1.2 WHAT I LEARNED AT THE CULTURAL REVOLUTION
webMethods is one of the region's great success stories, and
co-founder Caren DeWitt credits the company's culture for a large
part of their achievements. As she put it at yesterday's Coffee &
DoughNets, "What I've learned over the past six years is that the
culture is the most important thing you have. You need a clear
understanding from the outset because it affects everything from the
people you get involved in your company to the companies that you
choose to accept venture capital from." Check out the summary
article of the event now available, featuring insights from DeWitt
and Andrew Hill, President & CEO of DevElements; Matthew Pittinsky,
co-founder of Blackboard; Jeremy Brosowsky, founder and CEO of
Washington Business Forward; and Netpreneur's own Mario Morino.

Summary: http://netpreneur.org/events/archive.html


|||||||||||||||||||| 2. Regional Netpreneurs ||||||||||||||||||

2.1 ALTARUS' WIRELESS WEB ACCELERATOR
(Herndon, VA) Altarus introduced its Wireless Web Accelerator, a
software solution that allows users define preferences for dynamically converting, accelerating, and securing HTML content for display on handheld devices. Altarus says it designed the product to secure requests and content traffic, address badly formatted content and page design, compress or remove superfluous tags or imagery, and provide secure negotiations for authentication and processing. It works on the Windows CE OS and supports Pocket PC 2002, Windows CE, and Palm devices.
http://www.altarus.com

2.2 SER'S SEARCH TOOL
(Dulles, VA) SER Solutions launched SERglobalBrain, a knowledge
discovery and delivery solution that responds to natural language
queries. Incorporating neural network technology, SER says that the
product analyzes the content and context of information, not just
key words and phrases, and reads for structured and unstructured
data, regardless of the source or file format. It is language independent because it looks for patterns and meanings, rather than just key words, and incorrect spelling does not impact retrieval performance because the software does not require exact matches in text patterns. It comes in Personal, Enterprise, and Public editions.
http://www.ser.com

2.3 A CORPORATE TELECOM MANAGEMENT SYSTEM
(Fairfax, VA) Telco Exchange introduced its Personal Services
Solution for managing corporate cell phones, pagers, calling cards,
PDAs, and home Internet connections. The Web-based product resides
on a corporate Intranet and provides management tools for purchase
requests, order placement, order tracking, inventory management,
vendors, users, and billing. Ordering, inventory, and financial
management applications can be integrated with internal management
and external systems.
http://www.telcoexchange.com

2.4 MATCHMAKING FOR INTERNATIONAL AID
(Washington, DC) ManyFutures, Inc. debuted DevelopmentSpace, a
website that allows individuals, organizations, and companies around the world to collaboratively design, finance, and implement international aid projects online. The site allows donors to connect directly to social entrepreneurs in developing countries to help finance projects that address issues such as poverty, hunger, and education. Social entrepreneurs can submit projects for consideration by funders, or potential donors can announce their interest in specific types of projects in certain countries, then DevelopmentSpace will locate social entrepreneurs and experts to develop proposals that meet the objectives. The organization is also developing a follow-on service that will help social entrepreneurs raise investments that require a financial return. ManyFutures was founded by two former members of the World Bank's Corporate Strategy Group, where  they created a series of "venture-capital marketplaces" for social entrepreneurs from the developing world.
http://www.developmentspace.com

2.5 QUICK HITS

(Vienna, VA) Metamorphosis Consulting is a new company that provides management and IT services to technology companies, focusing in areas that include merger/migration activities, customer retention and satisfaction solutions, database-driven solutions, and project management. http://www.metamorphosisconsulting.com

(Herndon, VA) NeoKinetic Systems released version 2.0 of Resonance,
its product that allows companies to share any interactive application with business partners across the Internet. The new release features a redesigned GUI administration tool.
http://www.neokinetic.com

(Herndon, VA) Vingage released version 5.5 of its Vingage Video
Server. The new release adds features that enable companies to more
easily manage and deliver video content. http://www.vingage.com

(Vienna, VA) Entigo released version 3.0 of its Reality suite of B2B
eCommerce solutions, which lets manufacturers and their channel
partners manage aspects of marketing, selling, and servicing their
products in real time on the Web. http://entigo.com

(Washington, DC) Communications Development Inc. has a deal to
include its ClearWriter product in Toronto-based Embanet's eLearning
programs. ClearWriter is an online training solution for business
and professional writing. http://www.clearwriter.com
http://www.embanet.com

