Monday, February 4, 2002

Money Movers

Looking for cash? This list of local financiers and their specialties is a good place to start

ANGEL INVESTORS

Dallas Angels
Roland Bandy and Jerry Mills

Types of investments: Top tier — biotech, optics, telecommunications; second tier — electronics systems, hardware, software; bottom tier — Internet infrastructure, Internet pure play
Typical investment amount: $500,000 to $2 million
Current fund: Individual investors make own decisions
Sample investments: Optisoft Inc., Kansas City, Mo.; Hybrigen Inc., Dallas; Inc2Inc Technologies Corp. Inc., Dallas
How to contact the fund: www.thedallasangels.com, jmills@bakerbotts.com, (214) 520-3688

North Dallas Investment Group
Greg Hext

Types of investments: Infrastructure, telecommunications and biotechnology
Typical investment amount: $500,000 but “we’ve had one or two deals where people put in as much as $1.5 million.”
Current fund: $10 million
Percentage invested: N/A
Sample investments: Ariesnet Inc., Dallas; Whoola Inc., Farmers Branch
How to contact the fund: greg@chapmanhext.com

COMMERCIAL BANKS

Comerica Bank Technology & Life Sciences Division
Steve Moiles and Mike Park

Types of investments: Information technology, including semiconductors, software and communications technology; and life sciences, including biotechnology and medical services
Typical loan amount: $1 million to $5 million
Loan pool: Our capital base is pretty unlimited because as a bank we’re at $49 billion (in assets).
Sample clients: Alibre Inc., Richardson; bTrade Inc., Irving; Chorum Technologies Inc., Richardson; Spatial Wireless Inc., Richardson
How to contact the bank: michael_j_park@comerica.com or steven_m_moiles@comerica.com

Silicon Valley Bank
Robert Sureck

Types of investments: All aspects of technology — generally software, semiconductor, telecommunications, online and information-technology services companies — along with life sciences, which include medical devices and biotechnology
Typical investment amount: From $250,000 and up
Current fund: N/A
Percentage invested: N/A
Sample investments: Celion Networks Inc., Richardson; Vocal Data Inc., Richardson; and White Rock Networks Inc., Plano
How to contact the bank: (214) 588-3350

CORPORATE INVESTORS

Alcatel USA Inc.
Jeff Van Cura

Types of investments: Mature carrier-class components, systems and subsystems for optics, next-generation networks, public switched telephone network, Internet and wireless infrastructure
Typical investment amount: N/A
Current fund: N/A
Percentage invested: N/A
Sample investments: Valere Power Inc., Richardson
How to contact the fund: jeff.vancura@alcatel.com.

EDS Ventures
Patrick McInroe

Types of investments: Web, data and content hosting services, wireless and broadband mobile applications, security technology, knowledge management and middleware and enabling technologies
Typical investment amount: Between $2 million and $5 million

Current fund: N/A
Percentage invested: 20 percent of this year’s allotment
Sample investments: TeleCentric Inc., Richardson; FreeDrive Inc., Chicago; Netigy Corp., San Jose, Calif.
How to contact the fund: patrick.mcinroe@eds.com

Nokia Early Stage Technology Fund
Petteri Terho

Types of investments: Ventures complementary to Nokia’s fundamental vision
Typical investment amount: $1 million to $3 million
Size of the fund: About $36 million
Percent invested: N/A
How to contact the fund: www.nokia.com

INCUBATORS / ACCELERATORS

Fort Worth MedTech Center Inc.
Warren Webb

Types of investments: General businesses with a focus on medical and high-tech companies
Typical investment amount: N/A
Current fund: N/A
Percentage invested: N/A
Sample program companies: Inter-Images Inc., MedPort and Infrared Technologies, all of Fort Worth
How to contact: www.medtech.org or (817) 207-8550

Incucomm Inc.
Matthew Bowers

Types of investments: Wireless telecommunications, from chips to operators
Typical investment amount: About $200,000
Sample companies: Crinis Networks Inc., Net Data Corp., Altus Networks Ltd., all of Dallas
How to contact the incubator: www.incucomm.com or mbowers@incucomm.com

Skywire Labs L.L.C.
Patrick Brandt

Types of investments: Emerging technologies that improve business processes and information management applications, such as supply-chain management, software optimization, enterprise applications and database management
Typical investment amount: Seed, start-up and first-round funding and incubation services up to $1 million
Current fund: Skywire has the financial backing of Hall Financial Group, a company with $260 million in equity and more than $100 million in liquid assets.
Percentage invested: N/A
Sample investments: Benefit Harbor L.L.C., CoverageXpress L.L.C. and Resource Harbor L.L.C., all of Frisco, in the incubation process
How to contact: Patrick Brandt, pbrandt@skywiretechnology.com

