 ANZA Alumni Company News
Keep up-to-date with the latest news on ANZA's Alumni companies over the past three years. This month, we take a look at the progress of two Alumni companies.
February 2005 Company News
Optimiser (2003 and 2004 Alumni)
QR Sciences (2004 Alumni)
PERTH , AUSTRALIA | LONDON, UNITED KINGDOM
Optimiser, Tempest Technology To Create Telco Services Platform For Digital Asset Trading
Combined Digital Management, Telecoms Billing Technologies To Integrate Applications Delivery With Next-Gen Telco Services
Optimiser - developer of the world's first Authoritative Metadata Engine for next generation eCommerce systems - and Tempest Technology - a leading developer of integrated billing solutions - have signed a Memorandum of Understanding to integrate each others' technologies to create Next-Gen digital product delivery and billing solutions that will allow software, games and data customers to buy over the Net or via a phone, and be charged through their telephone service plans. The Alliance will see Tempest open and staff a new Australian subsidiary in Perth, Western Australia, later this year.
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The two companies intend to combine forces for the Australian, Asian and European telecommunications and Internet services markets, which comprise the fastest growing and biggest spending regions for convergent Billing and Operational Support Systems (OSS). Leveraging Tempest's presence in Europe and Optimiser's in Asia, solutions will be developed where - according to Dittberner Associates Inc, a US-based telecoms market research company - the combined annual solutions spend will exceed $24 billion per year by 2008, outstripping the US spend by some 350 per cent.
"Tempest's success is founded on seeing how the market is moving and not just what customers need now, but what they are going to need as convergence continues," said Sean Marsh, Tempest Technology's CEO and Founder. "Adding Optimiser's Digital Management for granting and enforcing rights to products, services - and even the devices and phones people use - will be extremely significant in uniting and protecting buyers, vendors and carriers for seamless eCommerce trading."
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Tempest Technology Ltd, based in the UK, is widely regarded as an international market leader in the supply of billing and customer care software solutions to the telecommunications industry. It has been ranked in Deloitte-Touche's "Fast 50" list of the UK's most successful companies twice in the last five years, ranking sixth in 2002. In 2004, the UK Government awarded Tempest the Inner City 100 Award for being the country's best performing IT company, measured as accumulated growth over the five years preceding. For more information see www.tempest-technology.com.
"Digital Management is fundamental to creating a true eCommerce marketplace where parties' rights and assets are recognised and protected," said Leo Mullins, CEO of Optimiser. "When you can do that, which Optimiser's technology can, you need to give the carriers and vendors the best billing solution possible so they can manage heterogeneous data, service and application portfolios. That's where Tempest comes in - it has an excellent track record in developing flexible billing solutions for uniting the disparate systems used by carriers and the telco reseller chain."
Optimiser has developed the Digital Management Zone - or DMZ, a platform-independent, Web-based service for enabling, managing, securing and billing application and content sales in real-time. The core of its successful Digital Management solution is a unique Authoritative Metadata Engine and its ability to provide metadata and metrics for driving Enterprise and Management Information systems. Assessed by BT Exact, Optimiser's approach has been cited as "completely unique and original".
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Developed using open source tools and XML-based standards, Optimiser's DMZ employs the latest 256-bit encryption methodologies in a unique way. Able to replace key-based licensing systems completely, Optimiser's eContracts are validated to ensure that proper rights of access and use exist between the Intellectual Property owner and the customer/user. For more information see www.optimiser.com.
Optimiser created the Authoritative Metadata Engine - or AME - for the management of intellectual property in the digital environment in accordance with deliberations of the European Commission's INFO 2000 Programme and the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO). The European Commission's INFO 2000 Programme's indecs Report, June 2000, defined an Authoritative Metadata Framework as necessary for the successful management, protection and trade of digitally-stored intellectual property. Optimiser is the first dedicated Digital Management company to be granted Multimedia Super Corridor status by the Malaysian Development Corporation to support the nation's strategic vision to become Asia's leading knowledge-based economy.