(Arlington, VA) Telispark will offer its complete suite of mobile
enterprise applications on Intermec Technologies's line of handheld
computing devices. http://www.telispark.com
http://www.intermec.com

(Vienna, VA) Global Systems & Strategies (GSS), a network technology design and systems management firm, launched Peer-Vue, a nationwide IP-based videoconferencing program for the healthcare industry based on Wire One's Glowppoint network. http://www.peer-vue.com
http://www.wireone.com


|||||||||||||||||||| 3. Funding & Finance News ||||||||||||||||||

3.1 DOUGH RAISE ME

$1.7 million in a second round for Rockville-based professional
services firm Focus Technology Consulting. The money comes from
first round investor NOBS Ventures, LLC of Fredericksburg, VA. The
company says that it plans to expand into the market for government
agencies, life sciences, utility, and financial services companies.
http://www.focustech.biz

$3.25 million in a first round for DC-based Compressus, a developer
of data compression technology and related software for digital
media. The money comes from Banque Edouard Constant of the Sandoz Foundation, BNP Paribas, Generali Group, Banca della Svizzera Italiana, Banca del Gottardo, and a group of individual investors.
http://www.compressus.com

$9 million for McLean-based RateIntegration, a developer of rating
software for telecommunications service providers. The round was led
by new investor Dolphin Communications Partners, a venture capital
firm based in New York City, with participation by existing investors LiveWire Ventures, JT Venture Partners, and Windspeed Ventures. Salvatore Tirabass and Dennis O'Connell of Dolphin will join the company's board. RateIntegration's flag-ship product, PriceMaker, lets telecom providers create price plans for bundled voice, data and video services in real-time.
http://www.rateintegration.com

$13 million in a Series D round for McLean-based Managed Objects, a
business service management company. The round was led by Financial Technology Ventures (FTV), with participation by JMI Equity Fund, Lazard Technology Partners, and Fidelity Ventures. Richard Garman of FTV joins the company's board. FTV is a San Francisco-based VC firm consisting of 39 of financial institutions that invests in companies developing technologies useful to the financial services industry. The Managed Objects investment is the first from its new $423 million investment pool. 
http://www.managedobjects.com

3.2 Life In The Food Chain

--Cogent Acquires PSINet Assets
(Washington, DC) Optical ISP Cogent Communications Group announced that it has a definitive agreement to purchase "the major US
operating assets" of PSINet, including portions of its US customer
base and network, certain equipment, and three hosting centers. The
agreement is subject to a number of conditions, including approval
by the Bankruptcy Court and approval of the sale itself.
http://www.cogentco.com
http://psinet.com

--.AmericanEagle Acquires IDEV
(Silver Spring, MD) Park Ridge, IL-based Web consulting and
development firm AmericanEagle.com announced a merger agreement with IDEV, a Web design firm. The IDEV office will be combined with
AmericanEagle's office in Alexandria, VA, and IDEV will take on the
name of AmericanEagle.com. Bruce Lupin, President and CEO of IDEV,
and several principles will remain with AmericanEagle once the
merger is complete. 
http://idev.com
http://www.americaneagle.com

--e-centives Acquires BrightStreet Assets
(Bethesda, MD) e-centives, a provider of online direct marketing
technologies and services, said that it has completed its acquisition of the assets of Redwood City, CA-based BrightStreet, a developer of promotional and data tracking technologies. e-centives says that the combination offers a comprehensive solution that allows customers to track marketing ROI and individual and aggregate consumer data, along with email marketing and data mining solutions.
http://www.e-centives.com

-- Vastera Acquires Imanet
(Dulles, VA) Vastera, a provider of solutions for global trade
management (GTM), announced that it has completed the acquisition of
Imanet, a provider of software solutions for GTM in Canada. Vastera
says that combined with its recent acquisition of Prisma in Mexico,
it now has a closed loop system to deliver duty savings to customers
operating in North America. 
http://www.vastera.com
http://www.imanet.net

--Extended Systems Acquires AppReach
(Baltimore, MD) AppReach, a developer of enterprise software that
extends CRM applications to mobile and wireless devices, has been
acquired by Boise, ID-based Extended Systems, a provider of mobile
data management and wireless connectivity solutions.
http://appreach.com
http://www.extendedsystems.com

