January 19, 2001

The Forum for Women Entrepreneurs and the National Women's Business Council has selected Caimis Inc. as one of the two dozen women-led companies that will present their businesses to an audience of more than 350 corporate, venture and angel investors at the Springboard 2001: Silicon Valley Venture Forum.

Caimis is one of just three companies in Southern California, and the only company in San Diego, invited to present.

Part of a national initiative to increase investments in women-led firms and facilitate new deal flow to investors, Springboard 2001: Silicon Valley will take place Feb. 1 at the Oracle Conference Center in Redwood Shores.

The 100 participants in earlier forums of the Springboard 2000 series raised more than $350 million for 100 presenting companies, through events in Silicon Valley, Washington D.C. and Boston in 2000.

Caimis is seeking investment funds and equity partners in preparation for the launch of its product suite of traffic engineering software for monitoring and managing networks.

"As an Internet startup, Caimis is fortunate to already be selling to some of the world's largest providers," says Tracie Monk, Caimis' president and CEO. “Our inclusion in this year’s Springboard event provides us with an invaluable opportunity to communicate with potential equity and strategic partners who are interested in technologies to better manage and control the growing Internet infrastructure."

Along with the other presenting companies, Caimis was selected from more than 335 applicants by a committee of the region's leading venture capitalists and service providers.

The forum will showcase nearly two dozen women entrepreneurs seeking seed, early and later stage funding for their high-growth businesses, each seeking between $1 million and $30 million in venture funding.

Contributors providing counsel to Caimis include Diane West of 2Connect, San Diego; Jay Chung of Grant Thornton, Los Angeles; Michaela Sweatt of Knowledge Transfer, Los Angeles; McKinsey & Co. and Winning Pitch in the Bay Area.

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U.S. Bancorp Piper Jaffray is holding its first San Diego Investors Conference at the Hilton — La Jolla Torrey Pines on Feb. 8.

The conference will feature presentations by leading San Diego companies, high-profile portfolio managers, analysts, economists and executives.

"This conference will give individual investors exclusive access to executives from some of the region's most influential companies,” says Bob Wolter, U.S. Bancorp Piper Jaffray regional director. “They'll also have a chance to meet expert economists who will speak on how individuals can best align their portfolios to take advantage of the market in 2001 and beyond.

"We’re new to San Diego. And we’re excited to introduce ourselves with this signature event that will give investors a unique, in-depth overview of our local and global economy."

Experts on all aspects of investing will speak at the conference, including Roland Whitcomb, portfolio manager for First American Asset Management Technology Fund, and Brandes Investment Partners.

Also speaking will be U.S. Bancorp Piper Jaffray CEO and President Andrew Duff, U.S. Bancorp Piper Jaffray investment strategist Jack Eaton, and U.S. Bancorp Piper Jaffray analysts Jason Hake and Craig Johnson. John Mitchell, U.S. Bancorp economist and author of the economic report, “Territory 2001 - Western Region,” also will present.

To register by telephone, call (619) 226-5529 or by e-mail, perickson@piperjaffray.com.

For more information, call Adam Mans at (612) 303-5862.

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Sourcebank.com has added more than 15,000 resources of Javascript, Perl and other Internet scripting languages to its database.

Sourcebank.com, is a division of San Diego-based Mohomine Inc. It now contains approximately 50,000 resources.

"With Web programming software still in its infancy, new code is coming online all the time,” says Sean Brady, creator and manager of Sourcebank.com. “At Sourcebank.com we pride ourselves on making our fellow developers lives easier, more productive, and more creative."

Sourcebank.com's free site offers translation into five languages and several unique productivity features for registered users. It enables other sites to add the Sourcebank.com search box to their sites at no charge.

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Mitek Systems Inc. of San Diego reports that Stafford Savings Bank of Stafford Springs, Conn., has purchased CheckQuest, Mitek's check imaging system.

