Message-ID: <16599148.1075852561268.JavaMail.evans@thyme> Date: Mon, 22 Oct 2001 04:50:45 -0700 (PDT) From: pro@venturewire.com To: jdasovic@enron.com Subject: VentureWire Professional, Monday, October 22, 2001 Mime-Version: 1.0 Content-Type: text/plain; charset=ANSI_X3.4-1968 Content-Transfer-Encoding: 7bit X-From: VentureWire Professional X-To: jdasovic@ENRON.COM X-cc: X-bcc: X-Folder: \JDASOVIC (Non-Privileged)\Deleted Items X-Origin: Shankman-J X-FileName: JSHANKM (Non-Privileged).pst VentureWire Professional SUBSCRIBE | COMPANIES | INVESTORS | REGIONS | EVENTS | ADVERTISE * Nestle Unwraps $121M Food and Life Sciences VC Fund Nestle Group, the world's largest foods company, said it will launch a corporate venture fund of up to CHF 200 million ($121 million) for investment in science and technology, particularly in food and life sciences.>> * BioPharm U3 Pharma Raises $4.5 Million in First Round U3 Pharma, a biopharmaceutical company focused on the creation of novel therapeutic products that target key components of cellular signal transduction systems, said it raised EUR 5 million ($4.5 million) in its Series A.>> * Mobile Enterprise Application Firm ViaFone Eyes Acquistions Fresh off its first acquisition, ViaFone, a provider of mobile enterprise software, said it is in active talks to make more, CEO Russell McMeekin told VentureWire.>> Technology is still the future. Be there. Never before have startups been hit so hard. Although the longer term outlook remains bright, companies that don't make the right moves now won't be around to enjoy it. So VentureWire is calling together some of the industry's most experienced executives, investors, and experts for a one-day summit conference on private- company leadership in these uncertain times. You'll get practical advice from CEOs, COOs, and CFOs who've managed venture-backed companies in crisis, as well as straight talk from leading venture capitalists, investment bankers, attorneys, and specialists in HR and PR. Technology is cyclical, we all know that; think of this as preparation for the coming upturn. Managing in the Downturn: Survival Strategies for 2002 A VentureWire Executive Summit Fairmont Hotel, San Jose November 6, 2001 http://events.venturewire.com/summit/default.asp new money * Eluminant Technologies Raises $26M in Series A * Ikanos Gets $5.1M More to Cap Series C at $30M * Display App Firm DiStream Lands Undisclosed Seed Funds * Lemur Networks Gets $500K in Additional Seed Financing * Swedish Mobile Firm Voice Provider Raises $569,000 Series B * Espresso Education Brews Up $3.9 Million in Third Round * RBC Centura Capital Invests $7M in Two Companies * Human Capital Managment Firm Itiliti Raises $4 Millon m&a * Digital Tech Firm Pinnacle Systems Acquires Fast Multimedia * eMotion Acquires Defunct AudioBasket.com in Stock Deal * Transportation.com Becomes a Subsidiary of Yellow Corp. new directors * IDT Appoints Three to Board, Jack Kemp Now on IDT Telecom new people * Supply Chain Tech Firm Demantra Adds Ex-Zefer Chief as CEO * Knowlagent Names iFleet Chief as CEO vc fund news * RiverVest Launches First Fund with $89 Million Lighting the Path to Network Profitability An unsteady economy cannot derail the promise of the next generation of optical components and subsystems. From switching technologies to DWDM components to signal-conditioning devices to transport systems, up to 100 companies will set the private equity platform at VentureWire's Optical Portfolio. Axsun Technologies, Bandwidth9, Lightchip, PhotonEx, SpectraSwitch-just a handful of what to expect. Decide for yourself which company has the best positioning in the market, who is the most likely to succeed. Register today for one of the remaining places. VentureWire Optical Portfolio, Boston Marriott Cambridge, October 24 & 25, 2001 Register online at: http://www.opticalportfolio.com * Nestle Unwraps $121M Food and Life Sciences VC Fund top mail VEVEY, SWITZERLAND -- Nestle Group, the world's largest foods company, said it will launch a corporate venture fund of up to CHF 200 million ($121 million) for investment in science and technology, particularly in food and life sciences. An independent management team will oversee the fund, which will also invest in packaging and other commercial applications. Investments will include acquisitions, minority stakes, licensing, and joint ventures. * BioPharm U3 Pharma Raises $4.5 Million in First Round By Jeffrey Sanders top mail MARTINSRIED, GERMANY -- U3 Pharma, a biopharmaceutical company focused on the creation of novel therapeutic products that target key components of cellular signal transduction systems, said it raised EUR 5 million ($4.5 million) in its Series A. This is the first round of funding for the company and all the investors