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This release can also be seen at www.optimiser.com/news/2005/02/08/telcobilling
For more information, please contact:-
Optimiser
Paul Williams, Marketing Director
t: +61 (0)8 9446 2099
e: press@optimiser.com w: optimiser.com
Tempest Technology
Sean Marsh, CEO
t: +44 (0)1843 232 505
e: sean@tempest-technology.com w: tempest-technology.com
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QR Sciences, coming off a very successful trip to the DEMO Conference, has more than 13 patent applications in the system and this one was granted in the U.S. on Monday, February 15 th, 2005. United States Patent 6,856,133 Granted: February 15, 2005. “Method and apparatus for detecting a substance using a nuclear resonance”.
Kevin Russeth and family will be moving to the US in April to spearhead the company's US development.
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Janurary 2005 Company News
Proximity Group (2004 Alumni)
QR Sciences (2004 Alumni)
Unique World Software (2004 Alumni)
"Frost & Sullivan Awards Proximity's Entrepreneurial Skills in the
Digital Media Applications Market"
Scottsdale, AZ January 13, 2005 Frost & Sullivan presented its 2005 Digital
Media Applications Entrepreneurial Company of the Year Award to Proximity
Corporation at last night's Excellence in Information & Communications
Technologies Awards Banquet.
Frost & Sullivan presented the Award to Proximity in recognition of its
entrepreneurial spirit in providing its customers with a robust and
recognized solution, and exploring new avenues for growth.
Founded in 1997, Proximity Corporation has approximately 50 employees
working from global offices in New York, Sydney, and London.
Proximity has evolved over the past few years, gaining a lot of traction
amongst potential customers, building up credibility on the performance of
its flagship digital asset management product suite that includes, artbox,
videoripper, xenotrack, and the Emmy Award-winning xenostore,says Frost & Sullivan industry analyst Mukul Krishna.
artbox is the latest addition to Proximitys product suite. Based on a
single platform, it obviates the need to blend solutions from multiple
vendors as it integrates with all major graphics, editing, and playout
systems. The product is easy to use as it utilizes a drag and drop
integration on the desktop.
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artbox has been battle-tested in mission-critical broadcast environments
and has thoroughly proven its robustness,notes Krishna. It also has a
modular architecture, making the solution highly scalable and has
easy-to-integrate solution components for third-party applications.
"Proximity is thrilled to receive the prestigious Frost & Sullivan
Award,said Luke Tristram, CEO, Proximity Corporation. This award is a
strong recognition of the major impact of artbox in our core broadcast
market and in other markets where rich media asset management is becoming
increasingly important."
Traditionally, the lifecycle of creative production (request, creation, use
and deletion of creative assets) requires manual interventions with a
variety of hardware and software platforms. artbox integrates format
conversion, storage, workflow management, and search and retrieval of
artwork (video, graphics, script or audio) into a single device. Users can
search, locate, transfer and transcode, edit clips, generate EDLs and
manage media across multiple formats and platforms. artbox's workflow
management module, introduces the concept of a project,enabling the user
the ability to associate multiple assets that exist in different formats
and across multiple devices within a single story.
In addition to product innovation, Proximity is actively engaged in driving
key partnerships with original equipment manufacturers, resellers,
channels, and integrators within the broadcast, corporate, enterprise
content management (ECM), advertising, and postproduction industries.
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Keeping in line with its growth vision, the privately held company plans to
actively explore new investment possibilities in 2005 that will enable
concise, simultaneous market entry into the ECM, corporate, and possibly
medical imagery sectors.
The entrepreneurial spirit is very alive in this young company, which has
gained market share in an extremely fragmented market. In recognition of
this achievement, Proximity is the deserving recipient of the Frost & Sullivan 2005 Digital Media Applications Entrepreneurial Company Award.
