Fusion Ventures & Nasdaq to Give $10,000 to Entrepreneurs

PRESS RELEASE

Fusion Ventures and The Nasdaq Stock Market Announce Inaugural Triangle Business Plan Competition- www.trianglebizplan.com

RESEARCH TRIANGLE PARK, NC - The venture capital firm Fusion Ventures and The Nasdaq Stock Market, the worlds fastest growing major equity market, announced today that entries are being accepted for the 2000 Fusion Ventures - Nasdaq Triangle Business Plan Competition. The competition is open to all Triangle-area residents, with strong participation expected from the major business schools in the Raleigh-Durham-Chapel Hill area.

The competition will culminate on April 29th with presentations to representatives from the Southeasts premiere venture capital firms, and the awarding of a $10,000 Grand Prize.

Business plan competitions have emerged as a valuable means of linking entrepreneurs with venture capitalists, with the majority of plans showcasing so-called .com" ideas. This competition is a natural fit for us," said Paul Mayer, co-founder of Fusion Ventures, a technology business incubator and venture capital firm located near Research Triangle Park. Fusion was founded with the goal of creating great new companies. This competition is in keeping with that goal, by giving great entrepreneurial minds in the region a shot at the big time."

The Nasdaq Stock Market is the market of choice for the vast majority of companies that choose to go public. We are strongly supportive of events that foster entrepreneurship," said Nasdaqs President Alfred R. Berkeley, particularly a competition like this that puts the entrepreneur in direct contact with the regions venture capital community. Everyone who participates will be a winner."

Other sponsors include the business law firm of Hutchison & Mason LLC, the Wakefield Group venture capital firm, The Business Journal published by American City Business Journals, Business Wire, the global leader in electronic news distribution and information retrieval services, and StartUpStreet.com, where entrepreneurs find the services to help their companies start fast and grow strong.

Entrants must submit an executive summary and business plan to:

Fusion Ventures-Nasdaq TBPC
c/o Dan Lefebvre
112 South Duke Street, Suite 4
Durham, NC 27701.

Entries can also be e-mailed to entry@trianglebizplan.com.

Inquiries should be directed to info@trianglebizplan.com.

Potential entrants are also encouraged to access www.trianglebizplan.com for details and rules before entering. Executive Summaries must be received by March 31st, 2000, 5 p.m.