CVIA got mentioned in VentureWire today...
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VENTUREWIRE --- Wednesday, October 20, 1999
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Private Company Business News
------ Published Daily by Technologic Partners -------
tpsite.com
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Top Stories:
o E-Commerce Assistance Firm Gets $62-Million First Round
o Neoforma.com Receives $70.5-Million Equity Investment
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Also in This Issue:
New Money:
o Optical Networking Firms Gets $10-Million First Round
o Web-based Charity Firm Gets $8.3 Million, Director
o Corporate Vision Invests in Internet Software Firm
o RealTIME Media Raises $8.5-Million Second Round
o Anti-Hacking Software Firm Gets $6.75-Million Second Round
o Zantaz.com Closes $16.2-Million Third Round
o Datasweep Closes $12-Million Second Round
o Capital Asset Auction Firm Raises $12 Million, Goes Online
o Wireless Tech Firm Tropian Gets $7-Million Second Round
o Fingerprint Firm Veridicom Raises $22.3-Million Third Round
o Extraprise Raises $25-Million Mezzanine Round
o Sales and Marketing Firm MarketScape Gets Additional Funds
New Products:
o Market Researcher NFO Worldwide Launches Web Survey Company
New Deals:
o British Telecom to Offer PocketScience's E-Mail Service
M&A:
o WebManage Technologies Acquires Server Management Firm
o In Online Health Market, HealthOnline Acquires Adventa
New Directors:
o Times Mirror, AEW Capital Execs to Join PropertyFirst Board
New People:
o Onelist Names Mikek and Transoft Networks Founder as CEO
o E-Business Security Firm Names CEO, Former Hyperion Exec.
o Former MCI VP to Head Web Platform Development Firm
VC Fund News:
o Robertson and OffRoad to Offer Private Equity Deals Online
o IP Equity Switches Focus to Provide Venture Financing
o Convergence Forms Business-to-Business E-Commerce Fund
======= Top Stories =======
o E-Commerce Assistance Firm Gets $62-Million First Round
NEW YORK -- Online Retail Partners, a firm that
helps conventional retailers establish e-commerce
operations, said it received $62 million in a first-round
financing led by new investor Liberty Digital. New
investors Comcast Interactive Capital, Oak Investment
Partners, Pequot Private Equity, and Ramsey Beirne
Associates as well as previous investor Global Retail
Partners also contributed. The funds will be used
for technology infrastructure and recruiting. Children's
toy retailer Zany Brainy and sports retailer Dick's
Sporting Goods have enlisted the firm's services,
which include management, technology development,
marketing, and fulfillment.
onlineretailpartners.com
_____________________________________________
o Neoforma.com Receives $70.5-Million Equity Investment
SANTA CLARA, Calif. -- Neoforma.com, a provider
of business-to-business e-commerce services in the
healthcare marketplace, said it completed a $70.5-million
mezzanine round from previous investors Amerindo
Investment Advisors and Venrock Associates, as well
as new investors Bowman Capital Management, Dell
Computer, Divine interVentures, GE Equity, Owens
& Minor, Physician Sales and Services, SAP America,
Superior Consultant, VerticalNet, and others. The
company plans to use this capital for product development,
sales and marketing, and working capital. In addition
to the equity investment, Dell Computer, GE Medical
Systems, Superior Consultant and Owens & Minor have
structured strategic operating agreements with Neoforma.com.
The company filed for an IPO last Friday.
neoforma.com
======= New Money =======
o Optical Networking Firms Gets $10-Million First Round
DUBLIN, Calif. -- Blaze Network Products, an optical
networking firm that develops WDM technologies for
gigabit Ethernet applications, said it secured a
$10-million first round led by Wasserstein Adelson
Ventures, the venture arm of Wasserstein Perella
Group, and Dynafund Ventures. Intel and Vanguard
Venture Partners also participated. Funds will be
used to expand the company's manufacturing plant
and to increase its ASIC design capabilities. Blaze
is developing a fiber optic transceiver that uses
WDM techniques to improve the distance and capacity
of multimode fiber (MMF).