Held in Scottsdale, Frost & Sullivan's 2005 Excellence in Information & Communications Technologies Awards Banquet honors world-class companies for
outstanding performance and achievements in the information and
communications technologies markets. An annual event, the banquet
recognizes the quality and merit of distinguished individuals and companies.
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About The Proximity Group
Proximity was established in 1997 with offices in New York, London and
Sydney. Proximity maintains close relationships with virtually all the
major vendors in the broadcasting industry, enabling the company to provide
comprehensive media asset management solutions across heterogeneous
platforms to its customers.
Proximity's xenomax and xenostore are the industry standard for the
management and storage of video graphics and have won a Technology Emmy
(Oct 2002.) Proximity products have a proven track record with
installations in over 150 broadcasters across 16 countries.
For more information about Proximity's product line, call 646-452-5820 or
visit our web site at www.proximitygroup.com
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About Frost & Sullivan
Frost & Sullivan, a global growth consulting company founded in 1961,
partners with clients to create value through innovative growth strategies.
The foundation of this partnership approach is our Growth Partnership
Services platform, whereby we provide industry research, marketing
strategies, consulting, and training to our clients to help grow their
business. A key benefit that Frost & Sullivan brings to its clients is a
global perspective on a broad range of industries, markets, technologies,
econometrics, and demographics. With a client list that includes Global
1000 companies, emerging companies, as well as the investment community,
Frost & Sullivan has evolved into one of the premier growth consulting
companies in the world. For more information, visit www.frost.com.
Contact:
Stacie Jones
210.247.2450
Stacie.jones@frost.com
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"QR Sciences Awarded First U.S. Government Contract"
PERTH, MONDAY 10 JANUARY 2005 - QRSciences (QRS), a world
leader in the development of Quadrupole Resonance (QR) based
explosive detection systems, announces that it has been awarded its first
prime contract with the U.S. Transportation Security Administration
(TSA) an agency of the U.S. Department of Homeland Security.
Kevin Russeth, Chief Executive Officer (CEO), of QRSciences
comments, “This opens a big door for the Company and takes our
relationship with the U.S. Government to a new level”.
“It’s a major milestone for any Australian company to be chosen as a
prime contractor by the U.S. Government. This is an ongoing testament to
the skill and dedication of our employees and gives further credence to
our proprietary technology”, continued Russeth.
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Under the scope of the contract, the details of which are security sensitive, QRSciences will carry out the initial work at its Perth facility
and complete the contract at a yet to be determined airport location in the
United States.
Mr. Russeth added, “This contract positions us as a driver in a federally funded project with the potential to advance the performance of
equipment built to protect aircraft and critical infrastructure from security
breaches.”
“We continue to pursue several other opportunities including industry
partnerships and joint ventures and have additional proposals in the
pipeline with various government bodies including the U.S.
Government”, said Russeth.
“We are hopeful and expectant that this will be the first of many contracts
with the U.S. Government and its agencies”, Russeth concluded.
The multi-phase contract is valued at more than $ 400,000 to
QRSciences.
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QRSciences recently announced that it is relocating its corporate
headquarters to San Diego, California while planning to maintain its
research and development facility in Western Australia. The purpose of
the move is to better serve the needs of QRSciences growing customer
base which is primarily located in North America and to develop a closer
relationship with the Department of Homeland Security and the various
agencies and departments within the U.S. Government that are supportive
of the Company’s work.
QRSciences is recognised as one of the brightest technology prospects in
the Australia/New Zealand region. The company recently won the
prestigious Guy Manson award at the ANZA Technet Conference, held in
the heart of Silicon Valley in Palo Alto. As a result it has been asked to
exhibit at the invitation only Demo@15 2005 Conference in Scottsdale,
Arizona. Demo@15 showcases only the brightest and best technologies
being launched in America.
