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NEWS
RELEASE
Contact:
Mark Crane or Rebecca von Wuthenau
The Enterprise Corporation
(502) 625-0047
Chris Torkildson
bCatalyst
(502) 583-0400
FOR
IMMEDIATE RELEASE- April
24, 2001
The
Enterprise Corporation and bCatalyst Announce b-LINK
Launch Regionıs First Online Business
Plan Matching Service
Louisville,
Kentucky, April 24, 2001 The Enterprise Corporation, in
partnership with bCatalyst, announced today the launch of
b-Link, the regionıs first online business plan matching service
to "link" local entrepreneurs and investors. This web-based
service provides a convenient and secure way for entrepreneurs
and qualified investors to exchange business plans.
As
centers for entrepreneurial activity in the region, The Enterprise
Corporation and bCatalyst meet independently with a variety
of start-up and seed-stage companies. All of these ventures
are at different stages of development and need varied forms
of capital.
According
to Keith Williams, bCatalyst CEO, "We see great ideas everyday,
but many of the ideas though very strong do not meet our
fundıs investment criteria. We also hear from entrepreneurs
that it is hard to know how and where to find interested investors.
To help ensure entrepreneurs have more options available,
we have developed b-Link to connect the regionıs start-up
companies with angels, early-stage investors and venture capital
firms."
Mark
Crane, Executive Director of The Enterprise Corporation, said
of the groupıs decision to partner with bCatalyst, "We are
delighted to join forces with bCatalyst on the launch of b-Link,
as we expect it to become a premier source of deal flow. More
than ever, Louisvilleıs entrepreneurs are looking for sources
of early-stage capital. b-Link offers an additional avenue
for them to pursue. Over time, with b-Linkıs help, more entrepreneurs
will get their plans funded, which will increase Louisvilleıs
total number of fast-growth companies."
The
registration process for both entrepreneurs and investors
is simple. By visiting the b-Link website either via www.EnterpriseLouisville.com
or www.bCatalyst.com, an entrepreneur registers by submitting
his or her name and email address and then completing an online
application. Investors submit similar contact information
and then complete investor profiles that determine which business
plans they will see.
Here's
how the b-Link process matches an entrepreneur with an investor:
First, the entrepreneur's business plan submission is checked
by an Enterprise Corporation staff member to make sure the
plan is complete and unique to the system. Then the plan is
submitted to the b-Link engine to determine which investors
have indicated interest in the proposed business concept.
Once a match is found, investors are notified via e-mail.
They can then log on to b-Link to read a brief summary of
the new business plan. If an investor is interested in getting
more information, his or her contact information will be sent
to the entrepreneur with a request for direct contact.
b-Link
is a matching service that qualifies investors and ensures
applications are complete. It does not recommend or guarantee
investments. It is the entrepreneurıs responsibility to abide
by all Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) compliance
and regulatory issues. Individual investors who wish to make
a private placement must meet strict SEC requirements for
accredited investors as defined in Rule 501 of Regulation
D.
About
The Enterprise Corporation
The Enterprise Corporation is the division of Greater Louisville,
Inc. that specializes in developing the regionıs fast-growth
entrepreneurial sector. Its mission is to create a "new culture"
of entrepreneurship in Greater Louisville and to dramatically
increase the number and quality of fast-growth entrepreneurial
companies headquartered in the region.
For
further information, contact Rebecca von Wuthenau, Programs/Communication
Manager, at rvonwuthenau@greaterlouisville.com, 600 West Main
Street, Louisville, Kentucky 40202. Tel 502-625-0047. Fax
502-625-0061. Website http://www.EnterpriseLouisville.com.
About
bCatalyst
Founded in 2000, bCatalyst is the first seed fund and for-profit
business accelerator to service the Louisville-Cincinnati-Lexington
"Triangle." Located in the heart of Louisvilleıs new eMainUSA
technology district, we promote and nurture early-stage companies.
bCatalyst provides not only the #1 source for start-up capital
in the area, but also mentoring, strategic sponsor relationships,
start-up services and business infrastructure all designed
to accelerate the companyıs growth.
For
further information, contact Chris Torkildson, CTO, at ctorkildson@bCatalyst.com,
124 North First Street, Louisville, Kentucky 40202. Tel: 502-583-0400.
Fax: 502-583-5606. Website http://www.bCatalyst.com.
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