Volume 8, Number 19, May 15, 2003



This Week's Contents:

1) NEWS ABOUT NETPRENEUR
    1.1 True Grit
    1.2 Ignite The Night
2) REGIONAL NETPRENEURS
    2.1 Workforce Management For Call Centers
    2.2 The Groove For Sailors
    2.3 A Portal For Pharmaceutical News And Careers
    2.4 Round-up For Quick Hits
    ......news from Excedent, THINQ, ZyLAB, Proteus, and Atlantech
3) FUNDING & FINANCE NEWS
    3.1 Dough Raise Me
    ......$5M for 1 local entrepreneur
    3.2 Life In The Food Chain
    ......ePHONE and Champion To Merge
    ......Cheshire Merges With Linsang
    3.3 The Army Ventures Capital
    3.4 Companies Chosen For MAVA's Capital Connection
4) OPPORTUNITIES & RESOURCES
    4.1 SBA Offers Online Courses
    4.2 Young Entrepreneurs 1: M-I-C K-E-Y Goes V-C
    4.3 Young Entrepreneurs 2: Teen Biz Plan Competition
5) WHO'SWARE
    ...... news about people at Grotech, Ecutel, AOL, and CIT


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

1.1 TRUE GRIT
Like Rooster Cogburn said, "You can't serve papers on a rat, baby sister. You gotta shoot him or let him be." Cowboy decisions may be easy, but business decisions aren't, and that's why this month's Coffee & DoughNets is all about "Pulling the Trigger: The When's And How's Of Big Decisions." Whether it's when to rope in some venture capital, rounding up new team members, riding herd on a marketing program, or sizing up what outside help you need (lawyers, accountants, or the man who shot Liberty Valance), our panelists have tips, war stories, and rules of thumb to help you get through the good, the bad, and the just plain ugly decisions every entrepreneur has to make at one time or another. Speakers include Phil Carrai of General Atlantic Partners; Michael Chasen, CEO of Blackboard; Ching-Ho Fung, Chairman of Parature; and Deepak Hathiramani, President & CEO of Vistronix. C&D will be Friday, May 30, 7:00 AM, at the University of Maryland Shady Grove Campus Conference Center, and is sponsored by Comerica, Ernst & Young, and Fenwick & West. Register now. And remember, out here a man settles his own problems.

Register for C&D: http://netpreneur.org/events/doughnets
Vistronix: http://www.vistronix.com
Blackboard: http://www.blackboard.com
Parature: http://www.parature.com
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1.2 IGNITE THE NIGHT
How's this for starters? Headlining the IGNITION event coming June 4 will be Ted Leonsis, founder of Redgate Communications and Vice Chairman of AOL; John Sidgmore, who led UUNET, then MCI, into the world's largest ISP; Caren DeWitt, co-founder of webMethods and head of the webMethods Foundation; Raul Fernandez, founder of Proxicom; Jack Davies, founder of AOL International; Mark Walsh, who guided VerticalNet to become the first publicly traded B2B Internet company; and Kathy Bushkin, who led AOL communications and now heads the AOL Time Warner Foundation. They're all business -- and more recently philanthropic -- leaders, local entrepreneurs who made good. At IGNITION they will share what they learned along the way, what kept them going, and what they're looking for in the future. What's IGNITION all about? It's our opportunity to thank everyone who has been part of Netpreneur. It's a celebration of the spirit of entrepreneurship, the power of community, and a new era for Netpreneur. And it's about encouraging everyone who has had the good fortune to find a way to help others. It's all about the spirit, passion, and innovation we've all had a part in. IGNITION will be at the Hyatt Regency in Reston, June 4, 6:00-10:00 PM. Register now...and come prepared to start something.