blazenp.com
_____________________________________________
o Web-based Charity Firm Gets $8.3 Million, Director
PALO ALTO, Calif. -- Charitableway, an Internet
firm that raises funds for nonprofit organizations,
said it secured $8.3 million in funding from Benchmark
Capital and Softbank Technology Ventures. The investment
will be used to build a Web site for fund raising
and to provide information about non-profits. Charitableway
said the site will launch later this month, offering
multiple ways for people to contribute directly
to local and national causes. Seperately, Charitableway
said Mike Homer, a senior vice president at America
Online, joined its board. Andy Rachleff, a partner
at Benchmark, and Gary E. Rieschel, executive managing
director of Softbank, are also board members.
charitableway.com
_____________________________________________
o Corporate Vision Invests in Internet Software Firm
TULSA, Okla. -- Corporate Vision said it invested
in a first round for St. Louis-based clickgarden.com,
a developer of PC-based Internet software. The financing
consisted of a stock swap of 250,000 shares of Corporate
Vision stock, valued at $1 million, for 900,000
shares of clickgarden.com's stock. Corporate Vision
also retained the option to complete an additional
$2.5-million round of funding within 90 days.
clickgarden.com
_____________________________________________
o RealTIME Media Raises $8.5-Million Second Round
WYNNEWOOD, Penn. -- RealTIME Media, an online
promotional agency, said it raised a second round of
$8.5 million led by Safeguard Scientifics. Ben Franklin/Progress
Capital Fund, NewSpring Ventures, and Pennsylvania
Early Stage Partners also contibuted to the round,
which will be used to develop infrastructure, for
sales and marketing, and to redesign the company's
consumer game and prize portal, Prizes.com. RealTIME
Media's first institutional round was $800,000 in
convertible debenture and credit from Progress Capital
Management and Progress Bank.
realtimemedia.com
_____________________________________________
o Anti-Hacking Software Firm Gets $6.75-Million Second Round
PALO ALTO, Calif. -- Recourse Technologies, which
provides covert software that enables e-businesses
to contain and track computer hackers, said it closed
a $6.75-million second round led by Menlo Ventures.
Previous investor Doll Capital Management also participated.
Funds will be used to expand operations and for
product development.
recourse.com
_____________________________________________
o Zantaz.com Closes $16.2-Million Third Round
PLEASANTON, Calif. -- Zantaz.com, which provides
an online archiving service to financial institutions,
said it received a $16.2-million third round led
by ComVentures. Athena Technology Venture Fund,
GC Technology Fund, Novus Ventures, and Red Rock
Ventures, along with new investor Critical Path,
a provider of business-to-business Internet messaging,
also contributed. Funds will be used to develop
new products for the financial services industry,
business-to-business, and consumer markets.
zantaz.com
_____________________________________________
o Datasweep Closes $12-Million Second Round
SAN JOSE, Calif. -- Datasweep, a provider of Web-centric
supply chain manufacturing software, said it received
a $12-million second round led by new investor
Accel Partners, which was joined by existing investor
Mohr, Davidow Ventures. Funds will be used for sales,
marketing, customer support, and professional services.
Datasweep Advantage helps manufacturers and supply
chain partners build custom products and track device
history records for product life cycle management.
datasweep.com
_____________________________________________
o Capital Asset Auction Firm Raises $12 Million, Goes Online
FOSTER CITY, Calif. -- DoveBid, which manages on-site
and online capital asset auctions, said it closed
a $12-million second round led by previous investor
Fremont Ventures and new investor Mayfield Fund.
Funds will be used for marketing, customer support,
and new personnel. The company, which was formerly
known as Dove Brothers, will begin online auctions
in November.
dovebid.com
_____________________________________________
o Wireless Tech Firm Tropian Gets $7-Million Second Round
CUPERTINO, Calif. -- Tropian, which develops a radio
frequency processing technology that improves the
energy efficiency of wireless phones and base stations,
said it closed a $7-million second round led by
Crosspoint Ventures. Convergence Partners, InveStar
Capital, and private investor Terry Holdt also participated.