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About QRSciences
QRSciences, based in Perth, Western Australia, designs and develops systems, sub-systems, components and software for security related
applications. The Company is a world leader in Quadrupole Resonance
(QR) applications, a next generation technology that uses radio frequency
spectroscopy techniques to detect and positively identify a wide range of
materials. QR is closely related to Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI),
which is widely employed in industry and the medical profession.
Applications for the technology include explosive and narcotic detection,
pharmaceutical quality control and assurance, mineral and material assay,
lab instrumentation and environmental science.
For more information about QRSciences please visit www.qrsciences.com
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About Department of Homeland Security (DHS)
The Secretary of DHS is a cabinet position within the U.S. Government
Executive Branch that reports directly to the President of the United
States.
The Department’s first priority is to prevent the entry of terrorists and the
instruments of terrorism while simultaneously ensuring the efficient flow
of lawful traffic and commerce.
DHS employs over 180,000 people and has several divisions or
directorates including Border and Transportation Security (BTS), U.S.
Secret Service, U.S. Coast Guard, Emergency Preparedness and
Response, Science and Technology, and Information Analysis and
Infrastructure Protection.
BTS manages and coordinates port of entry activities and leads efforts to
create a border of the future that provides greater security through better
intelligence, coordinated national efforts, and unprecedented international
cooperation against terrorists, the instruments of terrorism and other
international threats.
BTS is the largest of the Directorates and is home to agencies such as the
Transportation Security Administration (TSA), U.S. Customs Service, the
security function of the former Immigration and Naturalization Service,
Animal & Plant Health Inspection Service and the Federal Law
Enforcement Training Center.
For more information about the Department of Homeland Security please
visit www.dhs.gov
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About Transportation Security Administration (TSA)
The TSA was established following the enactment of the Aviation and
Transportation Security Act (ATSA) in November 2001. The agency’s
role is to protect the country’s transportation systems, including all
commercial airports and to ensure freedom of movement for people and
commerce through the combined use of people, processes and the best
technologies.
For more information about the Transportation Security Administration
please visit www.tsa.gov
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Sydney ISV wins eight foreign contracts
By Staff Writers,
22 December 2004
Sydney ISV Unique World Software has won eight new contracts for its InfoView product in the US and Europe.
Unique World Software, a division of Unique World Group, signed eight deals with different organisations in the US and Europe for InfoView in the last three months.
“Five contracts were with US government agencies and two with publishing companies in the USA and the Netherlands,” the company said in a statement.
InfoView was a software tool that converted electronic Microsoft InfoPath forms into ASP.Net forms viewable using a standard web browser.
“These applications make it easy for both employees and customers to access and fill in forms over the net,” the company said.
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Christophe Dumonet, general manager at Unique World Software, said organisations were constantly filling in forms.
Signing up new customers, filling out surveys and filing insurance claims all took time that could be better spent on core business activities, he said.
“They want a tool that captures and automates the processing of the information on the forms while reduce hours spent filling in forms for both customers and employees,” Dumonet said.
However, thus far the US was showing more interest Unique World Software products than Australia, he said.
“We receive over 500 new visitors a week to our site with a large portion of enquiries from US Government organisations,” he said.
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Some 90 percent of Unique World Software revenue was expected to come from the US within two years, Dumonet said.
He credited Austrade and the NSW Department of State and Regional Development with helping Unique World Software develop its business overseas via various funding schemes.
You can also read the full story here
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December 2004 Company News
Axiom Business Systems (2003 Alumni)
Fiberbyte (2003 Alumni)
Optimiser (2003/2004 Alumni)
Unique World Software (2004 Alumni)
Zoom Systems (2002 Alumni)
“Axiom's World Class Cemetary Software Leads to USA Partnership.”
Just two years after the launch of its Cemetery Software Products into the United States , a Melbourne based company, Axiom Business Systems has recently signed a joint venture partnership with a major supplier to the American Cemetery Industry. This move will significantly consolidate Axiom’s export venture into the “Big League” of the Northern America , where a population of 280 million demands a wide range of services and expertise to people in their time of need.