Learn more and register: http://netpreneur.org/events/ignition


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

2.1 WORKFORCE MANAGEMENT FOR CALL CENTERS
(Bethesda, MD) CenterForce Technologies debuted RightForce Express, a workforce management system that brings enterprise-level functionality to contact centers of up to 100 agents. Based on the same database and application structure as CenterForce's enterprise system, it includes support for multiple contact centers, agent skill sets and multi-channel work types. It is integrated with CenterForce's other contact center solutions and is upgradeable to the full RightForce system as a center grows.
http://www.cforcetech.com
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2.2 THE GROOVE FOR SAILORS
(Baltimore, MD) The Maryland Technology Development Corporation (TEDCO) awarded Wickford Technologies $38,853 through its Maryland Technology Transfer Fund (MTTF) program. The follow-on award was given to Wickford to further develop and produce its product, The Groove, a water flow sensor, into a consumer product. The Groove technology was originally invented by the US Navy. By using differential pressure, it eliminates the clogging, friction, and damage caused by conventional flow sensors for use by sailors and in other applications.
http://www.wickfordtechnologies.com
http://www.marylandtedco.org
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2.3 A PORTAL FOR PHARMACEUTICAL CAREERS
(Laurel, MD) PharmaNexus is a new company focusing on developing publications and Internet tools for researching pharmaceutical information and career development. The company introduced its Web-based job board, PharmaCareer Center, that allows employers to post jobs and review a resume database of candidates' profiles. PharmaNexus will also work with companies to create custom career centers on their corporate websites. Job seekers can post and edit their profiles, browse job listings, and apply online. Registered professionals will have access to all PharmaNexus free and premium services, including a free listing in its Web directory and periodic email newsletter with the pharmaceutical industry news, resources, and marketplace promotions.
http://www.pharmanexus.com
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2.4 ROUND-UP FOR QUICK HITS

(Vienna, VA) Excedent Technologies released Version 2.0 of its Spam DNA Filtering technology. Enhancements include additional filtering tests and improved false-positive prevention.
http://www.excedent.com

(Baltimore, MD) THINQ Learning Solutions released Version 5.2 of its TrainingServer Learning Management System. Enhancements support using Web services to integrate with existing company portals and business systems.
http://www.thinq.com

(McLean, VA) ZyLAB released an Asian Optical Character Recognition (OCR) module for its document imaging and full-text retrieval product, ZyIMAGE. The new module supports Korean, Chinese, and Japanese languages with full-text indexing, including fuzzy search and transliteration support.
http://www.zylab.com

(Washington, DC) Proteus' wireless interactive TV service, working with The Walt Disney Internet Group's Enhanced TV Group and ABC Television, created interactive television elements for the 30th Annual Daytime Emmy Awards. Viewers can interact with the featured programming through either a PC, digital set-top box, or mobile phone.
http://proteus.com

(Silver Spring, MD) Atlantech Online began offering a spam-filtering solution for its ISP customers. The service is included as a standard feature for all customers using its email servers.
http://www.atlantech.net


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

3.1 DOUGH RAISE ME

$5 million added to Vienna-based e-Security's Series B round, bringing the total for the round to $15 million and the company's total funding to date to $35 million. The money comes from Advanced Technology Ventures (ATV). e-Security's SEM solutions automate the evaluation process for security data from multiple applications and devices across an enterprise, allowing companies to more quickly review the complex logs to identify threats and implement real-time solutions. Since moving its headquarters from Rockledge, FL, to Vienna, VA, e-Security has recorded the two best quarters in its history, logging a year-over-year quarterly growth rate of more than 100%. Brian Hanson of ATV joins e-Security's Board of Directors.
http://www.esecurityinc.com
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3.2 LIFE IN THE FOOD CHAIN

-- ePHONE and Champion To Merge
(Herndon, VA) ePHONE Telecom, an Internet telephony services provider, announced its intention to merge with Oxford, CT-based Champion Teleport, a satellite teleport affiliate of AlphaStar International, a satellite broadband and broadcasting company. The new company will focus on the broadband and VoIP services markets, and the introduction of VoIP to broadband wireless and Wi-Fi providers via satellites. The deal creates a new broadband network with global coverage, strengthens both companies offerings and positions them to consolidate the fragmented wireless broadband and packet-voice markets, which includes 1,800 wireless ISPs (WISPs) in the US alone.
http://www.ephonetelecom.com
http://www.alphastar.com

