Volume 8, Number 22, June 5, 2003



This Week's Contents:

1) NEWS ABOUT NETPRENEUR
    1.1 Prometheus Unbound
    1.2 You Make The Call
2) REGIONAL NETPRENEURS
    2.1 e-Wings Debuts Collaboration Solution
    2.2 Sourcefire's Network Awareness Product
    2.3 Random Logic Designs Integrated Circuits
    2.4 Round-up: Quick Hits
    ...... news from iDirect, DQS, Media Cybernetics,

    ...........Edge Technologies, Estco, and iPlicity
3) FUNDING & FINANCE NEWS
    3.1 Dough Raise Me
    ......$4.5M for 1 local entrepreneur
    3.2 Life In The Food Chain
    ......GXS Acquires Celarix
    ......Edgewater Acquires Intelix
    ......Objective Data Storage Acquires Filelink
    3.3 Virginia Creates Minerva Seed Fund
4) WHO'SWARE
    ...... news about people at XO, NexTone, and VPTC


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

1.1 PROMETHEUS UNBOUND
If you missed last night's big IGNITION event, boy oh boy, was it a barn burner! Almost 1600 people registered, some of the region's biggest tech names on the stage, and, all in all, it was one of the most inspirational evenings we've had since Netpreneur was started some six years ago. The message for everyone with an entrepreneurial spirit was summed up by Raul Fernandez. "Get off the sidelines. Get in the game. If you fall down, get back up." It was also a night of memories, including reflection on how dramatically conditions have improved since the days when "Washington, DC entrepreneur" was considered an oxymoron. How did we get this far? According to John Sidgmore, "We've grown so much over the past years because there have been so many people here helping each other." The Netpreneur network has been one road for entrepreneurs to help each other, and it will continue now as a grassroots community effort, but that wasn't the only kind of helping that was discussed. As Mario Morino noted, the panelists weren't just technology and business pioneers, they are also leaders in a new wave of philanthropy in the region, reaching areas ranging from healthcare, to education, to helping kids from low-income families. The call was made for others to join in those efforts, and more and more entrepreneurs are doing so as they reach the point when they can give something back. And there was one more major theme for the evening-- giving thanks to everyone who has been a part of the Netpreneur community over the years, whether as a contributor or volunteer, or anyone who ever attended an event, subscribed to a list, or visited the website. If you missed that thank you last night, let us repeat it. From the entire Netpreneur team, thanks for your interest and support over the years, and keep the fires burning as Netpreneur enters its newest stage.

More on helping others: http://netpreneur.org/about/helpingothers.html
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

1.2 YOU MAKE THE CALL
What was the toughest decision Deepak Hathiramani ever had to make as CEO of Vistronix? "When I had to terminate our second employee who had been with us for four years. The reason it was tough was that our second employee happened to be my wife." While most of the tough calls that executives have to make won't hit quite that close to home, many of them will be turning points in whether your company succeeds or fails. From taking outside funding to expanding your team, check out the summary article from last week's Coffee & DoughNets, "Pulling The Trigger," to learn more about the how's and why's behind big entrepreneurial decisions from Hathiramani and fellow panelists Phil Carrai of General Atlantic Partners; Michael Chasen, CEO of Blackboard; and Ching-Ho Fung, Chairman of Parature. Why is this such an important topic? As moderator Mark Frantz of the Carlyle Group (and someone who is used to looking over entrepreneurs' shoulders) put it, when you don't make the big decisions, someone comes in and makes them for you. The article is available now at the Netpreneur site, and look for the transcript and video coming soon.

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

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

2.1 e-WINGS DEBUTS COLLABORATION SOLUTION
(Bethesda, MD) e-Wings is a new company offering Internet-based software products and services to support distributed teams. e-Wings enables people to conduct business online by managing and organizing all of the team's work regardless of the communication medium and collaboration tools used, including email, instant messaging, conference calls, digital video, and face-to-face meetings. Developed by a cross-functional team of collaboration professionals, e-Wings' software helps teams stay focused on task and work collaboratively to achieve a common outcome or goal. The solution is already being used by distributed teams within Gillette and Best Foods/Unilever. Gary Benedetti, a former Vice President of Netscape, is e-Wings' CEO. The company was founded by Dr. Lewis Frees who is also the founder of Harmony, Inc.
http://www.e-wings.net
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2.2 SOURCEFIRE'S NETWORK AWARENESS PRODUCT
(Columbia, MD) Sourcefire introduced its Real-time Network Awareness (RNA) appliances, an extension of their network Intrusion Management System. RNA constantly monitors network assets for potential vulnerabilities while alerting administrators in real-time to anomalous network behavior. It also persistently provides context allowing for advances in the accuracy and usability of intrusion detection and prevention systems. The system uses a combination of passive network discovery, behavioral profiling, and integrated vulnerability analysis to provide automated escalation of priority events, immediate notification to changes on the network, and a complete view of all network systems and assets.
http://www.sourcefire.com
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

2.3 RANDOM LOGIC DESIGNS INTEGRATED CIRCUITS
(Fairfax, VA) Random Logic released QuickIND, a physically-based inductance-extraction software tool that uses Monte Carlo methodology for the design of complex and advanced integrated circuits, especially for high-speed digital, mixed-signal, and wireless RF design applications. The new product complements and is based on the extraction technology in Random Logic's QuickCAP capacitance extraction tool, using a statistical approach that the company says makes it faster than conventional methods. It can run fully parallel on multiple computers and can handle even massively complex structures.
http://www.randomlogiccorp.com
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