The new partnership has been struck with Associated Tribute Systems Inc, with key members coming from McCleskey Mausoleums, based in Atlanta , Georgia . McCleskey is one of the largest design build companies of Mausoleums, boasting a customer base of 450 cemeteries across 44 American states.
Bob Debeltrand, President of Associated Tribute System, Inc. said regarding the signing the venture with Axiom:
“Our strategic alliance with Axiom is founded on our similar relationship-based approach with our clients along with providing extremely equitable and efficient products and services. After many hours of discussing our corporate philosophies and our visions of the direction and the future requirements of the industry, we agreed that we share a commonality of goals and objectives. This joint venture compliments both organizations and allows the clients a strong single-source provider for a variety of products and services.”
Mr John Field, CEO of Axiom, believes that the move forward with the Associated Tribute Systems, Inc. group will assist his company to leverage its sales efforts in the United States . “While Axiom has already enjoyed considerable success with multiple installations now in California , Georgia and Illinois , as an Australian company we have always come up against the “Geography Issue” when bidding for new contracts. Now with our sales and marketing efforts being driven from our new corproate office in Atlanta , one of the major obstacles in choosing our software should be removed. Obviously we will continue to develop and innovate our software in Melbourne , as we have access here to some of the best technology design and developers in the world.”
When asked why a large US based company sought an Australian Software Solution, Mr Keith Bishop, Executive Vice President, Associated Tribute Systems, Inc. had this to say:
“For many years there have been several software companies in the US who tout having a “single solution” software package for cemeteries. Unfortunately, they have fallen short of their goals, leaving the marketplace both hungry for an ideal solution and also very wary of future suppliers. Under-funded, understaffed and most importantly not providing adequate customer service has been the peril of most software suppliers. We chose to seek out a product that was both inclusive of all requirements, but was also scaleable. Axiom had one product that no other cemetery software company had, the Touch Screen Kiosk program. And after seeing Axiom exhibiting at severed International Industry Conferences in recent years, we decided to initiate discussions.”
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In an industry where long standing reputation and credibility is paramount, Mr Keith Bishop went on to say:
“Upon initial contact with Axiom, we knew we found a winner. Their friendliness and professionalism, willingness to provide information, strong product offering, and ability to support the product were initial points for us going further with Axiom. After several meetings and discussions with John and Anne Field, it was clear that they had a strong desire to not only provide a product, but to truly enable cemeteries to serve the public and become more efficient. Further more they expressed to us a strong set of core business values and beliefs that paralleled ours, and we knew that this would be a good match.”
The Blue Print for the Future
The USA sales team for the new venture will be led by Dave Bishop, who has over 23 years experience in the death care industry achieving significant success for the company in that time.
“We plan on contacting current clients and associates and introducing them to the entire Charon product range, and especially the Touch Screen Software. The Touch Screen program directly affects the cemeteries service to the families, and can enhance or even create a new service and potential income stream for the large majority of cemeteries currently struggling to provide up to date information on the location of the deceased. Antiquated Systems like 5”x 3” index cards, or dilapidated record books give very scant or unreliable information to families searching for their loved ones.
By using the current client base, and developing new ones, we believe our long-standing reputation will increase the ability of the Charon System to be much more widely accepted. Our entire existence is based on bringing the best the industry has to offer to our associates, and we believe that the Charon System is the best in the world!”
