Thirty-five companies were selected to present at Venture2000. To read more, click on each presenter's name, or scroll down.

Raleigh-based Alerts.comTM (http://www.alerts.com) licenses its intelligent change detection and notification services to high-traffic Web sites with dynamic content. Once the Alerts.com system is enabled on a partner's site, any visitor can request to be notified when specific Web content-a target stock price, availability of a product, an auction bid, a news article, a weather forecast, discounted airfare, etc.-appears or changes. The Alerts.com system externally monitors these Web pages, comparing the site's live content to user-defined search criteria, then automatically sends a message to the site visitor's e-mail inbox, PDA or pager, informing him of the search results and inviting him back to the partner's site. The company projects 2000 revenues of $5.4 million. Alerts.com raised an initial round of $2.5 million and is seeking an additional $20 million.

Morrisville-based ArgoMed Inc. (http://www.argomed.com) is the developer of the Thermoflex System, an effective new treatment for benign prostatic hyperplasia (BHP), a non-malignant enlargement of the prostate gland that is common in older men. While surgery has been the "gold standard" of treatment in the past, the high cost and incidence of complications has sent urologists searching for a better alternative. ArgoMed's new water-induced thermotherapy (WIT) procedure is a simple, low-cost therapy that requires no sedation and can be performed in a hospital, outpatient setting, or a doctor's office. To date, the WIT procedure has been used on over 700 patients with excellent results. The company had 1999 revenues of $254,000 and projected 2000 revenues of $712,000. ArgoMed raised $9.3 million through two equity financings. A.M. Pappas will lead rounds "C" and "D" of financing for an additonal $6 million and ArgoMed is seeking an additonal $2 million.

Charlotte-based AutoPact (http://www.autopactusa.com) sells comprehensive auto service over the Web delivering high quality, affordable car care under a business design similar to that of an HMO. Revenues for 1999 were $490,926 with expected 2000 revenues of $5,043,000. The company has raised $4.5 million from Wakefield Group, North Carolina Enterprise Fund and Holden Capital and is seeking an additional $12 million.

Research Triangle firm AwayMed.com was founded in 1999 to provide a community that facilitates the recovery process for patients in the form of personalized information services. AwayMed.com's education service, called eCareSM includes the placement of unique, Internet-enabled, interactive hardware in physician office waiting rooms, as well as a public Web site, http://www.awaymed.com (to be launched May 1, 2000). The eCareSM service presents physician-approved medical information in an innovative format that increases patient education, enhances the provider-patient relationship and improves patient outcomes. It also serves as a channel for online purchasing of health and medical equipment, supplies and information. AwayMed.com raised $2.0 million from angel investors and operating partners and is seeking an additional $7-10 million.

Research Triangle-based Blue292 (formerly Environmental Connections) is the leading business-to-business exchange for environmental, health and safety products, services, training, staffing and compliance tracking. The company had 1999 revenues of $500,000 and projected 2000 revenues of $1.5 million. Blue292 raised $4.41 million in its first round from Eno River Capital, DLJ's Sprout Group, NCTDA and strategic investors. Blue292 raised $15M in its Series B round from DLJ's Sprout Group and Eno River Capital. Blue292 is seeking an additional $30 to $50 million.

Chapel Hill-based BlueBolt Networks (http://www.bluebolt.com) is a business-to-business search engine and e-commerce site linking manufacturers with professional end users in the interior design and decoration industry. Customers will use BlueBolt Networks' patented technology to create customized digital product catalogs, search for materials in a current and complete library, order physical samples, conduct transactions and conferences online, and place targeted advertising and promotions. The company's projected revenues for 2000 are $188,000. BlueBolt Networks has already raised $2 million from its founders and corporate and angel investors, and is currently seeking $12 million.

