Volume 8, Number 18, May 8, 2003



This Week's Contents:

1) NEWS ABOUT NETPRENEUR
    1.1 Ignition: Come Out And Start Something!
    1.2 Remember, Squeeeeze It, Don't Pull
    1.3 New Recruits Get An Extra Jelly Doughnut
2) REGIONAL NETPRENEURS
    2.1 A Wireless Security Gateway From ITServ
    2.2 A Report Builder From LogiXML
    2.3 Some Recognition For Student Entrepreneurs
    2.4 A Chapter 11 For Acterna
    2.5 An IPO For DigitalNet (Or Not)
    2.6 A Round-up of Quick Hits
    ......news from FedLeads, ToadNet, Unanet/Centrivity, and Icode
3) FUNDING & FINANCE NEWS
    3.1 Dough Raise Me
    ......$3.75M for 1 local entrepreneur
    3.2 Life In The Food Chain
    ......Guardian Tech Acquires RJL (Or Vice Versa)
    ......IQ Biometrix Acquires NSS
    ......MICROS Acquires Datavantage
4) WHO'SWARE
    ...... news about people at CMS

|||||||||||||||||||| 1. News About Netpreneur ||||||||||||||||||

1.1 IGNITION: COME OUT AND START SOMETHING!
Coffee & DoughNets may be our signature monthly event, but it's still the little brother to the mega-events Netpreneur has produced over the years. From "Barons of the Beltway" to "Living on the Fault Line," each has attracted well over a thousand entrepreneurs, supporters, and business leaders. Now, with the Netpreneur torch passing to a new group of leaders, it seemed like the right time to hold the ultimate event, to recognize the many people who have participated in the Netpreneurial community (and, most importantly, to have a party). On Wednesday, June 4, 6:00 to 10:00 pm, you're invited to IGNITION, a very special event to celebrate the spirit of entrepreneurship, the power of community, and a new era for Netpreneur. IGNITION will be about passion, energy, and inspiration. It will spotlight the many people who have ignited entrepreneurial sparks throughout the region and those who are keeping the Netpreneur community alive and growing. And it will be a hunka hunka hunka burnin' fun. The event is free and will be at the Hyatt Regency in Reston. Register now.

Learn more about Ignition and register: http://netpreneur.org/events/ignition/default.html
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1.2 REMEMBER, SQUEEEEEZE IT, DON'T PULL
Speaking of Coffee & DoughNets, it's time for another, and this one should be number one with a bullet. On Friday, May 30, it's all about "Pulling the Trigger." No entrepreneur ever got by without making tough decisions. A lot of tough decisions. And while all situations are unique, the big themes often repeat themselves. Whether it's when to seek outside capital, and how to determine the amount; when to expand your team and how to time it with new customers; when to actively promote your company, and how to tell if you're ready for prime time; or when to engage outside help (such as lawyers, accountants, and advisors) and how to decide between using them and going it alone -- knowing when to pull the trigger on a major decision is just as important as getting it right. Join us Friday, May 30, 7:00 AM, at the University of Maryland Shady Grove Campus for "Pulling the Trigger: The When's And How's Of Big Decisions." And come packing heat. Register now.

Register for C&D: http://netpreneur.org/events/doughnets
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1.3 NEW RECRUITS GET AN EXTRA JELLY DOUGHNUT
With the sun rising on a new era for Netpreneur -- now run by entrepreneurs, for entrepreneurs -- you can do more that just attend Coffee & DoughNets, you can also be part of the planning and execution. We are looking for creative, passionate entrepreneurs who want to give something back to the entrepreneurial community by joining us to shape future C&D topics, panels, and events, as well as other Netpreneur programs and services. If you're interested in joining the team, send an email to info@netpreneur.org and come join us on May 13 for a kick-off and recruiting meeting.

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

2.1 A WIRELESS SECURITY GATEWAY FROM ITSERV
(Gaithersburg, MD) ITServ, a developer of integrated firewall and virtual private network (VPN) appliances, released RideWay Station WLAN, a product that extends RideWay Station's wired network security capability to wireless local area networks (WLANs). It guards against common wireless network attacks such as eavesdropping, back door intrusion, and "parking lot" attacks (that's a guy in close proximity to your office, such as in your parking lot, hacking your networking), detecting and blocking unauthorized users and attackers from gaining access to network resources. It is compatible with all Wi-Fi standards, supports multiple wireless access points, and does not require additional software for each wireless client.
http://www.itserv.com
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2.2 A REPORT BUILDER FROM LOGIXML
(McLean, VA) LogiXML Introduced LGX Ad Hoc Report Builder, an extension to its lgxReportDev product for report developers. The new product is a .NET-based Web application with a wizard that allows end users to build reports through their Web browser, including the ability to select views, columns, graphical templates, and controls for many other parameters. When the report is finished, the definition and parameters can be saved for a particular user or for all users.
http://www.logixml.com
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2.3 SOME RECOGNITION FOR STUDENTS
(Baltimore, MD) The winner of the Greater Baltimore Technology Council's Mosh Pit Business Plan Competition for Maryland college students is Oncologen, a company that intends to offer a new way to treat conventional lump cancers and other malformations. Oncologen's BioRay device will enable nearly immediate recovery due to the non-invasiveness and accuracy of the system. The members of Oncologen include Carmine Petrone, Ryan Packard, Chris Gannon, and Ryan Walsh, all from Johns Hopkins University. Second place went to Persona Integrated, which is developing a secure architecture for product identification, and third place to Bytes Café, a fast-casual restaurant offering customers touch-screen computers to expedite their visit, from placing orders to paying the check. A total of seven teams presented at the finals.
http://www.gbtechcouncil.org
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2.4 A CHAPTER 11 FOR ACTERNA
(Germantown, MD) Acterna, a provider of communication network test and management solutions, announced that it has negotiated a term sheet with its key lenders to significantly reduce its debt through a reorganization of its capital structure. To facilitate the restructuring, the company and its domestic subsidiaries voluntarily filed for chapter 11 bankruptcy protection and has provided the proposed terms of its pre-negotiated reorganization to the court. Acterna also announced that it has arranged debtor-in-possession financing of $30 million from a group of banks led by JPMorgan Chase Bank and General Electric Capital Corporation. The filing applies only to its subsidiaries in the US and will not impact its operating subsidiaries in Europe, Latin America or the Asia-Pacific region.
http://www.acterna.com
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2.5 AN IPO FOR DIGITALNET (OR NOT)
(Herndon, VA) First, DigitalNet announced that it had filed its papers for going public, the first IPO to hit the market in two months. A few days later, however, it was announced that the offering would be indefinitely postponed because of "market conditions." Bummer. Well, let's pretend the second part didn't happen. DigitalNet is a provider of information and communications technology solutions to the Department of Defense and civilian agencies. It was planning to trade on the NYSE with the symbol DGN. Underwriters include Banc of America Securities, Legg Mason Wood Walker, Raymond James & Associates, and Citigroup Global Markets.
http://www.digitalnet.com
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2.6 A ROUND-UP OF QUICK HITS