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After attending the 2003 Technology showcase, Fiberbyte, based in Adelaide, was able to successfully transfer from a fiber optic test and measurement equipment manufacturer from their start in 2000 to a manufacturer of data acquisition devices as of 2004. When Fiberbyte started they had an idea for a technology which would enable synchronous and deterministic data transfer and device control over a USB bus, which was an extreme make-over the standard (isochronous) USB protocol. In 2002 Fiberbyte thought the effective leverage of the synchronous capability of their USB protocol was to create a suite of PC controlled fiber optic testing systems. Unfortunately the fiber optic bubble had burst and deflated by the end of 2002. To adapt to the changing market forces Fiberbyte attended the 2003 Anza Technology Showcase Conference. Since then Fiberbyte has transformed its US market focus and is now developing data acquisition products based on their, now patented, USB-inSync technology. They have also been able to secured additional funding and then became successfully integrated into a publicly traded company based in Sydney (Silex Systems). Due to involvement with the Anza Technology Network Fiberbyte is continually finding new markets for USB-inSync.
Source: Chris Svensrud, Fiberbyte PTY LTD, Adelaide
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Dongles, Licenses Go Virtual With Optimiser's Software Management Suite
Real-time Metrics, Secure Channels For Sale, Use of Software Applications
Optimiser - developer of the world's first Authoritative Metadata Engine for next generation eCommerce systems - unveils its suite of Software Zone software management services, following its showcase appearance at Palo Alto's 2004 ANZA Technology Conference. These services are designed to replace dongles and conventional license key-based software distribution applications with real-time contracts, secure Web-based sales channels and metadata for management reporting.
The Software Zone - or SZ - suite provides unparalleled protection of a developer's intellectual property against piracy and unauthorised use, via the compiling of Optimiser's application calls into the vendor's own code. The SZ services are unique as the only software management solutions able to provide live metadata for business reporting on the sale, lease and use of software in real-time.
"Optimiser has taken a defining approach to managing software deployment by creating a dynamic contracting system that does not rely on static license keys for protecting a licensed application," said Paul Williams, Optimiser's Marketing Director. "Instead, both vendor and user are parties to mutually agreed contracts managed by Optimiser's Digital Management service infrastructure - the Authoritative Metadata Engine - over the Web. If you don't have a contract, you can't use the software!
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"With global piracy running at thirty six per cent a year, representing a loss of US$29 billion of revenues in 2003, according to the BSA and IDC, it is time for the software industry to discard encryption-based licensing and dongle systems that clearly don't work. Given that piracy rates are also estimated to be on the increase as broadband makes it easier for users to download larger files, the need for proper pro-active management and protection capabilities will only become more acute."
Unlike conventional licensing and dongle systems, Optimiser's SZ suite enables vendors to bill software use by any time period and by any user event, as well as gather metadata for management purposes. This means vendors can properly match, and charge for, the value their software applications when used by customers in particular business scenarios. For example, project management applications could be charged out on a Pay-As-You-Use basis, by the hour or the day, according to data volumes over the life of a user's particular project.
Optimiser's SZ suite is offered at two levels, SZvendor and SZmetrix. Both employ Optimiser's patent pending techniques to provide a secure real-time sales channel that significantly raises the bar against attempts at unauthorised use.
SZvendor echoes traditional sales models so vendors can license software for basic time-based billing to straightforward configurations of single and multi-user groups.
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The premium service, SZmetrix, makes full-use of Optimiser's Authoritative Metadata Engine - or AME - capabilities. Vendors can bill for software use on definable application events, such as Print and Save, as well as tailor shared services for sophisticated multi-user scenarios, whether by time, quantity or a mixture of the two.
"Optimiser's unique Web-based solution will give any adopter a distinct competitive advantage, enabling distribution of software through an infinite variety of sales and pricing models that were previously unsupportable," continued Williams. "Moreover, software will no longer be a dumb product that provides little or no data on how it is actually used and, hence, what its actual value is. This is what all modern businesses need, whether they are vendors or users of digital intellectual property."
Optimiser has developed the Digital Management Zone, a platform-independent, Web-based service for enabling, managing, securing and billing application and content sales in real-time. The core of its successful Digital Management solution is its ability to provide metadata and metrics for driving Enterprise and Management Information systems. Optimiser created a unique Authoritative Metadata Engine for the management of intellectual property in the digital environment in accordance of with deliberations of the European Commission's INFO 2000 Programme and the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO). The European Commission's INFO 2000 Programme's indecs Report, June 2000, defined an Authoritative Metadata Framework as necessary for the successful management, protection and trade of digitally-stored intellectual property.