--Loronix Acquires Lanex
(Columbia, MD) Lanex, a provider of digital video security and
surveillance solutions, has been acquired by CO-based Loronix
Information Systems, a subsidiary of Verint Systems that provides
enterprise-level digital video management solutions. Lanex
specializes in solutions for branch locations of banking institutions and uses proprietary software to integrate with banking systems such as ATMs and teller operations.
http://www.lanexllc.com
http://www.loronix.com

|||||||||||||||||||| 4. Opportunities & Resources ||||||||||||||||||

4.1 "VIRTUAL TRADE MISSION" FOR SECURITY FIRMS
(Washington DC) The Washington DC Technology Council, the Greater
Washington Board of Trade's International Gateway, and the US-Israel
Business Exchange will host a "Virtual Trade Mission" focused on
security from April 22 to May 22. More than 100 expected
participants will include security technology firms in Israel and
the Washington area, companies and government agencies needing
security solutions, and corporate sponsors. The online mission is
powered by DC-based TradeBuilders with video conferencing provided
by Chantilly, VA-based Sonic Telecom. The online environment will
provide access to discussion areas for business networking, business
facilitators, a member directory, a library of resources, and access
to guest experts who can address trade and legal issues.
Participants can post information and questions as frequently as
desired for the four-week period. Participation costs $250. Visit
the TradeBuilder's site for more information and to apply online.
http://www.tradebuilders.com
http://www.dctechcouncil.org

4.2 CORPORATIONS WANTED FOR TEEN CAREER FAIR
(Fairfax, VA) JuniorJobs.com, an employment site founded and run by
and for teen-agers, is seeking tech companies to participate in
their Teen Career Fair on Saturday, March 16, from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m.
at the Fairfax County Government Center. Companies do not need to
have job openings to participate in the free event, just the desire
to help advise high school students from the counties of Fairfax,
Loudoun, and Prince William who will be seeking information to help
make future career plans and decisions about which colleges and
majors to choose (OK, and some are looking for summer jobs.) The
event is co-sponsored by JuniorJobs.com, the Fairfax County
Department of Family Services, and Fairfax County Public Schools,
with the participation of organizations such as the US Marines, the
Department of Treasury, and radio station HOT 95. There is no fee to
participate, and the deadline to register is March 1. Send an email
to info@juniorjobs.com for more info and a registration form.
http://juniorjobs.com

4.3 REGIONAL BIOINFORMATICS COALITION
(Tysons Corner, VA) The BIO IT Coalition, a non-profit organization
created to promote the development of the bioinformatics industry in
the National Capital region, launched its website. The site offers
educational information and resources for bioscience and IT professionals, as well as information on the organization, its members, and events, including its upcoming signature conference, "The Convergence of Bioscience and Information Technology: From Lab
Bench to Marketplace," which will be held April 29.
http://www.bioitcoalition.com


|||||||||||||||||||| 5. Who'sware  ||||||||||||||||||

(Chantilly, VA) Network Storage Solutions, a provider of network
storage solutions, named Thomas Makmann as President and CEO. He was formerly President and COO at nStor in San Diego, CA.
http://www.nssolutions.com

(Fairfax, VA) Cambrian Communications, a wholesale broadband service
provider, promoted William Opet to President and COO. He was the
company's President of Network Services.
http://www.cambrian.net

(Rockville, MD) 3e Technologies International, a provider of
wireless networking and telematics solutions, named Ed Samuels as VP of Engineering. He was previously with ShareGate, Ingram Micro, and NEC. 
http://www.3eti.com

BOARDWATCH: Joining the board:
. . . at Anteon, General Hugh Shelton, USA (Ret.) former Chairman of
the Joint Chiefs of Staff, and William Perry, former US Secretary of
Defense. 
http://www.anteon.com
. . . at Optical Cable, Craig Weber, President of Whitlockebs.
http://www.occfiber.com
. . . at Yakabod, Emma Morris, co-founder of shipoint and founding
CEO of VistaScape and Synchrologic. 
http://yakabod.com

Thanks for your interest in and support of the Morino Institute's netpreneur.org.
Netpreneur News is copyright 2002, Morino Institute, all rights reserved. The information contained here has been obtained from sources believed to be reliable, but is not necessarily complete and its accuracy cannot be guaranteed. It is provided "as is" and your use is at your own risk.

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