In November, iMinds Ventures, alongside Venrock Associates, and Viventures, completed a $3 million investment in NetBrowser Communications, located in San Ramon (www.netbrowser.com) . The total round of $12 million from all investors is expected to take the company to profitability. Randy Haykin and Edgard Capdevielle completed the due diligence and Randy will be representing iMinds on NetBrowser's Board of Directors.

NetBrowser Communications is a leader in web-based monitoring software for mission critical equipment within data center facilities of Fortune 1000 companies and large service providers. The company's product, eGuardian, enables customers to monitor and manage critical equipment on the network, like power supply, environmental, fire, safety and physical security machines or nodes, and manage the early detection of potential problems and down-time. The genre of software complements current network and application management software on the market, such as HP Openview and CA's Unicenter or IBM/Tivoli. NetBrowser has created embeddable agent and server application technologies that enable a “plug-and-play” with network equipment within a 7x24 operation center through an IP network, eliminating the need for costly and time consuming systems integration. NetBrowser’s pending 2002 product releases include sophisticated data correlation engines and business analytic applications that create an enterprise-wide understanding of the interrelationships, physically and economically, between IT systems and the underlying physical infrastructure upon which they depend. The alignment of IT and Facilities’ corporate interests through better enabling tools will be an industry first.

Jeff Halverson, President and CEO of NetBrowser, brings 24 years of enterprise and telecom management experience. Jeff retired from IBM as Vice President for IBM Global Services, Western US, where he managed all the Business Innovation Services groups creating new business solutions for IBM customers. In addition, his career at IBM included managing the business alliance between IBM and Siebel Systems, managing the outsourcing contracts between Sears and IBM, including the sale of the IBM Global Network to AT&T and expanding the consulting and systems integration services division for the Western US. Prior to IBM he helped run the telecommunications industry practice for Price Waterhouse for the United States. He also worked at Pacific Bell for 15 years in a variety of management positions. Jeff has assembled a dynamic team of five vice presidents who make up NetBrowsers' foundation.

Netbrowser exited 2001 with nearly $5 million in revenues from well-known enterprise customers such as SBC, Genuity, EMC, Cingular, Peoplesoft, and Gillette. The company anticipates $8+ million in revenues in 2002.

The company is currently seeking a SVP Sales & Marketing and a fifth Board member who has experience in the enterprise space. Contact randy@iminds.com if you have potential candidates for either of these roles.