are new. Alta Partner led the Series A with Medicis Venture Management. Other investors included BioM and individuals. The company will use the money for corporate infrastructure, recruitment, and research and development. Chief business officer, Ed Stuart ,said the company began to raise the round at the end of July with a target close of $2.7 million. He also said Jean Deleage, general partner at Alta Partners, has joined the company's three-member board. Mr. Stuart said he expects the board to grow to six seats. He predicted the company's head count would double to 24 by the end of the second quarter of next year. The company expects to hire a chief financial officer soon. U3 Pharma is based on the research of Professor Axel Ullrich. Its executive team includes chief business officer Dr. Ed Stuart, former chief operating officer at DeveloGen; and chief scientific officer Dr. Mike Rothe, previously in the same position at DeveloGen. * Mobile Enterprise Application Firm ViaFone Eyes Acquistions top mail BRISBANE, CALIF. -- Fresh off its first acquisition, ViaFone, a provider of mobile enterprise software, said it is in active talks to make more, CEO Russell McMeekin told VentureWire. ViaFone is interested in both technology assets and entire companies that have ran out of cash and have customers that fit ViaFone's profile. The company is also looking for management teams humbled by the current capital environment. "And that's a tough one to find because a lot of companies are out of cash but they're in denial so they think they're worth a lot of money," said Mr. McMeekin. "We are well-positioned to make acquisitions when they make sense, our board is supportive of them when they make sense," he said. Last month the company acquired IdeaCon Software, a provider of XML-based technology for the development and deployment of handheld applications. ViaFone's applications bridge field sales and service employees, and critical business systems, information, and processes. The company today announced the launch of its latest product, OneBridge 3.0, and a partnership with B2B e-commerce integrator Endymion under which the two companies will jointly deliver mobile application services to global 2000 companies. ViaFone employs 60 people, including five in a Paris office. The company has plans to expand even more internationally, with Germany next. "We have been interviewing a general manager to lead Germany, we have been approached by German companies to form a joint venture," said Mr. McMeekin. ViaFone is also in talks with companies in Japan and Singapore about possible equity joint ventures. The company also announced today that Amir Hartman, managing director and co-founder of Manstay Partners, a technology consulting firm, as the eighth member of its board of directors. ViaFone has raised $33 million from investors including Angel Investors LP, Draper Fisher Jurvetson, Partech International, Redpoint Ventures, and RRE Ventures. Mr. McMeekin said the company has no plans to seek more funding next year and expects to reach cash-flow positive by mid-2003. new money * Eluminant Technologies Raises $26M in Series A top mail CHANTILLY, VA. -- NEC Eluminant Technologies, which develops applications to alleviate broadband delays using fiber optic technology, said it raised $26 million in its Series A. Lead investor, Itochu, has committed $18 million in the round. NEC USA and other NEC companies will contribute the remaining $8 million. The company will use the money for product development. Chairman and CEO of Eluminant Technologies said the company will seek additional capital and strategic partners in the future. Launched in 1998, Eluminant is a subsidiary of NEC USA. * Ikanos Gets $5.1M More to Cap Series C at $30M By Michelle Tsai top mail FREMONT, CALIF. -- Ikanos Communications, a developer of broadband silicon chipsets, said it has raised an additional $5.1 million in Series C funding, bringing the round to a close at $30 million. New investors Intel Capital and VentureTech Alliance, an affiliate of Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company, and Ridgewood Capital, which participated in the first close of the round, provided the additional $5.1 million. Other Series C investors were Anthelion Capital, Greylock Partners, JPMorgan Partners, Sequoia Capital, Telesoft Partners, and Walden International, which led the round with an investment of more than $7 million. All prior investors -- Anthelion Capital, Greylock, Sequoia, and Telesoft -- reinvested. Post-money valuation has decreased since the last round, said Renee Punian, vice president of finance and administration. The company has raised $42.5 million to date. Funds will be used for customer acquisition and sales and marketing. As a result of