CompanyCrafters Launches ``Entrepreneur in Residence'' Program; Leading Start-up Veterans Endorse the Approach.

Business Editors, High Tech Writers

ANN ARBOR, Mich.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Jan. 30, 2001

CompanyCrafters, a new-business accelerator dedicated to launching multiple information technology (IT) ventures, today unveiled its Entrepreneur in Residence (EIR) Program.

Successful tech entrepreneurs Hal Davis and Allen Alley gave their stamp of approval to the new program.

CompanyCrafters co-founder Jim Price commented, "We designed this program to attract talented technologists capable of generating strong new-business concepts -- people with not only deep technical know-how, but also well-developed business skills." EIR's will receive hands-on business support to rapidly develop their concept into a product or service and launch a full-fledged start-up company.

CompanyCrafters advisor Allen Alley, founder and CEO of Pixelworks Inc. (Nasdaq:PXLW), observes, "Some of the coolest new-business ideas never get off the ground because the smart `idea people' don't surround themselves with the right support infrastructure. The CompanyCrafters team, with its combination of entrepreneurial experience and strong strategy and management talent, is ideally positioned to help entrepreneurs compress time-to-market and avoid common mistakes."

Fellow CompanyCrafters advisor Hal Davis, former founder/CEO of BlueGill Technologies, acquired in 2000 by Checkfree (Nasdaq:CKFR), is equally enthusiastic about the program. "The earlier an aspiring entrepreneur surrounds him- or herself with `been-there-done-that' veterans, the better chance they have of succeeding. Especially when it comes to first-time entrepreneurs, nothing could be more valuable in crystallizing their concepts and executing their plan than having the right advice and support network. The CompanyCrafters EIR program provides that in a box."

About CompanyCrafters

CompanyCrafters LLC is a Midwestern new-business accelerator founded in 2000 by veteran information technology entrepreneurs Yan Ness and Jim Price. The firm partners with existing corporations and independent entrepreneurs to create dramatic increases in shareholder value by identifying and launching new, IT-based businesses that leverage its clients' intellectual property assets and industry domain knowledge. Among corporate clients, CompanyCrafters focuses primarily on assisting companies in Southeast Michigan and Northwest Ohio to identify, shape and launch new-business spin-offs. Among independent entrepreneurs, the firm prefers to work intensively with entrepreneurs-in-residence to co-found new businesses based on the entrepreneurs' product/market vision. For additional information, visit the firm's website at www.companycrafters.com.

Note to editors: Photos of CompanyCrafters managers available on request, or at www.companycrafters.com. CompanyCrafters, the CompanyCrafters logo, and the phrases "Est. Now" and "You inc, therefore you are" are trademarks of CompanyCrafters LLC.