Rodney Pierce, president of Stafford Savings Bank, says the bank will use CheckQuest to improve back office efficiencies and customer service capabilities.

By interfacing CheckQuest with the Federal Reserve Bank's Electronic Check Presentment system, Stafford Savings Bank will be able to use its own, high-quality check images to match them against the Federal Reserve Bank's posting file.

This will allow the bank to post checks much earlier in the day and provide very high-quality check images for its customers.

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Osicom Technologies' shareholders approved the change of the company’s name to Sorrento Networks Corp. in recognition of the growth and momentum created by its flagship optical networking subsidiary.

The name change was one of six major initiatives approved at the company’s annual shareholder meeting in San Diego.

In line with the company’s plan to enhance the value of its flagship subsidiary, Sorrento Networks, headquartered in San Diego, the company’s shareholders also elected the company’s board of directors, increased the number of authorized shares of common stock to 150 million, approved the company’s stock option plan, and approved the employee stock purchase plan.

Sorrento Networks Corporation will continue to trade on the Nasdaq under the symbol FIBR.

"Now that we are a `pure play' in the optical networking space, it is appropriate that our name reflects our new focus," says Xin Cheng, CEO of Sorrento Networks Corp. "The marketplace has demonstrated strong demand for our portfolio of optical networking products and we have made changes to the company to capitalize on that opportunity. The new management team and the entire company are now focused on maintaining our momentum and continuing our strong growth."

The shareholders also approved the appointment of BDO Seidman LLP as independent auditors for Sorrento Networks.

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VelociGen Inc. of San Diego plans to make its VeloMeter Pro! software available on a free open-source basis, via www.velocigen.com/solutions.

The package previously sold for $299, and received Web Technique's 1999 Web Tools Award for the Best Web Site Management Tool.

VeloMeter Pro! is used to test the capabilities of Web applications such as e-commerce transaction performance. It offers much of the functionality of high-end load simulators.

"It’s impossible for companies to predict when their Web site will be attacked by a barrage of traffic: after launching a new product, announcing a recall, being the focus of a news report, or a swing in the company’s stock price," says Jim Neumann, v.p. of marketing for VelociGen. "VeloMeter Pro! enables companies to accurately assess how their Web site would withstand a huge spike in site traffic, and take the necessary precautions to bolster their Web site infrastructure. Obviously, we’re confident that business users who try VeloMeter Pro will see our VelociGen and VelociGenX Web infrastructure software products as ideal solutions for maximizing the performance of their commerce-critical e-business systems."

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ScheduleOnline Inc., an online scheduling toolbox for small- to medium-sized businesses, reports Macintosh users can now synchronize calendars, to-do lists and address books with Palm OS-based personal digital assistant devices, including Visor from Handspring.

Synching between PCs and Internet calendars already is offered to PC users by several Internet calendars, including ScheduleOnline, but ScheduleOnline is the only Internet-based scheduling company that offers this functionality to Macintosh users.

"With the introduction of synching capabilities for Macintosh users, ScheduleOnline makes PDAs more enticing and useful for those who have been left out in the cold by the Web-calendar market," says Hans Hartman, president of ScheduleOnline. "ScheduleOnline sets the pace for the rest to follow."

Users can download the free ScheduleOnline Mac Sync software at www.scheduleonline.com.

ScheduleOnline Inc., is a privately-held company based in San Diego.

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LearningFramework has extended its second round of financing to potentially include an additional $1 million.

To date, the San Diego-based company has received a combination of funds and commitments from investors for approximately $5 million for the second round of financing.

LearningFramework has received $8 million in fund-raising commitments to date since the company’s inception.

"Despite the recent stock market volatility, LearningFramework has received continued interest from the investment community due to our strong business model and innovative approach to delivering powerful solutions in the emerging e-learning market," says Brian Kenner, president and CEO. "I am excited about the tremendous response because it validates our company vision and position in the emerging e-learning industry. There is a strong need for our service and technology solutions, which effectively deliver dynamic and niche training content necessary for companies to remain competitive in today’s knowledge-based economy."