Founded in 1997 by members of IBM’s Mwave DSP Processor team BOPS (Billions of Operations per Second), Inc. (http://www.bops.com) develops and licenses leading edge Digital Signal Processor (DSP) software, hardware, and tools to Tier 1 market leaders for System-On-Chip (SOC) semiconductors application in Internet, multimedia, and wireless communications markets. Current licensees include Mitsubishi/VSIS and SiByte. Its ManArrayTM DSP core product family accelerates a SOC manufacturer's time from product concept to high-volume shipment. This technology has been designed to integrate with MIPSR and ARMTM processor based SOC's. Now headquartered in Silicon Valley, with product development offices in Research Triangle Park, North Carolina and Austin, Texas, BOPS' 1999 revenues were $2.6 million with $8.8 million projected for 2000. In March 2000 , BOPS named Carl Schlachte, former Vice President of North American Sales for ARM Ltd., as CEO and Chairman of the Board. BOPS has already raised $12 million from Pequot Capital, Vantage Point Venture Partners, and Band of Angels, and is currently seeking an additional $25 million

Durham-based Cogent Neuroscience, Inc. (http://www.cogentneuro.com) offers a unique genomics platform for the discovery of new and effective treatments for diseases of the brain. Thus far, the company has discovered genes for the treatment of neurodegenerative diseases, Atlas of the brain, and treatment of stroke and traumatic brain injury. The company has already raised $5.4 million from Intersouth Partners, The Aurora Funds, Kitty Hawk Capital, and the NC Bioscience Fund.

Raleigh-based DataFlux Corporation (http://www.dataflux.com) develops and commercializes leading edge, high-performance, and comprehensive plug-and-play data quality control (DQC) software products, which produce rapid ROI's for clients. Their award-winning dfPower series is designed to significantly improve the accuracy, consistency, and usability of an organization's critical data, thereby enhancing the effectiveness of data driven applications. These include: warehousing, data marts, data mining, customer information systems, sales force automation, marketing databases, customer profiling, and list management. Dataflux had 1999 revenues of $1.05 million and projects 2000 revenues of $8.3 million. The company has already raised an initial round of $590,000 from angels and the Aurora Funds, Inc., and is currently seeking an additional $3-5 million.

Charlotte-based eXpo-sites, inc. (http://www.sports-expo.com/) has created the Internet's first-to-market business-to business (B2B) vertical trade community, utilizing a 3D vertical trade show dedicated to the global sporting goods industry. The company has developed sports-expo.com, an industry portal and secure Web-based marketplace, which streamlines and accelerates information flow, facilitates community internetworking, and enables B2B e-commerce transaction flow between industry professionals, suppliers, vendors, and retailers. eXpo-sites integrates best-of-breed commerce and technology partners within the portal environment to deliver targeted industry content, community, career, and commerce opportunities. These digital solutions create new standards for improved efficiencies and realized savings in time, resources, process costs, and supply chain management. eXpo-sites projects 2000 revenues of $1.5 million. The company has raised $100,000 in start-up funding from individual investors, and is currently seeking an additional $3 million.

Chapel Hill-based Extensibility, Inc., (http://www.extensibility.com & http://XMLschema.com) provides enabling technologies for XML schemas. Thousands of organizations and industry initiatives such as BizTalk and FpML use our products to develop their schema. Our products fully support and extend the XML 1.0 specification for schema. Extensibility also plays an active role as members of the W3C and OASIS. XML AuthorityTM and the on-line XMLschemaTM specializing in providing cutting edge XML schema development, conversion and management solutions. Their intuitive interface allows for the authoring of valid schema that can be easily managed and converted into any of the existing and emerging XML schema standards. The company had 1999 revenues of $325,000 and projected 2000 revenues of $5 million. Extensibility raised $1.7 million in an initial round from Intersouth Partners and is seeking an additional $10 million.

Morrisville-based Industrial Microwave Systems, Inc., (http://www.IndustrialMicrowave.com) revolutionizes industrial heating and drying, making it faster, more efficient, more reliable and more economical, in much the same way microwave ovens have revolutionized home cooking. IMS designs, builds and markets industrial heating and drying systems incorporating patented microwave technology for continuous flow manufacturing processes requiring uniform heating, drying, bonding and/or curing. The company had 1999 revenues of $809,000 and projected 2000 revenues of $2,444,000. IMS raised an initial round of $125,000 from the North Carolina Technological Development Authority; a second round of $2,185,000 from Martin Marietta Materials, TriState Investment Group III, NCTDA and angel investors; and is seeking an additional $5 million.