Startech Early Ventures
Matt Blanton

Types of investments: Telecom — infrastructure, wireless, wireline, semiconductor, photonics, medical, software and e-business sectors, electric power and nanotechnology
Typical investment amount: $100,000 to $900,000
Current fund: $31.89 million
Percentage invested: N/A
Sample investments: InnerWireless Inc., PowerUp Networks Inc. and TeleCentric Inc., all of Richardson
How to contact the fund: www.startechev.com

XXI Technologies L.L.C.
Rick Seaney or Cliff Neuman

Types of investments: Core technology, software that’s typically patentable
Typical investment amount: $500,000 to $1 million in seed money
Current fund: Funds available as needed
Percentage invested: N/A
Sample investments: YYMap.com L.L.C., Dallas
How to contact: (972) 755-1058

Zero2 Ventures L.L.C.
Peter Strople, Doyle Wells

Types of clients: Telecommunications, pharmaceuticals, biotechnology, energy and retail
Typical investment amount: Between $250,000 and $1 million
Current fund: N/A
Percentage invested: N/A
Sample investments: American TeleSource International Inc., San Antonio; Hire.com, Austin; uData Net Corp., Fort Worth; MaxPop Inc., Dallas; MSU Corp., Plano
How to contact the fund: www.zero2.com

INCUBATORS / VENTURE CAPITAL

Genesis Campus L.P.
Roman Kikta

Types of investments: All telecommunications, all the time, including wireless, optical, components, software, and networks.
Typical investment amount: $500,000 to $3 million
Current fund: Genesis Campus Fund I L.P. (fund still open ); Genesis Campus Fund I A L.P. (fund still open)
Sample investments: Spatial Wireless Inc., Richardson
How to contact the fund: www.genesiscampus.com

INVESTMENT BANKS

Capital Alliance Corp.
Ed Dawson

Types of investments: Computer hardware, software and systems integration, telecommunications
Typical investment amount: Typical transaction amounts range from $10 million to more than $100 million
Current fund: N/A
Percentage invested: N/A
Sample investments: Processors Unltd., Dallas; Vianet Technologies Inc., Dallas; Sandstream Inc., Lewisville
How to contact: (214) 638-8280 or ca@cadallas.com

GEM Advisors Dallas L.L.C.
Mark Cameron

Types of transactions: Hardware and software, telecommunications, information technology and biotechnology
Typical transaction amounts: $10 million to $50 million, equity or debt funding; $10 million and up on mergers and acquisitions
Sample transactions: Coollink.com, Dallas, acquired by Earthlink Inc.; Optical Access Networks Inc., Dallas
How to contact: www.gemdallas.com

Growth Capital Partners L.P.
Mike Crow and John Grimes

Types of clients: Mid-market companies in Texas and the Southwest looking to raise private or debt equity funds or a merger or acquisition
Typical transaction amount: $5 million to $25 million, private equity; $10 million to $30 million, private debt; and $25 million-plus for mergers and acquisitions
Sample client: ObjectSpace Inc., Dallas
How to contact: (214) 303-1177 or www.growth-capital.com

Hoak Breedlove Wesnewski & Co.
Clint Price

Types of investments: Majority are technology or telecommunications companies. Raising debt, mezzanine and equity capital. Most equity private placements are structured as convertible preferred stock.
Typical investment amount: Private placements in the $10 million to $50 million range
Current fund: N/A
Percentage invested: N/A
Sample investments: Recent equity placements include Drugtest Inc., Houston; PointOne Telecommunications Inc., Austin; and Collocation Solutions L.L.P., Richardson
How to contact: cprice@hbwco.com or call (972) 702-7954

Turchin Financial Corp.
Gil Turchin

Types of clients: No industry specialization; generally earlier stage companies, not absolute startups — companies that have worked hard to get to the point where they need some money to turn it into a real success story
Typical investment amount: Less than $10 million.
Current fund: N/A
Percentage invested: N/A
Sample clients: Asset InterTech Inc., Richardson; Ethos Group Inc., Irving; ExoLink Corp., Lewisville

VisionForge Venture Development Co. Ltd.
Ken Marvel

Types of investments: Venture development services for the growing smaller to mid-sized markets and company management buyouts for mid-sized to larger companies
Typical transaction amount: $1 million to $10 million early stage ventures; $215 million in largest merger-and-acquisition transaction to date
Sample clients: Octopi Inc., Dallas; TIV Operations Group Inc., Frisco
How to contact the firm: www.vfventures.com or (214) 525-3908