LearningFramework will utilize the funds to further expand the development of its learning and knowledge platform, which is designed to empower customers to solve critical work flow issues and problems that exist in the delivery of education and training content today.

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Rosestone Properties LLC, has purchased the 4.25-acre Pebble Cove Apartments in San Diego for $4.59 million.

Formerly known as Casa del Rio, the 85-unit apartment community located at 2161 Saipan Drive was sold to Rosestone by Potomac Investment.

Under new ownership, Pebble Cove will undergo a series of renovations including exterior painting, gating the community, upgrading the interiors and repaving the asphalt.

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Pacific Coast Foam has completed the installation of custom architectural shapes and accents on the new Hilton Garden Inn at Carlsbad Beach, 6450 Carlsbad Blvd., reports Scott J. Buckley, g.m. of Pacific Coast Foam, the largest supplier of expanded polystyrene foam architectural shapes and accents in San Diego.

Interior accents adorning the 161-room hotel include a custom light-cove, column arches, crown moldings and window casing throughout the lobby, front desk and restaurant.

Exterior shapes and accents included decorative potshelves, window surrounds, column details, rosettes and crown moldings.

Pacific Coast Foam, which manufactured the custom shapes and accents for the hotel, worked closely with Emily Bebe of Bebe Designs, the project designer, and Sierra Woodworking, which contracted with Pacific Coast Foam to handle to installation.

"This project provided Pacific Coast Foam with an opportunity to manufacture a number of architectural shapes and accents that added beauty and grandeur to both the interior and exterior of the hotel," Buckley says. "In addition, we were also able to contribute valuable expertise to the project by handling the installation of our products, which not only blend with the hotel's decor and style, but will provide long-lasting reliability and durability."

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YadaYada Inc., an integrated wireless service provider and personalized mobile Web portal, has formed a strategic alliance with San Diego-based Novatel Wireless Inc. to provide YadaYada customers with co-branded Minstrel V wireless handheld modems for the Palm V and Minstrel S Wireless Springboard Modems for the Handspring Visor.

The co-branded Minstrel modems will enable YadaYada to sell a complete suite of wireless products and services to enterprise customers, mobile professionals and consumers.

Combined with YadaYada's proprietary browsing software, the co-branded modems will enable YadaYada users to access nearly every site on the Internet, and exploit YadaYada's sophisticated synchronization technology, through their personal digital assistants.

"Our alliance with Novatel Wireless greatly enhances our integrated wireless offerings and helps reinforce the YadaYada brand throughout the user's wireless Internet experience," says Howard Wright, YadaYada's director of business strategy.

"Mobile professionals and consumers will now be able to use Novatel Wireless' Minstrel wireless modems to access YadaYada's Mobile Web Portal or effortlessly visit Web sites from the palm of their hands," says Greg Robins, worldwide director of channel sales for Novatel Wireless.

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High Technology Solutions has named William D. Green president and COO for its federal operations.

Green has been with HTS since the company was founded in 1990, and previously served as executive v.p. of federal operations.

"We are extremely pleased to announce the promotion of Bill Green to president and chief operating officer," says Allan Camaisa, chairman and CEO of HTS. "Bill has been a driving force behind the building of our public sector business, has been largely responsible for leading the company’s rapid growth, and is a market focused manager. His leadership and experience will benefit our employees, our customers, and our shareholders."

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AuntMinnie.com, the online community for radiology professionals worldwide headquartered in San Diego, has launched its new headline service, designed to make the company’s content more widely available on the Internet.

The new service allows any Web site to provide AuntMinnie.com's clinical and business content by completing a free registration process. The participating site can then download an applet that automatically updates the site with daily headlines produced by AuntMinnie.com.

Internet surfers interested in viewing the full text of articles are linked back to AuntMinnie.com.

