Friday, June 01, 2001

Shakers & Stirrers and Bits & Bytes

StarCite Lands $10 Million
Yes, venture-capital seekers, there is financing available. StarCite, Inc. proved that recently by snagging a third round of financing, raising over $10 million from strategic investors American Express; Breakaway Solutions; Internet Capital Group; Maritz Travel Company; McGettigan Partners; Mellon Bank; Networld; Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide, Inc.; Strattech Partners; and VerticalNet. The company, which launched in January 1999, supports the $300 billion global meetings and events industry through its proprietary web-based technologies and services. Custom versions of the company's Internet site, StarCite.com, enable corporations to implement more effective buying and vendor management on a company-wide and global basis.

Widening the Learning Curve
Haven't a clue about investing? Pretty soon you'll be able to change that by logging onto a new online financial learning center. Wide Learning, the global learning specialists, has formed a partnership with AllWomenInvest Network, LLC to develop www.allwomeninvest.com, which will provide e-learning solutions to women investors. The learning center is powered by Wide Learning¹s QuicksightÅ’ products, which are three- to five-minute bursts of learning. The library of Quicksights covers a range of financial topics for all levels of investors. Topics include dollar-cost averaging, fundamental analysis, mutual funds, earnings per share, P/E ratios, 401(k)s, bonds and risk management. The AllWomenInvest site provides women with pertinent financial information for investment purposes or to aid in the organization of investment clubs.

Former MTV Networks Executive Launches PR Firm
Former MTV Networks and Middleberg Euro RSCG executive Mark Pasetsky has launched Mark Allen & Company, a New York-based public relations firm specializing in CEO and executive communications. In addition to providing executive communications counsel, the firm serves as a strategic counselor to CEOs and corporate communications teams on a variety of internal and external communications issues. Pasetsky offers a strong track record in counseling CEOs and executives. From 1999-2001, Pasetsky served as the vice president of corporate communications for Viacom's (NYSE: VIA) MTV Networks' Internet business units MTVi and Nickelodeon Online. Before MTV Networks, Pasetsky was director for Middleberg Euro RSCG formerly (Middleberg + Associates), a leading New York-based public relations firm.