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Insights into Second Generation Entrepreneurship

'Building a New Stealth Internet Company on Internet Time: From Idea to Funding to Product Launch in 16 Weeks Company'.

This is the topic for the next Quarterly Forum of The IndUS Enterpreneurs, to be held in San Jose on August 17. The dinner meeting explores the success of epinions, one of the most dazzling success stories in Silicon Valley, and will be addressed by Nirav Tolia, R V Guha and Milind Gadekar, among the most profiled of Silicon Valley success stories.

The dinner meeting offers insights into the inspiring story of an e-commerce, second generation start-up that has rounded up some of the hottest technical/marketing talent and venture capital backing in Silicon Valley.

This company and the founding group has received extensive coverage in The New York Times Magazine, The Wall Street Journal, San Francisco Chronicle and San Jose Mercury.

This group includes some founding members of a Silicon Valley entrepreneur's forum called Round Zero -- a monthly dinner gathering featuring discussions on technology, sharing of ideas, intellectual camaraderie and networking.

epinions.com was founded in April 1999 by a group of Internet veterans from Yahoo!, Netscape, America Online, @Home and Wired. Some of the founders left options on the table at their previous companies for the excitement of starting a new company.

The company has secured $ 8 million venture financing from August Capital and Benchmark Capital. epinions.com is a shopping guide powered by consumer opinions that help consumers make the right buying decisions. The company expects to launch its service this month.

Nirav Tolia recently left Yahoo! where he was a brand manager for Yahoo! Visa and Yahoo! Shopping. He was a frequent on-air representative for Yahoo! and appeared on CNN, CNBC, NBC, and ABC. Tolia is co-founder and president of Round Zero. He has degrees in biology and english from Stanford University.

R V Guha recently left Netscape where he was a principal engineer. Guha guided the development of Netcenter, Navigator 5, and the Open Directory Project. Before Netscape, Guha was an engineer in the Advanced Technology Group of Apple Computers. Guha holds a PhD in computer science from Stanford University.

Milind Gadekar recently left @Home Network where he was product line manager of Internet services. At @Home, Milind spearheaded the creation and launch of @Home Solutions. Prior to @Home, Milind was a consultant for Booz, Allen, and Hamilton. He holds an MBA from Wharton, and an MS in computer engineering from North Carolina State University.

TiE is a non-profit global network of entrepreneurs and professionals, established to foster entrepreneurship and nurture entrepreneurs based in California.

The event will start at 6.30pm at Santa Clara Marriot Hotel, 2700 Mission College Blvd.

Payment: Members: $ 35 if paid by August 13, $ 45 if later; non-members and guests, $ 50, if paid by August 13, $ 60 if later; charter members are pre-paid.

For more information, contact Bakul Joshi, chairperson, monthly events; (408) 567 0700

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