All are previous investors in the company. Funds
will be used for business expansion and ongoing
product development and production of the company's
radio frequency components. Tropian said it's in
discussions with several unnamed cellular handset
makers and wireless infrastructure suppliers. Earlier
this month Tropian named Michael R. Farese, formerly
vice president and general manager at Motorola's
global personal networks division, as its president
and CEO.
tropian.com
_____________________________________________
o Fingerprint Firm Veridicom Raises $22.3-Million Third Round
SANTA CLARA, Calif. -- Veridicom, a developer of
silicon-based fingerprint authentication technologies,
said it secured a third round of $22.3 million, led by
new investor Deutsche Bank. New investors CSK/SEGA,
General Electric Investment, GEO Capital, Seiko Instruments,
and Venture Partners of Switzerland and previous investors
Allegro Capital, AT&T Ventures, Hambrecht & Quist, Intel,
Lucent Technologies, and U.S. Venture Partners also
contributed to the round, which will be used for
product development.
veridicom.com
_____________________________________________
o Extraprise Raises $25-Million Mezzanine Round
BOSTON -- Extraprise, which provides Internet marketing,
systems integration, and advisory and training services,
said it closed a $25-million mezzanine round led
by Weiss Peck & Greer Venture Partners and Meritech
Capital. Existing investors Bessemer Venture Partners,
Brentwood Venture Capital, First Analysis, and OneLiberty
Ventures also participated. Funds will be used for
the development of e-commerce services, international
expansion, acquisitions, and sales. The company
will also use part of the financing to found Extraprise
University, a training program.
extraprise.com
_____________________________________________
o Sales and Marketing Firm MarketScape Gets Additional Funds
COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. -- Catalyst Partners said
it led a follow-on round of financing for MarketScape,
which provides sales and marketing applications
that can be used remotely. New investors SI Ventures
and Wolf Ventures and exisiting investors Liberty
Advisors and Access Venture Partners also participated.
The amount of the round was not disclosed. Valerie
Anderson of Catalyst Partners and John Halligan
of SI Ventures joined the board.
marketscape.com
======= New Products =======
o Market Researcher NFO Worldwide Launches Web Survey
Company
GREENWICH, Conn. -- NFO Worldwide, a custom market
research company, announced the launch of InsightExpress,
a provider of online market research. General Atlantic
Partners and Engage Technologies contributed
$25 million to the venture, in which NFO will retain
a 50% interest. Using anonymous profiles from the
Engage database, InsightExpress plans to enable
clients to design and complete consumer surveys
over the Web. The service will be available in November.
insightexpress.com
nfow.com
======= New Deals =======
o British Telecom to Offer PocketScience's E-Mail Service
LONDON -- PocketScience, which offers a service
that enables users to send and receive e-mail using
a telephone handset, said it signed an exclusive
revenue-sharing agreement with British Telecom to
market its PocketMail service in the U.K. This is
the second overseas agreement for PocketScience,
which will launch in Australia next month. The PocketMail
service requires an inexpensive handheld device,
manufactured by JVC and Sharp. The company is
backed by Doll Capital Management, InveStar Capital,
JAFCO America Ventures, and NIF.
pocketscience.com
bt.co.uk
======= M&A =======
o WebManage Technologies Acquires Server Management Firm
CHELMSFORD, Mass. -- WebManage Technologies, a provider
of site resource and performance management, reporting,
and analysis technology, said it will acquire Commonwealth
Network Technologies, of Cambridge, Mass. Financial
details were not disclosed. CNT, a Boston University
spin-off that is backed by the university's Community
Technology Fund, develops software to speed Web
transactions and enable Web content providers to
better manage server capacity. The software will
be integrated with WebManage's existing products
and be available in the fourth quarter of 1999.
WebManage is backed by IT Investments Fund.
webmanage.com
commonwealthnet.com
_____________________________________________
o In Online Health Market, HealthOnline Acquires Adventa
COLUMBIA, Md. -- HealthOnline, an e-commerce and
personalized health information services company,
said it acquired Adventa Health Education, a developer
of disease and demand management products for
healthcare organizations, providers, and patients.