(McLean, VA) FedLeads released a set of directory products for small businesses marketing to the federal government that identifies federal small business procurement officers at the state level for all 50 states, DC, and the territories.
http://www.fedleads.com

(Severna Park, MD) ToadNet, an Internet Service Provider, introduced a new spam management solution that allows subscribers to route mail based on the score it receives against a variety of spam-detecting tests.
http://www.toad.net

(Fairfax, VA) Unanet Technologies, in partnership with Herndon-based Centrivity, has begun offering its Web-based Professional Services Automation software as an ASP service targeting small and medium-sized businesses.
http://www.unanet.com
http://www.centrivity.com

(Chantilly, VA) Icode will combine its Accware software with Toshiba Computer Systems Group's Magnia Wireless Server to offer small businesses a turnkey solution for wirelessly automating their operations. The solution requires no any additional software installation, networking infrastructure, existing servers, or databases.
http://www.icode.com
http://www.csd.toshiba.com

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

3.1 DOUGH RAISE ME

$3.75 million in a second round for Vienna-based Approva, developer of solutions for monitoring enterprise business processes. The round, which was co-led by existing investors Columbia Capital, New Enterprise Associates, and Novak Biddle Venture Partners, brings the total investment in Approva to $6.85 million. Approva provides continuous monitoring of roles, application controls, and business transactions within and across enterprise applications, including SAP, Oracle, and PeopleSoft. Its flagship product, BizRights, analyzes and monitors internal controls, helping companies improve their internal audit process and comply with the Sarbanes-Oxley Act.
http://www.approva.net
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3.2 LIFE IN THE FOOD CHAIN

-- Guardian Tech Acquires RJL (Or Vice Versa)
(Sterling, VA) RJL Marketing Services, a developer of knowledge extraction solutions, has been acquired by Carefree, AZ-based Guardian Technologies International. (Yup, Carefree, AZ. Sounds great don't it?) In the deal, Guardian's stock will be traded for 100% of RJL's equity, followed by a change of control in which Guardian's current officers will resign and the officers of RJL will assume those positions with Guardian. The current Guardian board of directors will also resign, to be replaced with directors designated by RJL, including RJL's existing management and professionals in the IT industry. The deal is subject to conditions including completing a $500,000 equity financing and the sale, liquidation, or spin-off of Guardian's subsidiaries -- Guardian Steel, Guardian Security & Safety Products, and Palo Verde Group -- under the leadership of J. Andrew Moorer, Guardian's current President and CEO. The deal opens new markets for RJL's MCubiX software, which extracts structured and unstructured knowledge from any informational source, including data, text, images, sounds, or symbols.

-- IQ Biometrix Acquires NSS
(Chantilly, VA) Freemont, CA-based IQ Biometrix, a provider of facial composite technology for law enforcement applications, has signed a letter of intent to acquire Network Storage Solutions (NSS), a developer of storage software and products for security. The deal will expand IQ's geographic presence and leverage its technology into new markets. The companies' technology will be combined to enhance IQ's offerings with increased digital storage capabilities.
http://www.nssolutions.com
http://www.iqbiometrix.com

-- MICROS Acquires Datavantage
(Columbia, MD) MICROS Systems, a provider of IT solutions for the hospitality industry, acquired Cleveland, OH-based Datavantage Corporation, a provider of IT solutions for the retail industry. The cash and stock deal is valued at approximately $52 million. Datavantage had 2002 revenues of $42 million from customers such as IKEA, Staples and Starbucks. The deal helps MICROS offer new products to its customers that have retail operations within their establishments.
http://www.micros.com
http://www.datavantagecorp.com

|||||||||||||||||| 4. Who'sWare ||||||||||||||||||

(Vienna, VA) CMS Information Services, an IT consulting company, named David Lucien as Chairman and CEO. Lucien, who is a board member of CMS, will succeed founder Doug Turner. Lucien was the founder of Interpro and former President and CEO of Tempest Technologies.
http://www.cmsis.com

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