Cenetec and Foundry Networks Form Strategic Partnership.

Business Editors

BOCA RATON, Fla.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Nov. 1, 2000

Agreement Provides Access to Industry-Leading, High-Performance

Network Infrastructure, Tools, Training for Accelerated

Technology Firms

Cenetec, the technology accelerator company, has teamed with Foundry Networks(R), Inc. (Nasdaq:FDRY) to provide leading-edge, networking products, Web-based technology tools and training to its start-up and emerging technology companies.

The agreement is projected to be valued at three million dollars over the next four years.

The strategic partnership with Foundry, a leader in high-performance, end-to-end switching and routing solutions, is the latest addition to the value-added infrastructure Cenetec is providing client companies.

Cenetec infuses Internet startups and fast growing technology companies with the strategic guidance, technology "braintrust", facilities, business resources and capital access to rapidly accelerate high growth potential products and services to market. By partnering with Foundry, Cenetec is able to provide its client companies with access to a high-performance network infrastructure in its technology accelerators including a 25,000-square-foot technology accelerator and headquarters at Boca Raton Florida's T-Rex Technology Center, and an 18,000-square-foot technology accelerator in Miami, Florida, a gateway to the Latin American market. A third accelerator will open in first quarter, 2001 in Gainesville, Florida.

"This alliance delivers to our accelerator companies best-of-breed switching and routing solutions for building an e-Business Internet infrastructure," said Scott Adams, president of Cenetec. "With its number one market share in terms of units sold, and superior performance, Foundry is recognized as the premier worldwide supplier of Web switching ports."

"Foundry is pleased to partner with Cenetec in fulfilling its commitment to advance the Internet economy by nurturing pioneering firms to market quickly," said Bobby Johnson, president and CEO of Foundry Networks. "We serve many of the Internet economy's largest, well-known companies, and through this partnership with Cenetec, we will serve the emerging technology companies to help the continued growth of e-business on the Web," continued Johnson.

Cenetec's Chief Technology Officer Dr. Richard Ford said, "The Foundry partnership will allow our clients to move forward on a robust, reliable and ultra-fast platform." As part of the agreement, Foundry will provide free network design and implementation support for Foundry products to accelerator participants. Foundry will also provide NetIron(R) stackable switch/routers and ServerIron(R) Layer 4-7 Web switches to Cenetec's training facilities to benefit their accelerator program participants.

In addition, Foundry is offering Cenetec's participants special discounts on selected Foundry products, marketing support through sales leads, Web site links, and logo listings in trade shows and advertising.

Cenetec's strategic partner program provides access to the level of business and technology infrastructure that is frequently out of reach for young companies, Adams noted. Cenetec also has strategic partnerships in place with IBM, Great Plains Software, Global Crossing Conferencing, Auxillium West and Julian J. Studley, the national tenant advisory firm. All of the companies are offering high-value, essential services to Cenetec and its client companies during and post-acceleration.

About Cenetec

Cenetec infuses Internet startups and fast growing technology companies with the strategic guidance, technology "braintrust," facilities, business resources and capital access to rapidly accelerate high growth potential products and services to market.

Led by accomplished Internet entrepreneurs, Cenetec is headed by founder and Internet pioneer Scott Adams. The company's executive team includes CEO Bill Hager, COO Jeffrey D. Rubenstein, CTO Dr. Richard Ford, General Counsel Bob White, and Vice President of Marketing Richard T. Rogers. The company's venture capital investors include Rock Creek Capital, HIG Ventures, Interprise Technology Partners and Sun Capital Partners. Cenetec is headquartered at 4950 Blue Lake Drive, Suite 900, Boca Raton, Florida, 33431, 561-981-0200. More information is available at www.cenetec.com.

About Foundry Networks

Foundry Networks, Inc. (NASDAQ: FDRY) is a leader in high-performance, end-to-end switching and routing solutions, including Internet routers, Layer 3 switches and Layer 4-7 Internet traffic and content management switches. Foundry products are installed in the world's largest ISPs, including AOL (NYSE: AOL), EarthLink (NASDAQ: ELNK), AT&T WorldNet, MSN and Cable & Wireless (NYSE: CWP). Foundry products are also installed in large enterprise, entertainment, pharmaceutical and manufacturing companies as well as search engines, e-commerce sites, universities and government organizations. Some of these customers include: The University of Washington, The University of Miami, LucasFilm, Yahoo! (NASDAQ: YHOO), LTV Steel (NYSE: LTV), Incyte Genomics, Inc. (NASDAQ: INCY), U.S. Army, Air Force and Navy, NASA and NIH. For more information about the company and its products, call 1.888.TURBO.LAN or visit our web site at www.foundrynetworks.com.

Foundry Networks, ServerIron and NetIron are registered trademarks of Foundry Networks, Inc. All other trademarks are the sole property of their respective holders.