netpreneur.org Goes to Open-Beta

January 31, 1997 - The Netpreneur Exchange, the Web site for the Potomac KnowledgeWay Netpreneur Program, is now in an open-beta period. Although still under construction, the site includes information on funding and financing, news on Greater Washington netpreneurs and the Netpreneur Corner, which includes a database of net-centric businesses. Visitors may subscribe to Netpreneur News, a bi-weekly e-mail broadcast, and join the Netpreneur Exchange. The Netpreneur Program is designed to provide a support network – virtually and physically – that meets the unique needs of netpreneurs and their stakeholders by encouraging them to cultivate a community of interest where they can connect, partner and exchange knowledge. MCI Telecommunications Corp. and the Morino Institute are the charter sponsors of the Netpreneur Program.

World Congress Launches Web Site

January 30, 1997 - The 1998 World Congress on Information Technology recently launched its Web site. The site includes information on board members, sponsor opportunities and an online registration form. The 1998 World Congress will be a forum for leaders of information technology and service companies worldwide to establish business relationships while learning about emerging trends in a variety of industries. The event will take place at George Mason University in June of 1998. The site was designed and developed by Virginia-based, BTG, Inc.

Vivo Media's New Web Sites

January 29, 1997 - Vivo Media, Inc., a digital design and development group specializing in creating marketing and hosting Web, intranet and kiosk applications, recently launched two new Web sites: insync and Desktop Management Task Force (DMTF). insync is a communications consulting firm focusing on translating technology into business benefits. DMTF is an industry-wide consortium formed to develop and deliver standards enabling technology for building PC systems and products.

Seminar: Your Business & the Net

January 28, 1997 - The Potomac KnowledgeWay Project and the Washington Business Journal will hold a seminar entitled "Your Business and the Internet: A Practical Forum for Executives" on Thursday, March 6. A panel of three local executives will share their experiences on expanding their businesses to the Internet and discuss the impact on their organizations. The executives will also address their initial expectations and how they changed over time, pitfalls to avoid and the reality of ongoing operations. The seminar will be held at the Ritz-Carlton, Tysons Corner; breakfast is from 7:30 to 8 a.m. and the seminar runs from 8 to 10 a.m. Individuals may register online.

Internet MailBox Company

January 27, 1997 - The Internet MailBox Company recently launched its e-mail service. This service will route e-mail to whatever destination the user chooses, including another e-mail address, the Internet MailBox Company's Web site, a fax machine or pager. Subscribing to the service includes a lifetime Internet e-mail address and a 10 percent rebate program on subscription fees from referrals. Visit the Internet MailBox Company for more information or to register.

Help for Parents and Students

January 24, 1997 - Fleet Finanacial Group and U.S. News & World Report recently formed a partnershop to support parents and students seeking money to pay for college. Together they ahve developed an online loan center, .edu, that is part of U.S. News Colleges & Careers. .edu helps visitors choose a college, find financial aid information and decide on a graduate school or career. The site also includes an online forum on a variety of issues ranging from completing college applications to joining fraternities and sororities.

E-mail Etiquette

January 23, 1997 - Fabrik Communications, an Internet e-mail service provider, is currently offering a free print guide for e-mail users. The E-mail Netiquette Guide covers issues and misconceptions relevant to the e-mail environment, including privacy, use of all caps and emoticons, subject lines and more. Fabrik Communications Web site has a "tip of the day" relating to e-mail issues and an order form for the guide. A text version is also available for visitors to view or print. Visit Fabrik Communications' Web site for an overview on the E-mail Netiquette Guide or send an e-mail to order a copy.

Investment Center on the Internet

January 22, 1997 - Baltimore, Maryland-based, Legg Mason, Inc., a financial services holding company providing securities brokerage, asset management, investment and commercial mortgage banking and other services through its wholly-owned subsidiaries, is online. Their Web site includes financial planning calculators, such as a loan amortization schedule. In addition, the site includes a complimentary analysis on asset allocation and an investment portfolio review. Visit Legg Mason's Web site for information on other services.

Firm Recognized for Entrepreneurship

January 21, 1997 - Khera Communications, Inc. (KCI), of Rockville, Maryland, was recently named fourth in Business Start-Ups Top 10 Businesses for 1997 in the Web Site Design category. Business Start-Ups Online chartered the growth in 10 industries that are yielding fast-growing, entrepreneurial small businesses in 1996. KCI provides Internet publishing and consulting services as well as Web space leasing on the World Wide Web.

TECHMATICS Recognized Online

January 20, 1997 - TECHMATICS, Inc. of Fairfax, Virginia, was recently named to the 1996 VARBusiness 500. VARBusiness ranked TECHMATICS number 230 among the top 500 computer solutions companies in the United States. TECHMATICS provides engineering and information technology services to public and private sector clients nationwide. For a listing of other 1996 VARBusiness 500 companies, visit their Web site.

Online Tax Service

January 17, 1997 - Virginia-based Jackson Hewitt Tax Service specializes in computerized tax preparation and offers free electronic filing. The Web site provides information on income tax changes for 1996 and has a summary of some taxpayer protections included in the "Taxpayer Bill of Rights 2" signed into law last July. Jackson Hewitt also has the "tip of the day" and a listing of frequently overlooked tax savings. Visit Jackson Hewitt's Web site for locations in the Greater Washington region.