the round, Joerg Sperling, managing director of Ridgewood Capital, takes a seat on the board of directors. Danial Faizullabhoy of Walden joined the board with the first closing of Series C. An outside director is expected to take the seventh seat on the board in the next couple of months, said Ms. Punian. Funds will last until mid-2003, though the company may seek additional financing in late 2002. Ikanos launches its first products this week and is targeting equipment vendors as customers. Each chipset costs $30 to $80. Ikanos employs 50 at present. * Display App Firm DiStream Lands Undisclosed Seed Funds top mail JACKSONVILLE, FLA. -- DiStream, which provides software products that enable the delivery of high quality, full-screen display of video on demand utilizing broadband connections, said it received an unspecified amount of funding in its seed round. Contributors in the round include new investor DigaComm, former GE executive George Sarney, and undisclosed individuals. The company, which expects to be profitable by the end of next year, will use the money for product development and service trials. Kelly Moore, managing director at DigaComm, becomes the third director on DiStream's board. * Lemur Networks Gets $500K in Additional Seed Financing top mail NEW YORK -- Lemur Networks, which provides software platforms designed to rapidly deploy next generation IP services, said it received $500,000 in additional seed funding as a result of reaching certain milestones. Silicon Alley Seed Investors provided the financing. This brings the total amount invested in Lemur by Silicon Alley Seed to $833,000. Silicon Alley Seed invested $333,000 in June. Lemur also said it is in the process of raising its Series A. Inder Gopal, founder and CEO of ReefEdge, was also named as the third director on its board. * Swedish Mobile Firm Voice Provider Raises $569,000 Series B top mail STOCKHOLM, SWEDEN -- Voice Provider, a developer of mobile products with voice-enabled services, has closed SEK 6 million ($569,000) in a second round of financing, said CEO Michael Carlquist. Existing investors 2M invest, Ledstiernan, Mobile Garden, and Telenor Venture provided the funding, with Ledstiernan as leading. Post-money valuation was $2.8 million. The investors, who have provided Voice Provider with SEK 12 million to date in venture capital, hold 55% of the company. Founders hold the remainder. Funds will be used for product development. The company expects to break even in the third quarter of 2002, said Mr. Carlquist. * Espresso Education Brews Up $3.9 Million in Third Round top mail LONDON -- Espresso Education, which creates and delivers curriculum-based broadband content to elementary and secondary schools throughout the U.K., said it raised GBP 2.7 million ($3.9 million) in its third round. First time investor ProVen Private Equity led the round and contributed approximately $2.3 million. CEO Lewis Bronze, who co-founded Espresso in February 1997 with Tony Bowden, said the company's pre-money valuation was $7.2 million and that the valuation was down since the last time it sought funds. Other investors included MeCom, also a first time investor, and individuals. The company will use the money for marketing. Mr. Bronze said the round began in October 2000 with an original target close of $17 million. Thereafter, the company scaled back its business plan and dropped the close price to $4.3 million. Both ProVen and MeCom gain seats on the seven member board. The company employs 27. The CEO said he expects the company to be profitable by the first quarter of 2002. This year will close with $2.2 million in revenue, he said, projecting $3.6 million for 2002. Its burn rate is $215,000 a month, up 20% since the beginning of the year because it has expanded its marketing team, Mr. Bronze said. * RBC Centura Capital Invests $7M in Two Companies top mail CHARLOTTE, N.C. -- Private equity firm RBC Centura Capital announced investments in Southern Assisted Living, which operates 46 assisted living communities, and Security Services of America, a security guard business. Southern Assisted Living, based in Chapel Hill, N.C., received $2 million in subordinated debt from RBC and Venture Capital Solutions. RBC led the transaction. The company will use the funds to open more facilities and as operating capital. Security Services of America received $5 million in subordinated debt, led by Mellon Ventures, and including RBC and Argosy Capital. The company will use the funds for operational expenses and growth. * Human Capital Managment Firm Itiliti Raises $4 Millon top mail MINNEAPOLIS -- Itiliti, which develops and sells a Web-based service to help companies procure and manage temporary and contract labor, said it closed a $4 million round