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This release can also be seen at http://www.optimiser.com/news/041104.html
For more information, please contact Optimiser
Paul Williams, Marketing Director
t: +61 (0)8 9446 2099
e: media@optimiser.com
w: optimiser.com
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Great News About Unique World Software and its Key Product: InfoView
On the back of ANZA TECH Christophe Dumonet – General Manager - Unique World Software extended his stay in the USA by a week. This additional investment has already produced some good returns as the company closed 5 deals for InfoView from various US Government agencies on the US East Coast.
Dumonet says “I tried to put into practice some key tenets learned at ANZA TECH. For instance I involved my technical product manager based in Australia via conference call in every sales presentation. It worked very well and the company and I gained greatly in credibility – suddenly even though we are a niche ISV based in Australia we appeared much larger and committed to the US market than before.”
Since the launch of our new product website www.infoview.net we have received over 500 new visitors per week to our site. The new site has been designed to have a more American look and feel – advice from the ANZA TECH boot camp was implemented and the returns are starting to come in.
Source: Christophe Dumonet, GM Unique World Software
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Zoom Systems Raises $6.3 Million Series A Led by Sierra Ventures
October 08 – Zoom Systems, the leader in automated retail and one of the fastest growing retailers today, announced that it recently raised $6.3 million in a Series A financing led by Sierra Ventures. All major current investors and board members participated.
Joining current board members and Co-Founders Gower Smith and Michael Gill are: Bruce Quinnell, former President, COO and Vice Chairman of Borders Group, Inc. (NYSE: BGP) and Chairman of Hot Topic (Nasdaq: HOTT), Jeff Loomans, a Venture Partner with Sierra Ventures and David Schwab, a General Partner with Sierra Ventures.
“We are extremely fortunate to have attracted such a high quality investor as Sierra Ventures. Bruce Quinnell brings significant retail experience and our new board has a line-up of successful people who understand our business and have operational experience in building great companies,” said Gower Smith, CEO of Zoom Systems. “We are excited about Zoom because we believe that Zoom’s new channel can change retail consumer behavior just like ATMs and Internet e-commerce. The company has a distinct first-mover advantage with significant IP, a large market and a great team,” said Jeff Loomans.
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About Zoom Systems
Zoom Systems (http://www.zoomsystems.com) is automating retail transactions the same as ATM’s automated banking transactions, by reducing costs and inefficiencies while providing 24/7 convenience to consumers. A Zoom shop is a stand alone retail store with over 100 products where consumers select items via an interactive touch screen. Zoom’s patented proof of delivery system ensures that products are delivered before credit or debit card payment is processed. Each shop is centrally controlled using a network management system that constantly provides sales, inventory and operational data. By eliminating the high labor costs associated with traditional staffed stores, Zoom shops are able to serve customers 24 hours a day, seven days a week in hotels, airports, retail locations and campuses.
About Sierra Ventures
Sierra Ventures, founded in 1982, is a privately held venture capital firm focused on investments across all areas of the Information Technology sector from semiconductors to enterprise software. Sierra Ventures has managed eight venture capital partnerships and currently has more than $1 billion of capital under management. Some of the firm’s investments include Combinet (acquired by Cisco), StrataCom (acquired by Cisco), ConvergeNet (acquired by Dell), Quinta (acquired by Seagate), Intuit (INTU), OnLink (acquired by Siebel), Healtheon (merged with WebMD), AmeriGroup (AGP), Micromuse (MUSE), Active Software (acquired by WebMethods), Centex (acquired by WorldCom), and Interact Commerce (acquired by Sage). More information is available at http://www.sierraventures.com.
Source: Zoom Systems Pty Ltd.
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