
Institutional Venture Partners, and Technology Crossover Ventures. Tavolo is 
backed by Van Wagoner Capital, Marquette Ventures, Scripps Ventures, Sprout 
Group, and Weston Presdio Capital. 
	http://www.ourhouse.com
	http://www.tavolo.com
	
	
	Net Software Firm Reef Acquires Net Content Tech Firm Edapta
	mail this story? top
	
	NEW YORK (VENTUREWIRE) -- Reef, a global Internet software company for 
electronic business, said it has acquired Edapta, a provider of 
Internet-based technology that adapts content and user interfaces across 
multiple platforms. The financial terms of the acquisition were not 
disclosed. Under the terms of the agreement, Edapta's co-founder, president, 
and chief technology officer, Jack Berkowitz, will become Reef's vice 
president of customer management and will report to Reef's CEO and founder 
Phillippe Brawerman. Reef's investors include Goldman Sachs, 3i, Cisco 
Systems, Net Fund Europe, Profrigo, and ViVentures.      
	http://www.reef.com
	
	
	new directors
	?
	Broadband Service Firm Incanta Names Edaflow CEO as Chairman
	mail this story? top
	
	ATLANTA (VENTUREWIRE) -- Incanta, a provider of managed content services to 
broadband service providers, said it named Tim Cobb as chairman of the board. 
Aside from being an individual investor in Incanta, Mr. Cobb is founder, 
chairman and CEO of edaflow, a provider of software and services for the 
apparel industry. Mr. Conn joins board members Ron Dizy of Celtic House, Reid 
Funston of Reicon Capital, Dave Samuel of Mosaic Venture Partners, and Scott 
Ryan and John Brothers, both of Incanta. The company is backed by Mosaic 
Venture Partners, Intel Capital, AT&T Canada, Celtic House, Reicon Capital, 
Imlay Investments, Gray Ventures, Blackboard Ventures, and Marathon Capital.
	http://www.incanta.net
	
	
	CES International Names Cinergy Managing Director to Board
	mail this story? top
	
	ATLANTA (VENTUREWIRE) -- CES International, a software company for the 
utility industry, said it elected Brian Stallman, managing director of 
Cinergy Ventures, to its board of directors. Mr. Stallman currently manages a 
portfolio of new-energy technologies and business investments of more than 
$100 million. CES International is funded by Cinergy Ventures and InSight 
Capital Partners. 
	http://www.ces.com
	
	
	Ex-IBM Exec Joins Optical Transport Firm White Rock's Board 
	mail this story? top
	
	DALLAS (VENTUREWIRE) -- White Rock Networks, an optical transport system 
provider, said it has appointed Richard T. Liebhaber to its board of 
directors. Mr. Liebhaber spent more than 30 years at IBM and 10 years at MCI 
working in the optical transport space. White Rock has raised over $40 
million in funding from Mayfield Fund, Oak Investment Partners, Meritech 
Capital Partners, and Hook Partners.    
	http://www.whiterocknetworks.com
	
	
	Peer-to-Peer Tech Developer Porivo Names New Board Member
	mail this story? top
	
	RESEARCH TRIANGLE PARK, N.C (VENTUREWIRE) -- Porivo Technologies, a developer 
of peer-to-peer, distributed computing technologies, said it added Stephen 
Wiehe to its board of directors. Mr. Wiehe is a senior director of strategic 
investments and mergers and acquisitions at SAS Institute. Porivo uses its 
technologies to develop Internet infrastructure applications designed to 
measure and improve the performance of Web-based applications. The company is 
backed by The Aurora Funds.  
	http://www.porivo.com
	
	
	ASP Aspire Names Former Latitude Seven CEO as Chairman
	mail this story? top
	
	ORLANDO, Fla. (VENTUREWIRE) -- Aspire Solutions, an application service 
provider for business application software, said it named John M. Arthur as 
chairman of its board of directors. Mr. Arthur was most recently founder, 
president and CEO of venture management firm Latitude Seven. He also served 
as an executive with Muscato and was founder, president, and CEO of Meta. He 
also founded Symbolics. Aspire Solutions is backed by individual investors 
and is currently seeking a first round of funding.
	http://www.aspirecentral.com
	
	
	new people
	?
	Former ConvergeNet Executive Named CEO of Scale Eight
	mail this story? top
	
	SAN FRANCISCO (VENTUREWIRE) -- Scale Eight, a provider of Internet storage 
infrastructure services, said it named Richard Watts as president and CEO. 
Former CEO and founder Josh Coates will remain with the company as chief 
technical officer. Mr. Watts was most recently president and CEO of 
ConvergeNet, a provider of storage and networking products that was acquired 
by Dell Computer. The company is funded by Oak Investment Partners, InterWest 
Partners, and CenterPoint Ventures.
	http://www.s8.com
	