of funding. Three million dollars of the financing came from existing software licensees Kelly Services, MSX International, and Comensura, part of The Corporate Services Group. The companies already have strategic business offerings built around Itiliti's technology. m&a * Digital Tech Firm Pinnacle Systems Acquires Fast Multimedia By Giselle Greenwood top mail MOUNTAIN VIEW, CALIF. -- Pinnacle Systems, a publicly traded provider of digital technology to enable the creation, storage, distribution, and viewing of video programs, said it acquired Fast Multimedia, a Munich-based developer of Windows NT 2000-based software and hardware products for digital video editing. The deal was valued at $15 million and was paid in a combination of cash and approximately 75% of Pinnacle's stock. Fast Multimedia CEO Reiner Bielmeier remains with the company in a yet-to-be-determined title. Fast Multimedia founder and chairman, Matthias Zahn, is not joining Pinnacle, instead focusing on another startup he created. Fast Multimedia's offices remain in Munich. Pinnacle plans to integrate Fast Multimedia's products into its own line of video, authoring, and streaming products. Fast Multimedia received funding from Sequoia Capital. * eMotion Acquires Defunct AudioBasket.com in Stock Deal By Michelle Tsai top mail WASHINGTON, D.C. -- eMotion, a provider of digital media management software and services, said it has acquired AudioBasket, a provider of customized audio news and information that shut down two weeks ago, in a stock deal. Terms of the deal were not disclosed. The fewer than 10 remaining employees at AudioBasket will join eMotion's staff of 90. None of AudioBasket's four founders will join eMotion, according to eMotion CEO Bob Griggin, who will continue in his role after the acquisition. eMotion will close its Redwood City, Calif. office and consolidate those employees in AudioBasket's San Francisco office. eMotion also has offices in Washington, D.C., Chicago, New York, London, and Los Angeles, Calif. Mr. Griffin said AudioBasket's streaming media technology will be integrated into eMotion's product line, though the AudioBasket brand will not continue. eMotion did not assume any debts; AudioBasket had an undisclosed amount of cash at the time of acquisition. AudioBasket shut down in early October because of the downturn in Internet advertising. The company had raised $26 million from Chartwell Capital Investors, Dotcom Ventures, Rock Creek Partners, Panasonic Ventures, Time Warner, Timucan Asset Management, and T-Venture. eMotion is backed by $40 million from Adelson Investors, Chartwell Capital Investors II, Constellation Ventures, EMC, Enron, GE Capital, Kodak, National Geographic, Psilos, Saudi International Bank, Sun Microsystems, Veritas Software, and Wasserstein-Perrella, and Young & Rubicam. * Transportation.com Becomes a Subsidiary of Yellow Corp. top mail OVERLAND PARK, KAN. -- Transportation.com, an online transportation marketplace for shippers, carriers, and private fleet operators, has become a wholly owned subsidiary of Yellow Corp., a transportation services company that owns a number of subsidiaries that specialize in the regional, national, and international movement of industrial, commercial, and retail goods. Yellow said that it purchased all outstanding shares of Transportation.com from its investors EnerTech Capital Partners and TL Ventures. Yellow had been a minority stake holder. Transportation.com had received $30 million in first round financing from Yellow Corp., TL Ventures, and EnerTech. new directors * IDT Appoints Three to Board, Jack Kemp Now on IDT Telecom top mail NEWARK, N.J. -- IDT, a multinational carrier and telephone company, said it restructured the board at IDT Ventures, its venture capital arm. The changes included Jack Kemp, former U.S. House Representative, switching seats from IDT Ventures to IDT Telecom and adding three new outside directors. The new appointees are Harvey Schiller, chairman and CEO of YankeeNets; Herb. H. Tate, professor of energy policy at the New Jersey Institute of Technology; and Rabbi Irwin Katsof, executive director of the Jerusalem Fund of Aish HaTorah. They join three other outside directors on the company's nine member board. new people * Supply Chain Tech Firm Demantra Adds Ex-Zefer Chief as CEO top mail CAMBRIDGE, MASS. -- Demantra, a provider of consumer-driven supply chain software to companies, said it appointed William A. Seibel as CEO. Mr. Seibel formerly served as chairman and CEO of e-business services firm Zefer, which sold the majority of its assets to Japanese computer company NEC. Mr. Seibel replaces founder Yoni Cheifetz, who remains with the company as chairman. Demantra is backed by the Challenge Fund, Formula Ventures, Intel 64 