Ventis Group Announces Launch of Technology Commercialization Services

Comprehensive process focuses on generating windfall" revenue from intellectual property portfolios for research institutions, universities and corporations

Westlake Village, CA - May 16, 2002--Ventis Group LLC today announced the launch of a new service that provides a complete technology commercialization solution for owners of intellectual property such as patents, proprietary software, confidential know-how and trade secrets. Through this new service, Ventis Group helps companies, universities, and research labs with significant IP portfolios generate revenue from these IP assets, either by taking them to market for the first time or by taking them to new applications in different industries and markets. Ventis Group makes use of a variety of vehicles to accomplish these ends, including licensing, technology transfer, strategic partnering and spin-out companies formed specifically to develop and market the new technologies.

With our strong emphasis on new business development, were able to concentrate on developing a commercialization solution that optimizes the benefit for each client," said David Walker, managing director of Ventis Group. In other words, we dont come in with a predetermined agenda or requirements imposed by private investors that we have to satisfy. Our independence enables us to focus on the best solution that will generate new revenue for our client," Walker explained.

The Ventis Group commercialization process is comprehensive, covering everything from initially assessing the market readiness of the new technology, determining attributes and differentiators, and analyzing potential applications and markets, to creating, planning and implementing the commercialization strategy. In the case of licensing, for example, Ventis Group can develop the Strategic Licensing Plan, identify and contact target licensee prospects, supply term sheets, licensing forms and agreements, and can even negotiate the deals. In the case of a spin-out, Ventis Group develops a complete, funding-ready Business Plan for the new company. Whatever the case, Ventis Group is prepared to work with a client from the earliest stages of technology evaluation and market analysis through the turnkey implementation of the commercialization effort and revenue generation.

The Ventis Group managing directors bring a wide range of expertise to the multi-faceted tasks required for successfully commercializing technologies. Included in the extensive business and corporate experience of the four managing directors is IP licensing, financial strategy, executive management, intellectual property management, product development, marketing and business development. The Ventis Group managing directors gained their experience in a variety of management roles at General Electric, Hitachi, Procter & Gamble, Unisys, General Signal, Dataproducts Corporation, Xircom and Infonet.

According to Managing Director Mark Stohlman, Ventis Group is not a venture capital organization. We are retained directly by a client to handle commercialization of specific items in its intellectual property portfolio. Our job is to maximize our clients returns on its technology investments. Moreover, having the capability to actually implement the commercialization strategy we recommend is an advantage that really sets Ventis Group apart." Stohlman is the groups licensing and intellectual property specialist and holds a doctorate degree in law.

From its Los Angeles-based headquarters, Ventis Group is positioned to assist U.S.-based IP owners license their technologies worldwide, as well as assist IP owners located outside the United States in bringing their technologies to the U.S. marketplace. Ventis Group managing directors have years of hands-on experience managing technology transfer and licensing around the world, including the Asia-Pacific region, Europe, and throughout the Americas.

Ventis Group was formed in late 2001 by its four managing directors: David A. Walker (MBA, BS Engineering), a finance and business strategy consultant, Juan J. Vidurrazaga (MBA, MS Engineering), an experienced corporate management and business development executive, Mark E. Stohlman (JD, MPA Public Administration), a licensing and technology management specialist, and Nelson H. Dodge (MBA), a technology marketing strategist and entrepreneur.

More information is available at the Ventis Group web site www.ventisgroup.com.

About Ventis Group LLC
Ventis Group is a California Limited Liability Company that plans and implements comprehensive technology business development strategies, providing clients with an effective, outsourced extension of their Business Development capabilities. The Ventis Group approach provides a reliable, experienced, highly flexible, cost-effective, "on-demand" Technology Commercialization resource, and revenue-optimized solutions, tailored to each clients unique circumstances and objectives.