400 Percent Growth Makes High-Tech Agency One of Silicon Valley's 'Top 100'; Redwood City Firm Also Adds Three New Clients.

Business Editors and Marketing/High-Tech Writers

REDWOOD CITY, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Nov. 16, 2000

Connect Direct, a full-service agency specializing in direct marketing for high-technology companies, has been named one of the "Top 100 Fastest Growing Private Companies in Silicon Valley" for 1999 by the San Jose Business Journal. It is the third year in a row that the Redwood City firm has been so recognized.

Compiled annually and audited by the accounting firm PricewaterhouseCoopers, the list ranks companies based on three years' percentage growth ending in 1999. For that period, Connect Direct recorded a cumulative growth rate of 396 percent to place it at No. 12 on the list.

Separately, Connect Direct also announced three additions to its fast-growing roster of high-tech clients:

Collabria, Inc. in San Mateo, Calif., has selected Connect Direct to produce both direct mail and e-mail campaigns designed to promote their PrintCommerce(TM) suite of application services, a comprehensive set of Internet-based solutions that streamlines print management and print purchasing. The campaigns will target marketing executives and other corporate print buyers.

Inxight Software, Inc. in Santa Clara, Calif. has instructed Connect Direct to develop an ongoing program of print and online campaigns in support of the company's line of information access and content analysis solutions. The campaigns will target the corporate IT and electronic publishing segments, and will include direct mail, broadcast e-mail, newsletter sponsorships, and a company e-mail newsletter.

ViewCentral, Inc. in Mountain View, Calif. has chosen Connect Direct to create a series of print and online lead generation programs. ViewCentral's Web-hosted applications automate business processes and improve communications with customers and partners in applications ranging from training and services to other key departments. The campaigns will target marketing executives and training managers at large corporations.

Connect Direct was founded in 1990 by company president Howard J. Sewell, formerly a marketing manager at Oracle Corporation. The company says that 2000 billings have already increased almost 100 percent over the same period in 1999.