2.4 ROUND-UP: QUICK HITS

(Reston, VA) iDirect Technologies released Version 3.2 of iDS, a product that allows bi-directional Internet connections via satellite. New features include compressed real-time protocol (cRTP), 1.2 Carrier Spacing, Enhanced QoS, and Dynamic CIR.
http://www.idirect.net

(Baltimore, MD) Data Quality Solutions (DQS) received $50,000 from the Maryland Department of Business and Economic Development's Challenge Investment Fund to assist in the marketing of the company's new ROME software, a data quality system that could extend to other applications such as data migration and integration.
http://www.dqs.us

(Silver Spring, MD) Media Cybernetics released Version 5.0 of its 3D Constructor, a plug-in module for Image-Pro Plus used by scientific researchers to explore three-dimensional relationships within and among objects. Among other features, the new release adds measurement tools to quantify 3D and 4D relationships.
http://www.mediacy.com

(Fairfax, VA) Edge Technologies introduced Version 4.0 of enView, an integration of its enPortal portal software and Tarantella 3 Enterprise web-enablement software, targeted at government agencies that require advanced security, integration, connectivity, and an IT team with top security clearances.
http://www.edge-technologies.com
http://www.tarantella.com

(Bethesda, MD) Estco launched a new website for Reading Is Fundamental (RIF), a nonprofit literacy organization based in Washington, DC.
http://www.rif.org
http://www.estco.net

(Reston, VA) iPlicity launched the DC Chamber of Commerce's new website.
http://www.dcchamber.org
http://www.iplicity.com


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

3.1 DOUGH RAISE ME

$4.5 million in a Series A round for Reston-based Defywire, a provider of wireless enterprise software solutions. The round was led by Durham, NC-based Intersouth Partners, with participation by Anthem Capital Management and The Washington Dinner Club. Defywire's Mobility Suite uses a Java-based architecture to link mobile users with enterprise applications that historically have only been accessed via a landline connection, including ERP packages, databases, messaging software, sales force automation systems, and CRM software. In the past year, the company concluded partnership and distribution deals with webMethods, Sun Microsystems, and Sharp Electronics. Don Rainey of Intersouth Partners and Xander Perry of Anthem Capital Management will join Defywire's board.
http://www.defywire.com
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

3.2 LIFE IN THE FOOD CHAIN

-- GXS Acquires Celarix
(Gaithersburg, MD) Global eXchange Services (GXS), operator of one of the world's largest B2B eCommerce networks, announced the acquisition of Cambridge, MA-based Celarix, a provider of logistics integration and visibility solutions. Celarix's logistics provider integration and data quality management services help Global 2000 organizations more quickly connect to logistics trading partners and share shipment status information throughout a supply chain. Addition of the Celarix solutions allows GXS to expand services to its core vertical markets, particularly in the retail, high tech, and automotive industries.
http://www.gxs.com
http://www.celarix.com

-- Edgewater Acquires Intelix
(Fairfax, VA) Intelix, a custom software and systems integration development firm, has been acquired by Wakefield, MA-based Edgewater Technology, a custom development and system integration consulting firm. Edgewater says that the deal provides it with a solid mid-Atlantic presence and marquee clients and expands its expertise in areas such as telecom and real estate. Intelix has 37 employees, with clients that include Verizon, Nextel, and Marriott.
http://intelix.com
http://www.edgewater.com

-- Objective Data Storage Acquires Filelink
(Columbia, MD) Objective Data Storage, a developer of object-based automated storage management solutions, has acquired the assets of Filelink, a Bloomington, MN-based software development firm. Filelink developed storage management software optimized for the specific attributes of "Reference Data" such as radiology images. The software has uses for managing the storage requirements of digitized DICOM medical images such as CT Scans, MRIs, and sonograms. It is complementary to Objective's existing intellectual property and software and will enable Objective to market solutions for vertical markets such as healthcare, insurance, and security. Richard Berglund, founder and former President and CEO of Filelink, joins Objective's board.
http://www.objectivedatastorage.com

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
3.3 VIRGINIA CREATES MINERVA SEED FUND
(Fairfax, VA) The Virginia Community Development Loan Fund (VCDLF) announced the formation of the Minerva Seed Fund, a new venture capital fund that will invest in early-stage companies and government contractors in Virginia and the Washington, DC area. The Fund will be located at the Mason Enterprise Center of George Mason University and in Richmond with the VCDLF. The Fund has secured its lead investor with a commitment of $1 million, working toward a goal of $5 million to $10 million for investments between $50,000 and $500,000. VCDLF's current programs include minority contractor assistance program, Small Business Administration (SBA) micro loan program, SBA 7A loan program lender service provider, Federal Department of Transportation short-term lending program and technical assistance training.
http://www.minervaseedfund.com
http://www.vcdlf.org
http://www.gmupolicy.net/mec/index.html


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

(Reston, VA) XO Communications, a broadband communications service provider, named Brian Oliver as EVP of Strategy and Corporate Development. He will also oversee the technical development activities associated with optimizing the value of XO's LMDS spectrum. He was previously founder, Chairman, and CEO of Cambrian Communications.
http://www.xo.com

(Germantown, MD) NexTone Communications, a provider of session controller technologies for secure peering of packet networks, named Brad Miller as VP of Business Development. He was formerly VP of Network Development & Engineering at ITXC and one of its co-founders.
http://www.nextone.com

(Charlottesville, VA) The Virginia Piedmont Technology Council (VPTC) named Gail Milligan as its new Executive Director. She has been VPTC's project manager since May 2000. VPTC has more than 450 active members representing just under 150 companies.
http://www.vptc.org

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