Monday, November 26, 2001

Groups are staging an entrepreneurial comeback

By Stacey Closser

The capital market might be dragging its feet on new ventures, but that hasn't stopped local entrepreneurs from seizing opportunities to get in front of an audience. The Dallas-Fort Worth chapter of The Indus Entrepreneurs, or TiE, provided a platform Nov. 10 for start-ups to show off their businesses.

The Saturday event sponsored by Sevin Rosen Funds drew about 170 people to the Omni Hotel in Richardson. It was less than the 220 people that attended the event last year, but it was more than the TiE leadership expected in light of the economic downslide of 2001.

Some of the presenters were startups that have been around the block a few times, including eShipGlobal.com, an Internet software and services provider that allows users to compare shippers' prices, prepare labels and track and manage shipments via the Internet.

Other Dallas-based presenters were Cytoplex Biosciences Inc., which develops and markets biochips and instruments for the drug discovery and screening market, and Wisedom L.L.C., an application service provider serving the environmental management industry that received $1 million in funding last January.

The networking and telecommunications side of the house was represented by Plano's SoftTel Inc., a developer of custom software for Internet protocol, optical, and wireless management systems.

Also presenting were NetraVision, a provider of automated vision inspection technologies and systems, and A4 Networks Corp. of Allen, a company founded in July that makes products for inter-business process automation and networking.

In all, there were 13 companies that presented their business plans at the event.

"We've learned that there's been a lot of activity in terms of follow-up talks and meetings," said Akram Syed, chairman of TiE's events committee and secretary. "Our previous showcases have had very good results. Out of the 12 companies that have presented (in the last year), I know of at least six companies that have received funds (as a result) from our platforms."

TiE-DFW will be hosting another event in March with TiE chapters in Austin and Houston and in affiliation with the Texas Capital Network, Syed said. The TiE Texas Angel Network, or TiE TAN, will bring together Texas entrepreneurs, angel investors and venture capitalists.

The organization, which is open to entrepreneurs of all cultural backgrounds, chooses two startups to present at each of its monthly meetings. For more information or to contact TiE, check it out online at www.tie-dfw.com.

Spring into action if you haven't already

The Springboard: Southwest 2002 isn't being held until March 21, but the deadline for presenters to get in their applications is fast approaching. Produced by Springboard Enterprises and the Forum for Women Entrepreneurs-Texas, the March event will showcase 20 women-led companies to an audience of corporate, angel and venture investors. The organization is looking for women entrepreneurs who have founded or lead high-growth companies in technology and life sciences from Texas, Oklahoma, Arkansas, Louisiana, Arizona and New Mexico.

About 176 presenters from previous Springboard Forums have raised nearly $600 million in equity capital.

Those interested in presenting must apply online at www.springboard2000.org by Dec. 3. To qualify, startups must be women-led companies seeking seed, early stage or later institutional round investments.

Springboard is looking for companies primarily focused on emerging growth technology industries and other high-growth traditional companies who leverage technology to enhance their product or service.

Stacey Closser covers finance and the Internet for Dallas-Fort Worth TechBiz. Her e-mail address is sclosser@dfwtechbiz.com.