Cary-based Interadnet (http://www.interadnet.com) provides a service and technology solution to implement and optimize Internet advertising for corporations and ad agencies. Currently, Interadnet is developing patentable technology for adaptive workflow interface that will streamline ad agency processes. The company's 1999 revenues were $650,000, with $2.6 million in gross billings. Projected 2000 revenues are $5.1 million, with $26 million in gross billings. Interadnet has raised $4.5 million from XL Ventures, Livewire, The Aurora Funds, and TIG. The company is currently seeking another $15 million.

Cary-based JoeAdvisor.com, Inc. (http://www.joeadvisor.com) is an Internet web site that allows anyone with Internet access to provide or purchase fee-based investment advice. The company offers a consolidated "super-store" for all independent fee-based investment advice offerings, utilizing established advisors with verified track records. Investors will be able to search for advisor performance records and investment styles, which best suit their own criteria. JoeAdvisor.com, Inc. has already raised $700,000 in angel investment and is currently seeking another $5 million.

Raleigh-based LastAvailable.com (http://www.lastavailable.com) is in a position to establish a dominant, first-to-market presence with open travel auction services. Our inventory includes an attractive portfolio of accommodations and leisure packages -- including Carnival Cruise Lines. LastAvailable.Com distinguishes itself by offering rooms and travel-related products/services in an open bid format-at significant discounts. The company projects 2000 revenues of $1.1 million. LastAvailable.com raised two rounds totaling $1.3 million from angel investors and is seeking an additional $6 million.

Raleigh-based LastFoot.com, Inc. (http://www.lastfoot.com) provides services using open source technology. These services allow individuals, groups, and organizations to build trusted relationships on the Internet with advanced security and group enabling functions, via a portable work or play desktop environment, available from any computer and connected to the Internet. LastFoot has already raised more than $2 million in funding through a combination of private and venture investments.

Cary-based LIPSinc (www.LIPSinc.com) is the developer of complete solutions for the creation and delivery of enhanced rich media content for Web-based communication—a portfolio of rich media solutions including products, turnkey solutions, software development kits, and application service provider (ASP) destinations for the rapid production of compelling, customizable, character-driven content. The solutions will address the growing need for engaging and interactive content for the online marketing and customer relationship management (CRM) markets, as well as a new market it calls InterPlay that encompasses non-business communication and entertainment on the Internet, such as online gaming, greeting cards and personal communication. The company projects 2000 revenues of $3.4 million. LIPSinc raised an initial round of $1.4 million with a bridge round of $1.3 and is seeking an additional $10 million.

Research Triangle-based MERIX Bioscience, Inc. is developing novel immunotherapy "vaccines" that contain potent immunostimulating dendritic cells loaded with tumor specific messenger RNA to treat metastatic cancers, a profound area of medical demand. This is the only vaccine approach applicable to all solid and liquid cancers and addresses a substantially larger percentage of the cancer patient population than other competing vaccine strategies. An estimated 50 to 70 percent of all cancer patients ultimately will be candidates for treatment with MERIX' immunotherapy vaccines. The company's initial corporate partner is the global medical technology company Beckton Dickinson. MERIX recently closed a $1.9 million Series A Preferred Stock placement with a broad syndicate of venture investors.

Raleigh-based MindLever.com, Inc. (http://www.MindLever.com) offers a comprehensive service enabling organizations and individuals to create, deliver and administer Web-based training simply and cost-effectively. The company has a proprietary middleware platform with an application suite for analysis, design, authoring, delivery and administration. The architecture provides scalability to support multiple private communities, as well as a global public learning marketplace. The company had 1999 revenues of $800,000 and projected 2000 revenues of $3.4 million. MindLever.com raised an initial round of $4,075,000 from Alliance Technology Ventures, Mid-Atlantic Venture Funds, The North Carolina Enterprise Fund and private investors and is seeking an additional $10 million.