Details were not disclosed. HealthOnline partners
with healthcare organizations to market personalized
information and clinical services via regional Internet
channels or Web sites. HealthOnline is backed by
BancBoston Ventures.
healthonline.com
======= New Directors =======
o Times Mirror, AEW Capital Execs to Join PropertyFirst Board
ALHAMBRA, Calif. -- PropertyFirst.com, an Internet
real estate technology company, said it named Joseph
Azrack and Thomas Unterman to its board. Mr. Azrack
is the chairman and CEO of AEW Capital Management,
and Mr. Unterman is the executive vice president
and chief financial officer of Times Mirror. PropertyFirst.com
is backed by Brentwood Venture Capital and Eagle
New Media Investment.
propertyfirst.com
======= New People =======
o Onelist Names Mikek and Transoft Networks Founder as CEO
REDWOOD CITY, Calif. -- Onelist, a provider of free
online discussion groups and related services, said
it appointed Michael Klein as president and CEO.
Previously, Mr. Klein was founder and CEO of Mikek,
a developer of financial modeling and analysis software,
and Transoft Networks, a supplier of storage area
networking software. Founder and acting CEO Mark
Fletcher will serve as chairman and vice president
of technology. Investors include @Ventures and
Bertelsmann Ventures.
onelist.com
_____________________________________________
o E-Business Security Firm Names CEO, Former Hyperion Exec.
MOUNTAIN VIEW, Calif. -- Perfecto Technologies,
a developer of application-level security software
for Internet business, said it named Peggy Weigle,
formerly a vice president and general manager of
the performance management division at Hyperion
Software, as chief executive officer. Perfecto has
received funding from Sequoia Capital and Intel.
perfectotech.com
_____________________________________________
o Former MCI VP to Head Web Platform Development Firm
CAMBRIDGE, Mass. -- Adero, developer of a platform
for the delivery of Web content, applications, and
e-commerce services, said it named Jonathan C. Crane
as its president and CEO. Mr. Crane was previously
the executive vice president of national and international
accounts at MCI. Adero is backed by Fidelity Ventures.
adero.com
======= VC Fund News =======
o Robertson and OffRoad to Offer Private Equity Deals Online
SAN FRANCISCO -- Robertson Stephens said it will
distribute select private equity offerings over
the Internet, through OffRoad Capital's network
of high-net-worth individuals. Robertson may distribute
smaller transactions through OffRoad, retaining
a banking and research role. The investment bank
may also lead manage financings larger than those
in the $3-million to $15-million range targeted
by OffRoad. As part of this agreement, Robertson
Stephens made an equity investment in OffRoad Capital.
rsco.com
offroadcapital.com
_____________________________________________
o IP Equity Switches Focus to Provide Venture Financing
SAN DIEGO -- IP Equity, which provides Internet
investor relations services, said it will exit that
field by the end of 1999 to focus on providing venture
consulting, online offerings, and net media services.
IP Equity's venture consulting division will invest
in and assist early-stage Internet companies with
general business, marketing, capital-raising, strategic
alliance, and investment advice. Its online offering
division will aid companies in raising funds directly
from investors via the Internet. Finally, the company
intends to make its net media division, Internet
Stock News, into an objective news source.
ipequity.com
internetstocknews.com
_____________________________________________
o Convergence Forms Business-to-Business E-Commerce Fund
MENLO PARK, Calif. -- Convergence Partners said
it formed a new fund to focus on investments in
companies working in business-to-business e-commerce.
Convergence Partners II was closed at $125 million
and will provide early-stage financing to 15 to 18 companies.
convergencepartners.com
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This week in COMPUTERLETTER
Healthy Exchange:
Online intermediaries are setting out to bring efficiency
and lower costs to the buying and selling of supplies
by healthcare providers.
Private Profile: Asera, Testing the ASP model in the
emerging partner relationship market.
Also: Briefings on iExchange.com and Narus.
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