ShowBiz '97

January 16, 1997 - The Greater Bethesda Chevy-Chase Chamber of Commerce (BCC) is presenting ShowBiz '97, a business expo and trade show, on January 31, 1997. In addition to businesses and corporate exhibitors, will be a an exposition, supported by Lockheed Martin, featuring top science students from local high schools showcasing their innovative products. Two sets of concurrent seminars will be presented in the morning and afternoon on topics ranging from business development and marketing to making money on the net. Door prizes will be awarded throughout the day. Visit the BCC Chamber of Commerce's Web site for more information and for a registration form.

Image Surfing on the Net

January 15, 1997 - Excalibur Technologies Corporation and Yahoo! have introduced Excalibur Visual RetrievalWare on Yahoo!'s new Image Surfer site. With the Image Surfer, users can search the Internet for images such as photographs, diagrams, pictures, cartoons and the like. RetrievalWare allows users to search for visual information directly from their Intranets, corporate databases, the Internet and other sources. For more information on Excalibur Visual RetrievalWare, or for a demo, visit Excalibur's Web site.

McGuire, Woods Available Online

January 14, 1997 - McGuire, Woods, Battle & Boothe, L.L.P.,, a law firm with several offices in the Greater Washington region, is now online. The Web site includes a list of law-related links on the World Wide Web, a profile of their lawyers and a schedule of seminars sponsored by the firm. For more information and for a listing of offices, visit McGuire, Woods' Web site.

BCC Chamber Launches Web Site

January 13, 1997 - The Greater Bethesda-Chevy Chase (BCC) Chamber of Commerce recently launched its Web site. The site includes information on local news and weather, dining, online public forums and has a community resource center. The site also features a Member Marketplace which includes a list of the Greater BCC members, a description of member affinity programs and access to the Marketplace where members can buy and sell products and services. The Web site was designed and developed by Bethesda, MD-based, Neurosystems, Inc., a company which offers expertise in the cost-effective application of network and information technologies.

Teleports Conference in Virginia

January 10, 1997 - On Tuesday, January 14, 1997, Virginia's Center for Innovative Technology (CIT) will present a program on teleports and economic development in an effort to help companies and institutions learn how to adapt to the teleport movement. CIT is a nonprofit organization fostering partnerships between Virginia businesses and higher education while striving to enhance competitiveness by providing businesses with access to the state's technology resources and assist in the creation and retention of technology-based jobs and businesses. The Teleports and Economic Development Conference will include an overview of teleports with examples of the different forms they take and will discuss specific applications for Virginia. For more information e-mail Jennifer Volk or visit CIT's Web site for an online registration form.

WWW Conference Announced

January 8, 1997 - WebNet 97 is an international conference organized by the Association for the Advancement of Computing in Education (AACE) in cooperation with WWW/Internet businesses and industry. The conference serves as a forum for the exchange of information on the development, applications and research on topics related to the Web; encompassing the use, applications and societal and legal aspects of the Internet. WebNet 97 is calling for presentations, proposals for papers, panels, tutorials, workshops, demonstrations/posters and SIG discussions. Submissions are due March 7, 1997; and the conference will be held October 31 - November 6, 1997. Visit WebNet 97, for more information.

Design Firm Launches Web Site

January 7, 1997 - Coryell Douglas Design of Alexandria, VA, recently launched their new Web site. Coryell Douglas Design is a visual communications firm which offers corporate and marketing design services to small and large businesses, trade associations and the federal government. In addition to information about the firm and its services, the site also includes a "Doodle of the Week" - non-commissioned sketches by the design team.

Capital Fund for Greater Washington

January 6, 1997 - Investment banker Friedman, Billings, Ramsey & Co., Inc., of Arlington, VA, announced the creation of Pegasus Venture Partners, L.P., a venture fund with $25 million in resources raised from institutional and individual investors. The fund will be managed by Gene Riechers, the former chief financial officer of CyberCash, Inc.. Targeting emerging technology companies in the Greater Washington region, the fund will particularly focus on Internet- and computer-related businesses in data communications, information technology, multimedia and electronic commerce.

DCOL Redesigns

January 3, 1997 - Discovery Channel Online (DCOL) recently redesigned their Web site to provide their audience with more features, better navigation and faster access to areas of interest. DCOL's home page has an updated menu of links to new content, while continuing to provide direct access to the community areas like History, Nature, Science, Technology and Exploration. Helper software, user guides and Search engines have been added to the home page as well.

Online News Information

January 2, 1997 - Tim Kenney Design Partners (TKDP) of Bethesda, MD, recently announced its participation in the development of the new IBM Internet product NewsTicker, an interactive information source for IBM's InfoMarket services. NewsTicker is designed to deliver the latest headlines and up-to-the-minute news which can be easily accessed from any desktop. Included in this service is an online selective document purchase feature and the newly added ability to access multiple servers. All visitors to InfoMarket are invited to download the NewsTicker software for free. To learn more about NewsTicker, visit IBM's InfoMarket Web site.

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