MERGERS AND ACQUISITIONS

Briggs Capital L.L.C.
Douglas Deaton

Types of investments: About half are technology companies, but also open to traditional industries such as trucking, manufacturing and mortgage banking
Typical investment amount: N/A
How to contact the firm: doug@briggscapital.com

PRIVATE EQUITY

Hoak Capital Corp.
Tom Harrison

Types of investments: Any aspect of the communications industry from telecommunications, radio, cable TV, traditional television to publishing, direct marketing and communications equipment
Typical investment amount: $25 million to $35 million
Current fund: Hoak Communications Partners, $175 million
Percentage invested: 80 percent
Sample investments: TeleCorp PCS Inc., Arlington, Va.
How to contact the fund: (972) 960-4848

Pacesetter Capital Group/Pacesetter Growth Fund L.P.
Rahul Vaid

Types of investments: Communications infrastructure, broadcasting, manufacturing buyouts
Typical investment amount: $500,000 to $5 million
Current fund: $200 million
Percentage invested: 60 percent
Sample investments: White Rock Networks Inc., Dallas; SyChip Inc., Plano; ipGen Inc., Richardson; JP Mobile Inc., Dallas; Nayna Networks Inc., Milpitas, Calif., and Richardson
How to contact the fund: www.pacesettercapital.com

TECHNOLOGY HOLDING COMPANY

Edge Technology Group Inc.
Graham Beachum II

Types of investments: Oracle- and SQL server-based IT services companies, application service providers and software companies that serve the middle market
Typical investment amount: N/A
Sample investment: PurchasePooling Inc., Dallas
How to contact: www.edgetg.com

VENTURE CAPITAL

Austin Ventures
Blaine Wesner

Types of investments: Software and services, semiconductor and communications equipment companies
Typical investment amount: $100,000 to $20 million
Current fund: Fund VIII, $1.5 billion
Sample investments: Santera Systems Inc., Plano; Chorum Technologies Inc., Richardson; ePartners Inc., Irving
How to contact the fund: www.austinventures.com

Capital Southwest Corp.
Patrick Hamner

Types of investments: Businesses with exceptional growth potential and experienced management teams; not limited to any one industry
Typical investment amount: Between $1 million and $6 million per transaction
Sample investments: Heeling Inc. of Carrollton; Sprockets.com Inc. of Boston; First Capital Group of Texas III L.P.
How to contact: www.capitalsouthwest.com

CenterPoint Ventures
Bob Paluck

Types of investments: Early stage funding within the communications infrastructure, business software technology, semiconductor and emerging technology sectors, as well as security and nanotechnology
Typical investment amount: $10 million to $15 million over several rounds of financing
Current Fund: CenterPoint Venture Fund III L.P., $300 million
Percentage invested: 10 percent
Sample investments: Xtera Communications Inc., Dallas; Chorum Technologies Inc., Richardson; OraMetrix Inc., Dallas
How to contact the fund: info@centerpointventures.com. Only business plans that have been referred by a known source are accepted.

Crossroads Investment Co. L.P.
Brad Heppner

Types of investments: Private equity funds and emerging technology companies
Typical investment amount: Direct and co-investments range from $1 million to $5 million; private equity partnerships range from $1 million to $20 million
Current fund: N/A
Percentage invested: N/A
Sample investments: The firm has held interests in more than 100 Metroplex-based companies, including Efficient Networks Inc., Dallas; i2 Technologies Inc., Dallas; MetaSolv Software Inc., Plano; Chorum Technologies Inc., Richardson; and Dallas Semiconductor Corp., Dallas.
How to contact the fund: Steve Standbridge, director of investor relations, at (214) 698-2793; or for potential investment opportunities, contact Brian Smith at (214) 698-2789

HO2 Partners
Dan Owen and Charles Humphreyson

Types of investments: Wireless, enterprise software, infrastructure companies
Typical investment amount: $750,000 to $3 million
Current fund: $33.7 million
Percentage committed: 75 percent
Sample investments: Traq-wireless Inc., Austin; PowerUp Networks Inc., Richardson; CABC Inc., Dallas; InnerWireless Inc., Richardson
How to contact the fund: www.ho2.com

Hunt Ventures L.P.
Chris Kleinert

Types of investments: Early stage, pre-initial public offering technology companies, life sciences companies
Typical investment amount: $1 million to $2 million
Current fund: N/A
Sample investments: Antenna Software Inc., New York City; Applied WDM Inc., Lubbock
How to contact the fund: www.huntventures.com

InterWest Partners
Berry Cash and Ron Nash

Types of investments: Information technology, which includes telecommunications and data communications, components, chips, optical components and enterprise software; and health care, including biotechnology and medical devices
Typical investment amount: $7 million to $15 million, with an average of $12 million over the life of the investment
Current fund: Fund VIII, $750 million
Percentage invested: About 33 percent
Sample investments: Chorum Technologies Inc., Richardson; Chiaro Networks Ltd., Richardson; and Metro-Optix Inc., Allen
How to contact the fund: “A referral is always the best. We pay more attention to plans that are referred to us by someone we know.”