	
	Integrated Circuit Firm Legerity Names Former Dell Exec CEO
	mail this story? top
	
	AUSTIN, Texas (VENTUREWIRE) -- Legerity, a communication integrated circuit 
(IC) provider for data and voice networks, said it named Ron Van Dell as its 
first chief executive officer. Mr. Van Dell is former general manager of 
Dimension Products for Dell Computer. Legerity was acquired in July from 
publicly traded Advanced Micro Devices (AMD) by Francisco Partners, an equity 
investment firm. AMD still owns a 10 percent stake in Legerity.   
	http://www.legerity.com
	
	
	Streaming Measurement Firm BroadStream Names Chairman
	mail this story? top
	
	WOODLAND HILLS, Calif. (VENTUREWIRE) -- BroadStream, a streaming measurement 
and assurance company, said it appointed Anthony Bay as chairman of the 
board. Mr. Bay is a private venture capital investor and advisor to early 
stage technology companies. He most recently served as vice president of 
Microsoft's digital media division. Mr. Bay also served as general manager of 
Microsoft's commercial systems division.  BroadStream provides real-time 
reports for the streaming media industry. The company's investors include 
Change Technology and Eastwest.    
	http://www.broadstream.com
	
	
	Capital Marketplace Firm Round1 Names its Leadership
	mail this story? top
	
	SAN FRANCISCO (VENTUREWIRE) -- Round1, a financial marketplace services 
provider, named its top management. Company co-founder James A. Cohan will 
serve as the chairman of the company's board of directors. Mr. Cohan 
previously co-founded and was CFO of Andromedia and held positions with Chase 
Securities and JP Morgan Securities. The company said James A. Casella is its 
chief executive officer and vice chairman of the board. Mr. Cascella is the 
former CEO of PennNet, where he remains a director, and was an executive with 
International Data Group. Round1 has raised an undisclosed amount of funding 
from institutional investors. 
	http://www.round1.com
	
	
	Logistics.com Names New CEO and President
	mail this story? top
	
	BURLINGTON, Mass. (VENTUREWIRE) -- Logistics.com, an online transportation 
procurement and management technology firm, said it named John Lanigan as 
chief executive officer and Carl Drisko as president. Mr. Lanigan was 
promoted from his position as managing director and chief operating officer, 
and was formerly COO of Schneider National. Mr. Lanigan replaces founder 
Yossi Sheffi, who will remain as chairman of the board, and will return to 
the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, where he served as professor of 
engineering systems and director of the Center for Transportation Studies. 
Mr. Sheffi was on a leave of absence from the Institute. Mr. Drisko was 
promoted from his position of executive vice president of technology and 
product strategy. Prior to joining the company, Mr. Drisko was director of 
technology for Computer Sciences Corporation. Mr. Drisko replaces Gregg 
Borgeson, who is leaving th! e company as part of an agreement when Logistics 
acquired QuoteShip.com in June. Logistics.com is backed by Internet Capital 
Group.
	http://www.logistics.com
	
	
	Web Grocery Store Netgrocer Promotes VP to President
	mail this story? top
	
	NORTH BRUNSWICK, N.J. (VENTUREWIRE) -- Netgrocer.com, an online grocery and 
drug store that delivers to users, said it promoted Lisa Kent to president. 
Ms. Kent was formerly senior vice president and chief marketing officer for 
the company. She replaces Jim Chambers, who resigned. Prior to joining the 
company, Ms. Kent was executive director of e-ventures for the baby and 
children's franchise at Johnson & Johnson. The company is funded by Parmalat, 
Cendant Internet Group, and Sumner Capital.
	http://www.netgrocer.com
	
	
	vc fund news
	?
	WebVestors Equity Partners Raises $20 Million in First Fund
	mail this story? top
	
	ORLANDO (VENTUREWIRE) -- WebVestors Equity Partners, a venture capital fund, 
said it has secured the initial closing of its first venture capital fund of 
$20 million. The company, a seed and early stage investor, said it might 
accept additional capital commitments from high net-worth individuals or 
institutions up to a maximum of $30 million by Dec. 31. WebVestors will focus 
its investment in wireless and broadband infrastructure, telecommunications, 
networking equipment and services, and software and information services. Ned 
Grace, the founder and former CEO of RARE Hospitality, is managing director 
of the WebVestors. Former vice president of Business Development for Walt 
Disney Parks and Resorts in Orlando, Steve Collins, is a partner in the 
firm.    
	http://www.webvestors.com
	
	
	vc personnel
	?
	Jafco Taps Ex-FAC/Equities Executive for Managing Director
	mail this story? top
	
	BOSTON (VENTUREWIRE) -- Jafco Ventures, a venture capital firm that 
specializes in the IT industry, said it appointed Ullas Naik as managing 
director. Mr. Naik previously served as senior vice president and analyst in 
the technology research group at FAC/Equities. He was also the founding 
analyst of the First Albany/META Technolgoy Research project.
	http://www.jafco.com
	
	
	vw corrections
	?
	Enamics
	mail this story? top
	
	NEW YORK (VENTUREWIRE) -- An item in yesterday's Venture Wire about first 
round funding for Enamics incorrectly listed the company's vice chairman Tom 
Trainer as current vice president and CIO of Citigroup. Mr. Trainer is no 
longer with Citigroup.
	