Chapel Hill-based MyDailyHealth, Inc., (http://www.mydailyhealth.com) licenses business-to-business interactive preventive health information services to healthcare providers, health plans, employers and e-commerce companies. With blue chip customers that include one of the world's largest computer manufacturers, MyDailyHealth is developing a corporate sponsored healthcare conduit for wellness information and commerce. The company had 1999 revenues of $120,000 and projected 2000 revenues of $3.2 million. MyDailyHealth raised a seed round of $300,000, a Series A round of $750,000 from its founder, and is seeking an additional $5-10 million.

Research Triangle-based neoButler, Inc., (http://www.neobutler.com) is leading a fundamental shift in how users of the Internet access information. It's concept moves users from site-based navigation, which requires users to go to a portal, vortal, or specific site of interest, to a horizontal (pan-Web) navigation service that remains with them, working on their behalf to help guide them through the information chaos that exists. neoButler has developed two core technologies protected by 5 patents to deliver the neoButler service. One core technology is profiling and content categorization and the other is Relevant Automated Content Engine (RACE) technology. The company projected 2000 revenues of $725,000. neoButler raised an initial round of $1.15 million from Draper Atlantic and angel investors and is seeking an additional $10-15 million.

Durham-based NextAudio, Inc. (http://www.nextaudio.com) is creating personalized, radio listening experience for music lovers, as well as a powerful suite of promotion, marketing, and advertising tools for record labels, advertising agencies, and merchants. NextAudio, Inc. hopes to attract and retain the largest Internet listener base by creating the first Internet-delivered radio station with portable listening devices, providing the highest value market research and promotions opportunities to record labels, and generating unprecedented levels of music related e-commerce through an interactive radio interface. The company projects 2000 revenues of $4 million. NextAudio,Inc. has raised $1 million from angel investors and Fusion Ventures. It is currently seeking an additional $3 million.

Durham-based Norak Biosciences, Inc. has licensed proprietary technology that enables GPCR (G-protein Coupled Receptors) function to be directly monitored in real time. Compounds that interact directly with GPCRs account for 60% of all commercially available drugs. Norak's TransfluorTM technology can be applied to the diagnosis of disease and the identification of natural ligands. The company has raised $.7 million in seed funding and is seeking and additional $2-3 million.

Raleigh-based OpenVertical, Inc., (http://www.openvertical.com) through OpenVertical.com has two solutions: OpenVertical, a seller-side solution for enterprise businesses and dot com startups; and OpenWebtop, a buyer-side solution for small to medium businesses. OpenVertical creates B2B marketplaces; OpenWebtop connects businesses (B2B) or consumers (B2C) to marketplaces. OpenVertical Solutions provide companies with an application service provider offering, intuitive customization, a complete offering of web services, and an open-source platform. The company had 1999 revenues of $600,000 and projected 2000 revenues of $1.8 million. It began operations with $350,000 from founders and is seeking an additional $5 million.

Research Triangle-based OuiShare.com (http://www.ouishare.com) develops a software client that is spread virally from user to user of standard email formats. Should the user choose to become a member, the ouishare client automatically inserts a graphical advertisement into user's email, as they send and receive communication in the normal fashion. Membership grows through incentive programs for participation and referrals, but is also enhanced by reducing the amount of behavioral tasks needed to become a member. A user never needs to visit the Web to become activated and revenue producing. The company projects 2000 revenues of $4,620,000 and is seeking $750,000.

Durham-based Pinpoint.com (http://www.pinpoint.com/) a developer of next-generation search engine technology, creates custom search engines for businesses on the Web. Pinpoint's approach improves the relevance of search results by using a combination of filtering, mapping, and directed webcrawling to create subsets of the Web concentrated on a specific topic. Pinpoint has raised $5 million in funding from various sources, including Wakefield Group, Noro-Moseley Partners, and TriState Investment Group III, LLC. The company will seeking additional funding during the second half of 2000.

Research Triangle-based Porivo Technologies, Inc., (http://www.porivo.com) is developing an Internet-enabled distributed computing platform to harness the unused processing power of idle PCs. By aggregating this tremendous underutilized resource and creating a sizeable network of users, Porivo's software will create a massively parallel supercomputer with incredible processing power. The company is developing a prototype of its distributed system, using a mix of proprietary and licensed technology. This initial prototype will be a large-scale statistical analysis application that has applicability to pharmaceutical industry research. The company projects 2000 revenues of $900,000. Porivo raised an initial round of $200,000 from The Aurora Funds.

