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To: Sir Francis Drake who wrote (1487)	3/9/2000 12:08:00 AM
From: J Krnjeu	Respond to of 1817

Mr. Drake, Anyone have an opinion on LDP? Not at this time, I'll have to do some research. Sorry. Thank You JK

To: Sir Francis Drake who wrote (1487)	3/9/2000 6:41:00 AM
From: Teflon	Respond to of 1817

I don't have any opinion of value on LDP, Morgan. Sorry. Teflon

To: Sir Francis Drake who wrote (1487)	3/9/2000 6:48:00 AM
From: Teflon	Respond to of 1817

The latest incubators: Tech Stocks : Internet Investors Looking to Rob the Cradle With Incubator Boom biz.yahoo.com By Adam Lashinsky Silicon Valley Columnist 3/8/00 10:39 PM ET Parents want to get their newborn out of the incubator as quickly as possible, but Internet entrepreneurs can't seem to stop jumping in. Gambling-machine operator Jackpot Enterprises (J:NYSE - news - boards) sent its shares soaring 49% Wednesday simply by announcing it is becoming an Internet incubator. On Thursday, a high-powered group led by ex-Microsoft (MSFT:Nasdaq - news - boards) executive Brad Silverberg will unveil the formation of Ignition, a new-company incubator focused exclusively on wireless Internet applications and services that will launch with an initial funding of $140 million. The new incubator -- the term of the moment for firms that invest in and then nurture to maturity a portfolio of companies -- is modeling its capital structure directly on Internet Capital Group (ICGE:Nasdaq - news - boards). ICG, in turn, followed in the footsteps of Net holding giant CMGI (CMGI:Nasdaq - news - boards) in developing a new twist on venture investing -- launching a publicly traded investment company, rather than relying on money from a few big institutions as VCs usually do. In its pre-IPO stage, Ignition will have an all-star lineup of backers. Wireless platform technology juggernaut Qualcomm (QCOM:Nasdaq - news - boards) is an investor, and its consumer products division president, Paul Jacobs, is joining the board. Another investor is Softbank Technology Ventures, the U.S. venture arm of the Japanese company that was an early investor in Yahoo! (YHOO:Nasdaq - news - boards) and scores of other Internet successes, which will give Ignition a ready-made distribution network for its portfolio companies' products. Madrona Venture Group, an early investor in Amazon.com (AMZN:Nasdaq - news - boards), also is a founding investor in Ignition. So-called incubators are all the rage of late, largely due to the success of ICG, which has focused on business-to-business e-commerce, and CMGI, an older firm that leveraged a presence in the college-oriented direct-marketing business into early consumer-oriented Internet successes. Beyond their capital structures, however, there isn't a huge difference between incubators and venture capital firms -- despite claims of superior company nurturing by incubator execs. VC firms and incubators both make early stage investments in a team of entrepreneurs with a hot idea. Incubators, the newer life form, emphasize the holistic approach of providing for all the needs of a young company under one roof, including executive recruiting, legal, financial and design services. Idealab!, an incubator started by entrepreneur Bill Gross, is perhaps the best pure example of this business model. Its progeny include toy retailer eToys (ETYS:Nasdaq - news - boards), online vendor and information site Tickemaster Online-CitySearch (TMCS:Nasdaq - news - boards) and free Internet access provider Netzero (NZRO:Nasdaq - news - boards). There is one key difference. VC firms typically are partnerships. General partners take a management fee and percentage of the profits and distribute investment gains to limited partners. Newfangled incubators, on the other hand, typically are constituting themselves as corporations that can go public and reap huge stock-market gains. Ignition arguably has chosen the hottest combination in the markets today -- the incubator structure and a focus on wireless Internet technology. According to Gary Rieschel, Softbank's executive managing partner, who will join the Ignition board, the new company will aim to invest in private companies that could evolve into highfliers such as Phone.com (PHCM:Nasdaq - news - boards) or Puma Technology (PUMA:Nasdaq - news - boards). Both are providers of wireless technology that provide new services to users of cell phones and other wireless devices. "We'll be investing in and partnering with companies that will make the wireless Internet a reality,"said Jonathan Roberts, a former protege of Silverberg's at Microsoft and an Ignition managing director. Silverberg, who will be chairman and CEO, is one of Microsoft's most respected alumni. He headed the group that developed Windows 95, as well as the Internet Explorer team, which did so well against Netscape Communications in the browser wars that it triggered the Justice Department antitrust suit. Other Microsoft refugees at Ignition include John Ludwig, an expert in network connectivity; Richard Tong, a past vice president of applications product management; and former Microsoft developer-relations chief Cameron Myhrvold (brother of dinosaur-hunting Microsoft brainiac Nathan Myhrvold). The start-up also has ties to the wireless empire of Craig McCaw. Steven Hooper, a vice chairman of telephone-service provider Nextlink Communications (NXLK:Nasdaq - news - boards) and a former CEO of McCaw Cellular, is a founding investor and board member of Ignition. It all adds up to a new Internet baby that's a born heavyweight. thestreet.com; Teflon

To: Sir Francis Drake who wrote (1487)	3/9/2000 8:32:00 AM
From: Teflon	Respond to of 1817

I did a little reading on IMAT and it might have potential...I've dropped it into the LTS portfolio so we can keep an eye on it. siliconinvestor.com Teflon

To: Sir Francis Drake who wrote (1487)	3/9/2000 11:27:00 AM
From: Teflon	Respond to of 1817

Morgan, check out the "Incubators Portfolio" today..WOW!!! siliconinvestor.com Teflon

To: Sir Francis Drake who wrote (1487)	3/9/2000 11:34:00 AM
From: Teflon	Read Replies (1) \| Respond to of 1817

Morgan, since it's really just the two of us these days (<vbg>), how would you feel about me adding two stocks (CSC & KOPN) to the "Shiney Pebbles Portfolio"? I love both of these stocks...for what it's worth, CSC is building many of the complex B2B Marketplaces these days for many very large clients. Teflon