"We believe that AuntMinnie.com's content over the past year has come to be regarded as unique, timely, and indispensable,” says Dr. Phillip Berman, AuntMinnie's president. “Our new headline service is the next step in making AuntMinnie.com the industry's standard for high-quality online radiology content."

Partner sites interested in AuntMinnie's Headline Service can download the headline applet by visiting www.auntminnie.com/syndication.

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LightPointe Communications Inc., a leader in free-space optical networking products that provide connectivity to metropolitan optical networks, appointed Steven Hane v.p. of business development and sales.

Hane is responsible for the development and management of LightPointe's strategic alliances and overall sales efforts.

"Steve is a tremendous asset to LightPointe, as he brings a solid track record in the industry of growing businesses and driving sales," says LightPointe President and CEO John Griffin. "We have an aggressive plan to grow our existing customer base, and we look to Steve to lead that strategy."

"It is a pleasure to join a company with so much energy and dedication to serving its customers," Hane says. "I am eager to help LightPointe become the leader in delivering free-space optical networking solutions."

With almost two decades of telecommunications experience, Hane has directed business development and sales forces from start-ups to enterprises with more than $500 million in annual revenue.

Most recently, he was v.p. of service provider business development for Andavo Corp, where he helped the e-commerce ASP raise its first venture capital funding and establish a revenue stream.

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Virtgame.com Corp., a San Diego-based application service provider specializing in eBorder control technologies for the gaming and lottery industries, has named Frank Catania to Virtgame's newly formed board of advisors.

Catania will be advising Virtgame's management, Joseph Paravia and Bruce Merati, on strategic business matters.

"Virtgame is pleased that Frank will be joining our team,” says Paravia, president and CEO of Virtgame. “In addition to the vision, regulatory and legal expertise he will bring to Virtgame, he has extensive experience in gaming, both traditional and Internet, and business strategies.”

Catania is a former director of the New Jersey Division of Gaming Enforcement, the regulatory and enforcement agency responsible for maintaining integrity and trust in all Atlantic City gaming operations, and former New Jersey assemblyman.

Until recently, he served as the v.p. in charge of compliance for Players International Inc.

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Ellipsis Digital Systems Inc. a San Diego-based company in the digital communications industry, has named Harry L. Van Trees to its board.

Van Trees is the distinguished professor of electrical engineering and director, center of excellence in command, control, communications and intelligence at George Mason University.

He was previously the president of M/A-COM Linkabit Government Systems.

"Today's digital communication markets are characterized by many single-standard products, a reliance on long lead-time proprietary ASICs, custom software, and incompatible development platforms," Van Trees says. "I’m excited about joining the Ellipsis team, which is addressing these problems with the development of its digital communications `SoftProducts,' which offer hardware platform independence, foundry independence and process technology independence for companies needing digital communication ICs."

"We are extremely pleased to have someone of Van Trees' caliber serve on Ellipsis' Board. His background will provide valuable insights into the digital communications field from both a business and technical perspective," says Hussein S. El-Ghoroury, Ellipsis' President and CEO.

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Excelsus Technologies Inc. reports that during the past 12 months two patents were approved, and more than 20 new products were brought to market.

San Diego-based Excelsus has significantly expanded its international alliances, more than tripled its office space, and more than doubled the size of its staff.

The company predicts that 2001 will bring approximately 30 new products, which will continue the company’s rapid growth and bolster its already significant international presence.

Excelsus offers a complete line of self-installation filters. Z-BLOCKER, Excelsus' line of DSL filters that was approved for patents in 2000, reduces interference between data and voice, maximizing data rates and reducing noise while enabling rapid deployment of broadband Internet access.

"Our growth during the last year has been tremendous," says Excelsus' Chairman and CEO, Thomas F. Murphy. "We’ve successfully brought products to market while continuing our development of new products and technologies. Our expanded presence in Australia, Japan and Europe will support our aggressive growth plan for 2001."

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