Dow Jones Interactive Publications Library
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`Page 8 of 9
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`SOFTBANK Venture Capital's Technology Fund Invests in DoDots , Inc.
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`10/13/1999
`Business Wire
`(Copyright (c) 1999, Business Wire)
`
`MOUNTAIN VIEW, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Oct. 13, 1999--SOFTBANK Venture Capital, which manages
`venture capital funds focused primarily on early-stage Internet companies, today announced it has made a
`first-round investment in DoDots , Inc.
`
`Heidi Roizen, managing director for the fund, will join the company's board of directors.
`
`DoDots (TM) technology enables users to access and manage live Internet content from multiple online
`companies at the same time by organizing a collection of Dots(TM) -- free-floating mini-sites -- on the desktop.
`These "Dots" are a fraction the size of full-screen Web pages, allowing users to "Do" multiple things on the
`Internet, such as trade stocks, bid on auctions, monitor breaking news, and check online orders, while working
`in other desktop applications.
`
`Unlike the full-screen document model of the Web which forces users to a single page at a time, DoDots
`enables online companies to engage users with a simultaneous collection of content, services, and Web
`applications. Not only can online companies enable users to do more at once, they can also notify the user of
`certain content events, such as reaching a particular stock price, sale price, or auction bid.
`
`" DoDots has the potential to revolutionize the way people use the Internet. They have created a very powerful
`technology for both Internet content providers as well as Internet users," said Heidi Roizen, managing director
`for SOFTBANK Venture Capital's current technology fund and director of DoDots . "We see a huge potential
`for our partners in the e-commerce space, as well as a rich and robust organization mechanism for
`consumers."
`
`"We are excited to be working with SOFTBANK," stated George Kembel, CEO, DoDots , Inc. "Their
`investment is a strong vote of confidence for our technology and our team."
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`About DoDots, Inc.
`
`Palo Alto-based DoDots , Inc., was founded in early 1999 by twin brothers George and John Kembel, and
`Tony Medrano. For more information, visit www. dodots ,com.
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`About SOFTBANK Venture Capital
`
`SOFTBANK Venture Capital (SOFTBANK VC) manages venture capital funds focused primarily on early-stage
`Internet companies. SOFTBANK VC's technology fund directors are all experienced technology leaders with
`prior operating experience as founders of early-stage companies, senior managers of major technology
`corporations, and leaders in investment banking.
`
`SOFTBANK VC's past and current portfolios include public Internet companies such as Critical Path, E-LOAN,
`GeoCities, Interliant, MessageMedia, Net2Phone, and TheStreet.com.
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`http://nrstg 1 p.dj nr.com/cgi-bin/DJlnteracti ve
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`Confidential — Outside Attorneys' Eyes Only
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`5/18/00
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`DODOTS0026269
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`Dow Jones Interactive Publications Library
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`Page 9 of 9
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`About SOFTBANK Corporation
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`SOFTBANK Venture Capital is an affiliate of SOFTBANK Corporation, the world's leading Internet investor.
`Through its ownership positions in over 100 Internet companies and its unique Internet-zaibatsu (NETBatsu)
`management concept, SOFTBANK Corporation creates market synergies for its family of companies on a
`global scale.
`
`SOFTBANK Corporation is the largest shareholder in leading Internet companies such as Yahoo!, E*TRADE
`and ZDNet, and has launched more than ten Japanese joint ventures with U.S.-based Internet companies such
`as Cisco Systems, Yahoo!, E*TRADE, GeoCities, CarPoint, and OnSale. SOFTBANK Corporation and its
`affiliated funds, SOFTBANK Venture Capital and SOFTBANK Capital Partners, and its international partners,
`News Corporation and Vivendi, will back a company from seed stage to global presence.
`
`For more information, visit www.sbvc.com or www.softbank.com.
`
`Contact: CONTACT: SOFTBANK Venture Capital Heidi Roizen, 650/367-6065 heidi@sbvc.com or DoDots ,
`Inc. Catherine Doyle, 650/329-9770 press@ DoDots .com
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`08:11 EDT OCTOBER 13, 1999
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`Copyright © 2000 Dow Jones & Company, Inc. All Rights Reserved.
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`http : //nrstg 1 p. dj nr. com/cgi-bin/DJInteractive
`
`Confidential — Outside Attorneys' Eyes Only
`
`5/18/00
`
`DODOTS0026270
`
`