Interfase Forms Fund to Acquire, Restructure Distressed `Dot Coms'; Steve Hicks To Join Partnership; Mall.com Becomes First Investment.Business Editors & High-Tech Writers AUSTIN, Texas--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Aug. 10, 2000 Interfase Capital, L.P., an Austin-based venture capital firm, and Capstar Partners, LLC (Logical Link Control) See "LANs" under data link protocol. LLC - Logical Link Control , an Austin-based investment company, today announced the formation of Eco Associates, an investment partnership that plans to invest in 10 to 12 distressed e-commerce companies by the end of 2000. The partnership, to be headed by Scott Hyten, CEO (1) (Chief Executive Officer) The highest individual in command of an organization. Typically the president of the company, the CEO reports to the Chairman of the Board. of Interfase Capital, and Steve Hicks Hicks , Edward 1780-1849. American painter of primitive works, notably The Peaceable Kingdom, of which nearly 100 versions exist. , chairman of Capstar Partners, LLC, has provided financing to Mall.com, an online shopping and entertainment site, as its first investment. Details of the transaction were not disclosed. "By outsourcing (1) Contracting with outside consultants, software houses or service bureaus to perform systems analysis, programming and datacenter operations. Contrast with insourcing. See netsourcing, ASP, SSP and facilities management. the core technologies of struggling `dot coms' in which we invest, we're confident that costs can be lowered by 50 to 70 percent," said Scott J. Hyten, Interfase Capital's managing general partner. "That will provide the time and flexibility needed to properly execute their business plans." Steve Hicks, previously an Interfase Capital limited partner, will be involved with the Eco Associates investments as an Interfase general partner. Technology infrastructure, Web site software development and user interface services will be outsourced to Interfase Capital affiliates, ThePlanet.com Internet Services Inc., Outback Data Inc. and Exoplex Inc. "Changes in the investment marketplace have made it difficult for emerging Internet and e-commerce companies to attract additional funding," said Hicks. "We'll be able to assist these companies and add value by providing Web site infrastructure and cost efficiencies that reduce their capital needs." ThePlanet.com provides proprietary, enterprise-class Web hosting Making a Web site available on the Internet. Many ISPs host a few personal Web pages for an individual at no additional cost above the monthly service fee, but the address is subordinate to the ISP; for example, www.friendlyisp.com/pat_smith. architecture that is affordable for small businesses, yet highly scalable for accommodating the busiest Web sites. Its Network Operations Center See NOC. Network Operations Center - (NOC) A location from which the operation of a network or internet is monitored. Additionally, this center usually serves as a clearinghouse for connectivity problems and efforts to resolve those problems. , located at The Infomart in Dallas, is a state-of-the-art monitoring and support center that controls all facets of customer communications, server polling and system diagnosis, interactive chat, remote server access and account support. Web site infrastructure based on Exoplex Technology supports system integration and implementation services for complex e-commerce Web sites. The proprietary technology, available as application service provider (ASP asp, popular name for several species of viper, one of which, the European asp (Vipera aspis), is native to S Europe. It is also a name for the Egyptian cobra (Naja haja). ) software, offers flexible and customizable Web site features and services. About Interfase Capital Austin-based Interfase Capital invests venture capital funds Venture Capital Funds An investment fund that manages money from investors seeking private equity stakes in small and medium-size enterprises with strong growth potential. Notes: and provides value-added services A value-added service (VAS) is a telecommunications industry term for non-core services or, in short, all services beyond standard voice calls and fax transmissions. to portfolio companies for maximizing the development of core businesses. Initial investments included Wild Brain Inc., a leading independent animation studio Animation studio can refer to:
About Capstar Partners, LLC Formed June 1, 2000, Capstar Partners, LLC, focuses on early-stage technology investments, as well as traditional industries, such as real estate. Capstar Partners investments include: Charitygift.com, CourseNotes.com and Wild Brain Inc. ThePlanet.com and Exoplex are registered trademarks of ThePlanet.com Internet Services Inc. and Exoplex Inc. Other trademarks appearing in this document are the property of their respective owners. |
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