Gabriel Venture Partners Appoints Charles O. Heller as Senior Principal for New Mid-Atlantic Office.

Business Editors

REDWOOD SHORES, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--May 8, 2000

Gabriel Venture Partners, a hands-on venture capital firm committed to assisting technology entrepreneurs build market-leading companies, today announced the appointment of Charles O. Heller as senior principal based in the Baltimore-Washington-Northern Virginia corridor, the nation's fastest-growing high-technology market.

Gabriel also announced the opening of the company's new mid-Atlantic office in Tysons Corner, Va.

Before joining Gabriel, Heller was director of the Dingman Center for Entrepreneurship at the Smith School of Business, University of Maryland, recognized as the focal point for entrepreneurial activity in the mid-Atlantic region of the U.S. and one of the top-ranked entrepreneurial centers in the nation.

He was named the university's first-ever Professor of Entreprenuerial Practice, based on his achievements as an entrepreneur, rather than for traditional academic achievements.

While director at the Dingman Center, Heller also served as chairman and president of the Baltimore-Washington Venture Group, a Dingman-affiliated nonprofit corporation that acts as the gateway for all dealflow into the Private Investors Network. He will remain at the Dingman Center in a part-time capacity, as Entrepreneur-In-Residence and chairman of the Baltimore-Washington Venture Group.

Prior to assisting other entrepreneurs through the Dingman Center, Heller spent 18 years practicing the discipline, successfully founding and running two computer industry companies. Heller refined his technology background during the years he also worked as an engineer for Douglas Aircraft and Bell Telephone Laboratories.

"Charlie is a true renaissance entrepreneur and educator. His decades-long experience and expertise criss-cross the world but is focused on his established business relationships and contacts throughout the mid-Atlantic area," said Phil Samper, managing director and co-founder of Gabriel Venture Partners. "He has access to the best minds, business leaders and technologies in the region and he is recognized as a singular resource for entrepreneurs."

In 1969, Heller co-founded CADCOM, Inc., a pioneer software firm in the automation of design and manufacturing, where he also served as president and CEO. Ten years later, ManTech acquired CADCOM and Heller became a vice president within the organization, ultimately leading a management buy-out of a segment of ManTech's business in 1983, later known as InterCAD Corporation, a leading producer of electronic publishing systems. Heller served as president and CEO until he sold his interest in the company.

Heller was also president of the Annapolis Consulting Group, providing strategic counsel and support to large and small companies as well as venture capital funds. He serves on the boards of directors of several public and private companies, including ESPS Inc., Avatech Solutions and SYSCOM Inc.

In his role as Gabriel Venture Partners senior principal in the mid-Atlantic region, Heller will expand the breadth and reach of resources that the hands-on venture capital firm offers its entrepreneurs and Limited Partners.

"The mid-Atlantic region represents a critical growth area for Gabriel Venture Partners. Charlie's track record speaks for itself and he will play a critical role in identifying entrepreneurs and emerging enterprises to add to our growing portfolio of companies," said Rick Bolander, managing director and co-founder of Gabriel Venture Partners.

Heller was recently awarded the Lohmann Medal, the highest honor given to an Oklahoma State University engineering alumnus, making him only the tenth person to be distinguished with this honor. He was also named "Entrepreneur of the Year" by Ernst & Young, Inc., in 1992 and in 1998, Digital South Magazine named him one of The 50 Most Influential People in Southern Technology.

Heller holds both a bachelor's of science in engineering and a master's of science in engineering from Oklahoma State University. He also earned a Ph.D. in engineering from The Catholic University of America.

About Gabriel Venture Partners

Gabriel Venture Partners, based in Redwood Shores, is a hands-on venture capital firm that provides in-depth operating, technology and marketing experience to maximize the value creation from the initial funding through every stage of its portfolio companies' growth cycles.

Founded in 1999, Gabriel Venture Partners has more than $50 million committed capital of a $100 million fund in emerging technology companies. Its portfolio includes communications, information technology and Internet companies such as AccessLine Holdings, Arula Systems, Inc., GeoTouch.com, IP Wireless, iTango Software, ITSquare.com, JamCracker, Netscaler Inc., PlaceWare, Inc., SalesHound.com and VARStreet.com.

Additional information may be obtained by calling the company at 650/551-5000 or visiting www.GabrielVP.com.