Chapel Hill-based Quill Medical, Inc., is developing a suture product line based upon proprietary design which permits self-anchoring. The solution aims to greatly simplify 40 million surgical closures by avoiding lacing and knotting of conventional sutures. It also will enable cosmetic surgery without incision. The product is made of conventional resorbable polymers, requiring limited safety testing. Quill was issued a U.S. patent and has one pending in Japan. The FDA has made preliminary designation as a Class II device. The company raised an initial round of $1.5 million from founders and angel investors and is seeking an additional $2 million.

Durham-based Saffron Technology, Inc. (http://www.saffrontech.com) has created a proprietary, personalized, database matching technology. Saffron's initial product, its proprietary Associative DatabaseTM combimes the power of smart agents and associative memory technology to provide a new way for e-commerce sites to capture and share user knowledge. The company's proprietary technological breakthrough enables scalable real time learning and product recommendations. Saffron has projected 2000 revenues of $1.5 million, and has already raised $2.3 million in venture and private investment. The company is seeking an additional $5 million in funding.

Chapel Hill-based Sicel Technologies, Inc. was formed to design, develop, market, and sell a line of implantable telemetric medical devices, capable of continuously monitoring biological and physiological changes in cell and organ systems on a real time basis. Sicel's technology will enable clinicians to develop individualized treatment protocols based on the patient's own biological information and response to therapy. Use of the technology can revolutionize cancer therapy, resulting in significantly improved patient care and substantial healthcare cost savings. Sicel has raised $186,000 in funding from founder and private investment. The company is seeking an additional $1-2 million.

Charlotte-based SoDeog Technologies, Inc. (http://www.sodeog.com) has developed a common language software platform, SyncTalkTM , that enables wireless, hand-to-hand information exchange. Specifically designed for WindowsCE, Palm, and EPOC, they are also working on developing software for Motorola, Nokia and Ericsson to accept contact and calendar information from WindowsCE Palm, or EPOC. The company projects 2000 revenues of $5 million. SoDeog has raised $666,200 in funding from angels, and is seeking another $5 million.

Cary-based TaskPoint.com, Inc. (formerly Centrigen) (http://www.taskpoint.com/) is a business-to-business e-commerce portal for the construction equipment industry. The company is currently developing the first phase of its site, scheduled to launch second quarter of 2000.TaskPoint has already raised $1.5 million in funding and is seeking an additional $10 million.

Raleigh-based TekSell.com (http://www.teksell.com) is an online B2B vertical marketplace where buyers and sellers of new, remanufactured, and previously owned IT equipment can buy and sell via auction with confidence. TekSell provides an electronic distribution channel without creating channel conflict, or requiring OEMs and distributors to relinquish control of the sales process. TekSell's 1999 revenues were $10,000, and projected 2000 revenues are $3 million. The company raised $2.4 million from friends, family, angels, and the NC Enterprise Fund, and is seeking another $15 million.

Charlotte-based Verian Technologies (http://www.procureit.com) is the developer of ProcureITTM, a 100% browser-based end-to-end procurement and materials management solution designed to automate the acquisition and management of non-production goods and services. These goods and services -- frequently referred to as Maintenance Repair and Operating (MRO) items -- are usually high-volume, low-dollar purchases and include items ranging from office supplies, to laboratory supplies. The company had 1999 revenues of $965,000 and projects 2000 revenues of $3.8 million. Verian is seeking $5 million.

Cary-based ViOS Inc. (http://www.vios.com/#) delivers the Internet to users as a 3D landscape. Users at all levels find accessing the Internet in this new way to be more productive, rapid, engaging, and fun. Web site owners see the landscape as a new advertising medium with unbounded opportunity for branding, increasing site traffic, and affiliate marketing. The company's first product, ViOSpace, uses its patented software to deliver a 3D interface. Within ViOSpace, users may locate and access Internet sites in real time, and businesses will be provided with a new medium for electronic advertising. ViOS projects 2000 revenues of $717,000. The company has raised $5.6 million in funding from SEIT, PVP and angels. ViOS is seeking an additional $15-20 million.

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