Fund, Shamrock Holdings, UBS Capital, and Vanenburg Group. * Knowlagent Names iFleet Chief as CEO top mail ATLANTA -- Knowlagent, a provider of an online training platform, said it named Rusty Gordon CEO. Mr. Gordon, 48, previously served as CEO and chairman of iFleet, an IT services firm that was also a Knowlagent customer. Mr. Gordon will hold a board seat. Mr. Gordon succeeds acting CEO and founder John McIlwaine, who remains with the company as co-chairman. The company, which has about 70 employees, is funded by Arbor Partners, Blue Chip Venture, First Analysis, Imlay Investments, and River Cities Capital Fund. vc fund news * RiverVest Launches First Fund with $89 Million By Taran Provost top mail ST. LOUIS -- RiverVest Venture Partners said it completed fund-raising for RiverVest Venture Fund I, its new $89 million venture fund. The new fund will focus on seed and early-stage deals in medical devices, specialty pharmaceuticals, biotechnology, and tools for drug discovery. The firm typically is a lead investor and works closely with its portfolio companies. The firm's founders and managing directors are Andrew B. Craig III, Thomas C. Melzer, Jay W. Schmelter, and Mark J. Mendel. RiverVest's portfolio companies include CyDex, an Overland Park, Kan.-based maker of drug formulation and delivery technology, and Dover, N.H.-based TissueLink Medical, which is commercializing surgical devices that seal tissue using radio frequency energy. The fund's lead investor is a trust established by members of the McDonnell family, founders of aerospace firm McDonnell Douglas. Additional investors include the Bank of America, Washington University, Saint Louis University, and individuals. The firm also said the U.S. Small Business Administration licensed it as a small business investment company. Unlocking the Promise of Good Science: The Investor's Perspective Good science does not always equate with a good investment opportunity. Generations of investors have been burned and rewarded for taking risks on the potential of early-stage therapies. The drug discovery process is a complex combination of tests and hurdles for young companies. Where are the signposts for investors? James Reddoch of Banc America Securities will moderate a special roundtable dedicated to drug research and discovery at January's Healthcare Outlook Conference. The experience of the panelists reflects the complex considerations of modern research and development. Mr. Reddoch is joined by Michael Grey of Structural Genomix, Daniel Janney of Alta Partners, Gary Zweiger of Agilent Technologies and Lowell Harmison, Former Deputy Assistant Secretary for Health, Department of Health and Human Services. Register today to guarantee your place. Healthcare Outlook, January 22, 2002 San Francisco Airport Marriott, Burlingame, Calif. http://www.healthcareoutlook.com To change or update your subscription: Send other questions to prohelp@venturewire.com Monday, October 22, 2001 published daily by Technologic Partners this issue delivered to: Jeffrey Dasovich Enron If you're not Jeffrey Dasovich, please see section 3 of our terms of service . search find in all stories new money bad news new products M&A new directors new people vc fund news vc personnel over past week past two weeks past month past quarter past six months advanced search search help venture monitor 10/22/2001 deals $mill. change today 9 $55 -85% week ago 17 $365 past week 55 $390 -42% pvs. week 63 $797 past month 276 $2,673 9% pvs. month 248 $2,540 past qtr. 875 $8,470 -70% yr. ago qtr. 1,939 $28,077 yr. to date 3,501 $39,139 -58% 2000 to date 6,299 $92,593 VentureWire index VentureWire Index VentureWire Index 501.0 -1.14% industry news ? B2B eCommerce ? B2C eCommerce ? Enterprise Software ? Internet Services ? Networking Hardware ? Optical Networking ? Semiconductors ? Telecom Services ? Venture Capital ? Wireless Services ? Biotechnology ? eHealth company index companies mentioned in this issue ? AudioBasket.com ? Demantra ? DiStream ? eMotion ? Espresso Education ? Fast Multimedia ? IDT ? Ikanos Communications ? Itiliti ? Knowlagent ? Lemur Networks ? NEC Eluminant Technologies ? Nestle ? Pinnacle Systems ? RBC Centura Capital ? RiverVest Venture Partners ? Transportation.com ? U3 Pharma ? ViaFone ? Voice Provider ? Yellow Corp. investor index investors participating in new rounds in this issue ? 2M Invest ? Alta Partners ? BioM ? DigaComm ? Intel Capital ? Itochu ? Ledstiernan ? MeCom ? MeCom ? Medicis ? Mobile Garden ? NEC USA ? ProVen Private Equity ? ProVen Private Equity ? Ridgewood Capital ? Silicon Alley Seed Investors ? Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing ? Telenor Venture! your account ? Change your e-mail address ? 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