-- Cheshire Merges With Linsang
(Beltsville, MD) NYC-based Cheshire Distributors, a holding company, announced an agreement to merge with Linsang Manufacturing, an electronic manufacturing services company. Now, follow me here: Cheshire will effect a reverse stock split and enter into an accounts receivable financing arrangement. A subsidiary of Cheshire will merge with and into LMI, with LMI becoming a wholly-owned subsidiary of Cheshire. Upon completion of the merger, the current owners of LMI will own approximately 85% of the outstanding stock of Cheshire, which will change its name to LMIC. LMI operates a manufacturing facility that provides electronic manufacturing services to original equipment manufacturers (OEMs) in the networking and telecommunications, wireless, high-end computer, and industrial and medical instrumentation markets.
http://www.linsangmfg.com
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3.3 THE ARMY VENTURES CAPITAL
(Washington, DC) The US Army announced a Venture Capital Initiative (VCI) with the goal of spurring development of a critical Army technology requirement: obtaining lighter, more efficient power sources for individual soldier systems. The VCI will be managed by a not-for-profit corporation modeled on the Central Intelligence Agency's venture capital initiative, In-Q-Tel. The Army has worked with a RAND board of advisors to select Maitland, FL-based OnPoint Technologies to manage the effort. Funds will be provided from basic research and applied research accounts. The Army hopes to jump-start promising technologies in the area of portable power and energy to lighten soldiers' loads as they operate worldwide, often in extreme environments and under austere conditions, a challenge that the Army says is akin to the search for better power solutions for handheld computers, PDAs, and cell phones.
http://www.dtic.mil/armylink
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3.4 COMPANIES CHOSEN FOR MAVA
(Timonium, MD) Fifty-two regional companies have been selected to present to hundreds of venture capitalists at the Mid-Atlantic Venture Association's (MAVA) Capital Connection 2003 venture fair, May 27-28 in Baltimore. The companies were chosen from among several hundred applicants from the biotech/life sciences, software, hardware, and health IT sectors. Now in its thirteenth year, Capital Connection has generated more than $2.3 billion of venture investments for the participating companies. According to MAVA, 25 out of the 51 companies that were selected to present at last year's fair have reported receiving $105.1 million in funding one year after the event. For a list of the companies, visit the MAVA newsroom.
http://www.mava.org


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

4.1 SBA OFFERS ONLINE COURSES
(Washington, DC) The US Small Business Administration has created the eBusiness Institute at its website, giving small business owners access to online business courses, workshops, information resources, counseling assistance, and other services. There are 16 training categories with more than 70 interactive courses and electronic guides that provide educational tools and resources on entrepreneurship. Topics range from starting a business, to management, marketing, taxes, and more. The eBusiness Institute also features a virtual library with more than 200 free eBooks and publications, and a section for young entrepreneurs.
http://www.sba.gov/training
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4.2 YOUNG ENTREPRENEURS 1: M-I-C K-E-Y GOES V-C
(Kansas City, MO) The Ewing Marion Kauffman Foundation and Disney Online have created Hot Shot Business, an Internet simulation that allows kids to experience the adventure of starting and running their own businesses. Designed for children ages 9-12, it introduces entrepreneurial thinking during the stage of their development when economic habits are being formed. Players can borrow capital or find a partner, then open a business like a skateboard factory, pet spa, or comic book shop. They have to stay on top of market trends, customer preferences, and news events to make their businesses succeed.
http://www.disney.com/hotshot
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4.3 YOUNG ENTREPRENEURS 2: TEEN BIZ PLANS
(Washington DC) Tomorrow, May 15, kids aged 11-18 from the greater Washington, DC area will present their ideas to a panel of judges at the National Foundation for Teaching Entrepreneurship's (NFTE) Regionwide Business Plan competition. The program offers Washington area disadvantaged youth an opportunity to compete for seed money to grow their own small businesses. The seed-capital investment prizes, ranging from $250 to $1,000, are made possible through a $10,000 grant from the Mid-Atlantic Venture Association (MAVA). In addition, several dozen NFTE students will attend MAVA's Capital Connection venture fair (see above) to watch presenting companies pitch to venture capitalists. NFTE is an international nonprofit organization that introduces low-income and at-risk young people to the world of business and entrepreneurship by teaching them how to develop and operate their own small businesses. Since its inception in 1987, NFTE has reached almost 65,000 students through various programs, including afterschool classes, an online course, and a summer camp.
http://www.nfte.com
http://www.mava.org

|||||||||||||||||| 5. Who'sWare ||||||||||||||||||

(Timonium, MD) Harris Hyman IV has been named a General Partner at private equity firm Grotech Capital Group. Formerly a Managing Director in the Investment Banking Division of Credit Suisse First Boston, he will focus on the health care services and medical device industries at Grotech.
http://www.grotech.com

(Alexandria, VA) Ecutel, a developer of mobile virtual private networking software, promoted Bill Cole, from VP of Sales & Business Development to President and CEO.
http://www.ecutel.com

(Dulles, VA) America Online promoted Kevin Conroy from GM of AOL Entertainment to COO of AOL for Broadband, and named Ned Brody as SVP of Premium Services, responsible for launching and managing new subscription services. Brody was most recently CFO of LookSmart.
http://www.aolbroadband.com

(Herndon, VA) Peter Jobse has been promoted to President of Virginia's Center for Innovative Technology (CIT). He has been EVP and COO since joining the organization in October 2002.
http://www.cit.org

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