JatoTech Ventures
Molly Pieroni

Types of investments: Focus is on early stage technology companies
Typical investment amount: $500,000 to $1.5 million initial investment; $3 million to $8 million for life of investment
Current fund: $55 million
Percentage invested: 30 percent
Sample investments: Banderacom Inc., Bandspeed Inc., Cygnal Integrated Products, all in Austin; and Ubicom in Mountain View, Calif.
How to contact the fund: Dallas office: (214) 855-3732; Austin office: (512) 236-6950; www.jatotech.com

LJBB Investment Group L.P.
Jay and Brandon Lopez

Types of investments: Health care or health-care-related industries; high-tech
Typical investment amount: $1 million
Current fund: LJBB invests as appropriate
Percentage invested: N/A
Sample investments: Digital:Convergence Corp., Critical Devices Inc. and Estill Medical Technologies Inc., all of Dallas
How to contact the fund: www.ljbb.com

The Markpoint Co.
Jeff Williams

Types of investments: Early stage technology and communications companies
Typical investment amount: Early stage investments — $250,000 to $2 million; mezzanine or subordinated debt investments — $1 million to $2.5 million
Current fund: $10 million
Percentage invested: 15 percent
Sample program companies: Sychip Inc., Plano; Taral Networks, Ottawa
How to contact the fund: Jeff Williams at (972) 490-1976 or e-mail jwilliams@markpt.com

Mercury Ventures Ltd.
Kevin Howe

Types of investments: Application software, Internet and e-commerce infrastructure
Typical investment amount: At least $1 million, up to $3 million
Current fund: Fund II, $20 million
Percentage invested: 75 percent
Sample investments: MigraTEC Inc. and NetCertification Inc., both of Dallas
How to contact the fund: dgoodwin@mercuryvc.com

Promettre International Ventures
Stan Keith

Types of investments: Small companies that have some type of technology element to them, but they generally are in basic industries or have a type of service twist
Typical investment amount: $50,000 to $500,000 range
Current fund: “Nope, it’s just me, and I usually find other investors who want to co-invest with me.”
Percentage invested: N/A
Sample investments: LoudThought Inc., which goes by loudthöt, Dallas; Critical Devices Inc., Dallas; and CompUSA Inc., Dallas
How to contact the fund: skeith@loudthot.com

The Riverside Co.
Suzy Kriscunas and Will Bixby

Types of investments: Targets the smaller end of the middle market, focusing on industry-leading companies valued at $10 million to $100 million
Size of the fund: $412 million
Typical investment amount: $7 million to $15 million
Sample investment: DHD Healthcare Inc., Wampsville, N.Y.
How to contact: www.riversidecompany.com

Sevin Rosen Funds
Jackie Kimzey

Types of investments: Optical networking, telecommunications, wireless
Typical investment amount: Seed round — $200,000 to $1 million; first round — $4 million to $10 million
Current fund: Fund VIII, $875 million
Percentage invested: 10 percent
Sample investments: AirBand Communications Inc., Addison; Xtera Inc., Dallas; Chorum Technologies Inc., Richardson; Chiaro Networks Ltd., Richardson; InnerWireless Inc., Richardson
How to contact the fund: www.srfunds.com

Stork Ventures Inc.
Richard Jaffe

Types of investments: Most investments involve technology, but Stork Ventures identifies opportunities first. The investments are opportunistic; not industry specific.
Typical investment amount: Stork Ventures raises capital as opportunities warrant.
Current fund: N/A
Percentage invested: N/A
How to contact the fund: rjaffe@storkventures.com or (214) 227-1278

Technology Associates Management Co. Ltd.
Chris Ching and Yiuman Leung

Types of investments: Semiconductors, optical and telecommunications infrastructure, wireless
Typical investment amount: $3 million to $6 million
Current fund: $170 million between five funds
Percentage invested: 55 percent
Sample investments: Asset InterTech Inc., Richardson; GlobiTech Inc., Sherman; Intelligent Epitaxy Technology Inc., Richardson
How to contact the fund: Chris Ching, ching@tamcfund.com or Yiuman Leung, leung@tamcfund.com