	
	I-Escrow
	mail this story? top
	
	NEW YORK (VENTUREWIRE) -- An item in yesterday's VentureWire about I-Escrow's 
latest round of funding confused whether several investors had previously 
invested in the firm. Major new strategic investors include SB Investment, a 
venture capital subsidiary of Sumitomo Bank Group; Trans Cosmos; Silicon 
Valley Bank; PacRim Venture Partners; and JAFCO Ventures. Returning investors 
Infinity Capital, U.S. Venture Partners, AIG Financial Products, and Red Rock 
Ventures also participated in the financing.  
	
	
	Faber Consulting
	mail this story? top
	
	NEW YORK (VENTUREWIRE) -- An article in VentureWire about Headstrong's 
acquisitin of Faber Consulting misstated the size of Faber Consulting's 
average project, due to incorrect information provided by the company. The 
average project size for Faber Consulting is $700,000 not $700 million.
	
	
	company index
	top
	
	Addition Systems, Advanced Numerical Methods, Affarsstrategerna, Albert-Inc, 
Alfalight, Aspire Solutions, Autodesk, AviaHealth, Broadstream.com, Broadview 
International, CES International, Cogency Semiconductor, Commerce.TV, Compaq 
Computer, Cosential, dbusiness.com, Deja.com, Desktop.com, Digital Media 
Campus, DuoCash, duoDesign, EDIT, ekiosk, Exenet Technologies, eZedia, 
Facility Information Systems, FreeBalance, govWorks.com, Half.com, Incanta, 
Interlynx Technology, iPass, Iskon Internet, Jafco America Ventures, Legerity
, Logistics.com, myutility.com, National Geographic, Netgrocer.com, 
Novica.com, Omneon Video Networks, OurHouse, Porivo Technologies, ProAct 
Technologies, ReadyRouter.com, RecordTV, Reef, Round 1, Scale Eight, Securant
, StoreBusters, SupplierInsight, Tavolo, Tribe, Visual Plant, WebVestors 
Equity Partners, White Rock Networks
	
	
	At Optix 2001, in February, in Pasadena...
	...the smartest people in the optical communications business
	will be gathered for THE industry event at the Ritz Carlton
	Huntington Hotel & Spa. Headliners include:
	
	* Joe Bass, VP & GM, Wavelength Routing Business Unit, Cisco
	* John Bowers, Director, Multidisciplinary Optical Switching
	Technology Center, UC Santa Barbara
	* Patrick Nettles, Chairman & CEO, Ciena
	* Don Smith, President, Optical Internet, Nortel Networks
	* Kerry Valhala, Professor, Applied Physics, Caltech
	
	Participation at this event is subject to approval and
	limited to senior executives involved in the optical
	communications industry. For your registration pack:
	http://www.optix2001.com/optix_reg.html?vw=200012133
	Optix2001 -- Toward the Photonic Internet
	February 11 - 14, 2001, Ritz Carlton Huntington Hotel & Spa,
	Pasadena, CA
	
	
	investor index
	top
	
	Accel Partners, Advanced Technology Ventures, ARCH Venture Partners, Audax 
Group, Autodesk Ventures, Capital One, Center Partners/ITV Partners, 
CenterPoint Venture Partners, Chase H&Q, CIBC Capital Partners, Citigroup 
Technology Ventures, Crocus Investment Fund, Digital Media Campus, Discovery 
Ventures, Dresdner Kleinwort Benson Private Equity, Fractal Capital , GATX/MM 
Venture Finance Partnership, Greenberg Traurig, Ignite Ventures, Intel 
Communications Fund, InterWe! st Partners, IPMG, J.P. Morgan Capital, Lucent 
Venture Partners, Manitoba Science and Technology Fund, Mayfield Fund, 
Meritech Capital Partners, Merrill Lynch, Milestone Venture Partners, 
Motorola, National Grid Group, New York City Investment Fund, Norwest Venture 
Partners, Oak Investment Partners, OCI Venture Group, Palo Alto Investors, 
Psilos Group, Sandler Capital, Silicon Alley Venture Partners, TAG Group, 
Telecom Partners, Telemedia Accelerator, The Infrastructure Co-Invest Fund, 
Thomas Weisel P! artners, United Distillers and Vinters, Venture Quest, 
VeriFone, WR Hambrecht & Co.
	
	
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