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ON COLUMBUS DAY, ISABELLA CAPITAL LLC ALSO IS CELEBRATING THE DISCOVERY OF A NEW WORLD: WOMEN CEO’S

Impact of women in entrepreneurial revolution
is focus at annual meeting

October 12, 2000, CINCINNATI, Ohio - Isabella Capital LLC, based in Cincinnati, Ohio and one of the first venture capital firms in the country to focus on women-led, technology-driven businesses, is hosting five Isabella portfolio company CEOs at the company’s annual meeting on Columbus Day, October 12. Isabella Capital LLC is named after Queen Isabella of Spain, whose support of Christopher Columbus’ sailing venture is viewed as one of the most successful investments in history.

Isabella Capital recognizes a market inefficiency in which 95 percent of the venture capital being invested in businesses today is going to those led by men. According to the Small Business Administration, women entrepreneurs account for nearly 40 percent of all businesses in the United States and generate more than $3.7 trillion in annual sales, yet they receive only five percent of the venture dollars. With more than 900 venture capital firms in the United States, only six firms focus on women-led businesses.

At the meeting, Margaret H. (Peg) Wyant, founder and managing director of Isabella Capital, will reiterate to the Fund's private investors the vision behind Isabella. "Isabella Capital seeks leaders who place a high priority on vision and accomplishment. Leaders who build dynamic teams that are focused on aggressive growth and adding value to the marketplace are ideal candidates for our fund. These exceptional people have vision and drive, plus the proven ability to build an effective team. Their businesses are in markets with annual growth of at least 25 percent. Further, they are seeking to provide a value-added profit or service and are capable of sustaining a competitive edge.”

At the annual meeting, Pam Kleier, CEO of Construction Zone (www.c-z.com); Janet Handal, president of ec-Finance (www.ec-finance.com); Kim Fisher, CEO of AudioBasket (www.audiobasket.com); Lauren Flanagan, CEO of WebWare (www.webwarecorp.com); and Craig Wortmann, CEO of Wisdom Tools (www.wisdomtools.com) will speak to Isabella’s private investors on the progress of their companies, all of which have received funding from Fund Isabella.

Wyant’s insight and willingness to pursue these opportunities has enabled the $10 million Fund to discover a world with much potential. At the annual meeting, Wyant will be honoring Fifth Third Bank by presenting its CEO, George A. Schaefer Jr. the Forward Thinking Institution Award for the vision to recognize the potential of women and for the courage to be the first institutional investor in the Fund.

Last year, Isabella received 1,235 business plans; funded ten portfolio companies, including one acquisition, WebOrder which was purchased by Netopia (Nasdaq:NTPA), and one initial public offering issued by CrossWorlds Software (Nasdaq:CWLD).

"Women represent the healthiest economy on the face of the earth," Wendy Gardner, director of Isabella, adds. "Where most venture capital firms have financial or technical backgrounds, Fund Isabella brings the unique skill set of marketing and operations. Everyone on our team is a proven entrepreneur with roots in brand marketing. In today's new economy, companies are finding a greater and greater need for strong marketing experience. As cited in the June 27, 2000 issue of Business 2.0, 'Market Now, Launch Later,’ VC's are increasingly getting into the marketing business. Firms around the country are looking for ways to offer better in-house marketing savvy to the startups they've funded.’

"At Fund Isabella, we are already there," comments Gardner.

Isabella Capital invests in companies where the combination of management and Isabella’s intellectual and financial capital has the potential to maximize the portfolio company’s growth. Isabella’s growing list of technology enabled, market-driven companies focus on the following industries: information technology, health care, retail/consumer products and communications. Isabella’s investments are structured to ultimately achieve a high rate of return within five years via IPO, strategic merger or recapitalization.

Wyant notes that Fund Isabella is groundbreaking in its innovative and effective approach to venture capital. "We are the New Girl Network™! Our standard is excellence. Our focus is the future and discovering new worlds. Our goal is to build and strengthen companies, portfolios and their values. Our most valuable asset is people."

Isabella Capital LLC, a venture capital firm based in Cincinnati, Ohio, is focused on early stage, women-led technology-enabled businesses that can benefit from marketing input. Isabella’s team is comprised of accomplished professionals who bring a unique skill set of marketing and operations to Fund Isabella. Margaret H. Wyant formerly worked for 17 years as a Procter & Gamble executive who founded the new products and new ventures program. Wendy Ellis Gardner previously worked as an executive for Quaker and consulted for several Fortune 500 companies. Amy Bulger is an entrepreneur with five years of global business experience.

Following is background on the portfolio companies noted:

Audio Basket
Provides personalized anytime, anywhere audio news and information.

Construction Zone
Online product content aggregator for the non-residential construction industry.

ec-Finance
A Web-based solution for the Letter of Credit process. Designs, develops and markets Internet-based financial solutions that facilitate international trade.

WebWare
The world’s leading brand resource management solution.

Wisdom Tools
Provides Web-based software learning tools for the corporate training market.