TL Ventures
Guy Hoffman

Types of investments: Early stage information technology, communications and life sciences
Typical investment amount: $3 million to $5 million in the first round; $5 million to $10 million in follow-on investments
Current fund: Fund V, $685 million
Percentage invested: “We’ve invested in about one-third the number of companies we plan to invest in over the life of the fund.”
Sample investments: Startech Early Ventures, Richardson; Docucorp International Inc., Dallas; and Hire.com, Austin
How to contact the fund: Dallas office: (972) 455-2838; Austin office: (512) 391-2850; e-mail: info@tlventures.com

Todd R. Wagner Foundation
Todd Wagner

Types of investments: Technology-focused companies, minority-owned and managed, located in or willing to relocate to the inner-city Dallas area
Typical investment amount: $200,000 to $500,000 in early round investments
Current fund: Minority Technology Fund
Percentage invested: Funds provided on an as-needed basis
Sample investments: Imaginuity Interactive Inc., Abstract Concepts Inc., both of Dallas
How to contact the fund: info@toddwagnerfoundation.org

TPG Ventures L.L.C.
Steve Foster

Types of investments: Information technology, specifically communications, software and life sciences
Typical investment amount: $5 million to $10 million first round; up to $20 million over life of investment
Current fund: $450 million
Percentage invested: 10 percent
Sample investments: Nitronex Corp., Raleigh, N.C.; Optium Corp., Orlando, Fla.; WinCon Systems Inc., San Jose, Calif.; Aristos Logic, Foothill Ranch, Calif.; Sierra Logic, Roseville, Calif.; KnowNow, Mountain View, Calif.
How to contact the fund: plans@tpgvc.com

Vortex Partners L.P.
Darren Blanton

Types of investments: Nanotechnology, wireless carrier infrastructure — both hardware and software, fiber optics, semiconductors, communications software and services
Typical investment amount: $500,000 to $3 million
Current fund: Fund II, $50 million
Percentage invested: Less than 35 percent
Sample investments: Cyneta Networks Inc., Richardson; Broadjump Corp., Austin
How to contact the fund: (214) 849-9803, www.vortexpartners.com

VENTURE CONSULTANTS

Aspen Advisors L.P.
Marc Still

Types of investments: Software and services, telecommunications, infrastructure, medical devices and services
Typical transaction amount: $10 million to $30 million
Sample clients: Aeritas Inc., Irving; Encore Telecommunications Inc., Austin; Prime Medical Services Inc., Austin; RLX Technologies Inc., The Woodlands
How to contact: www.aspenadvisors.com

C5 Partners
Chuck May

Types of clients: Companies in, or approaching, a hyper-growth stage
Typical investment amount: Typical transaction amounts range from $2 million to $20 million
Current fund: N/A
Percentage invested: N/A
Sample clients: 21st Century Broadband Inc., Richardson; Playnet Inc., Bedford
How to contact: (972) 233-2549

Darwin’s Beagle Inc.
Ari Reubin and Mike Baynard

Types of clients: Semiconductor, telecommunications, software and manufacturing companies.
Typical transaction: Assist clients who are seeking seed or first-round financing
Sample clients: Asset InterTech Inc., Richardson; People-Solutions.Com Inc., Dallas; Sensatex/Lifelink Inc., Dallas
How to contact: www.darwinsbeagle.com

Doman Technology Capital Inc.
Jeffrey Doman

Types of investments: Internet service providers, wireless, optics, voice over Internet protocol integrated messaging. Post-seed, post-validation early stage companies generating revenue with an established business plan.
Primary industry focus: Technology, 75 percent; and energy, 25 percent.
Typical investment amount: $250,000 to $30 million
Current fund: “Doman Technology Capital does not operate a fund but works with other venture capitalists, funds, strategic partners, private equity and debt investors.”
Percentage invested: N/A
Sample investments: Sorcity.com Inc., RE Technologies Inc., Waymark Internet Services Inc., all of Dallas
How to contact: jdoman@domancapital.com or www.domancapital.com

itROI Inc.
Dan Hooper

Types of clients: Infrastructure software, business-to-business and professional services, and biotechnology
Typical transaction amount: $250,000 to $5 million
Sample investments: Found at www.itroi.com
How to contact: www.itroi.com, dhooper@itroi.com or (214) 528-1983

Stonegate Securities Inc.
Bob Blakely

Types of companies: Not industry specific
Typical transaction amount: $5 million to $50 million
Sample investments: Intelect Communications Inc., Richardson; BriteSmile Inc., Walnut Creek, Calif.
Size/name of fund: N/A
How to contact: www.stonegateinc.com or (214) 987-4121