IBM And Conxion Launch First Dot-Com Incubator Class

IBM and Internet service provider Conxion Corporation announced today that 13 dot-com companies have joined the first class of its joint incubator program scheduled for launch on November 16th.

Additionally, another 12 dot-coms are set to launch the second class of the program on January 15, 2000.

The incubator is initially targeted at Internet-based start-up companies that are located in Silicon Valley, home of Conxion Corporation. The services are designed to help the dot-com companies reach market quickly.

Accelerated Start

“The IBM-Conxion incubator program lets dot-coms focus on what really matters — going live on the Net as fast as possible,” said Michael Kiyosaki, vice president, Worldwide Partner Alliances & Development, IBM Global Business Partners.

MusicBox Network was the first company to sign up for the program. “We have a proprietary method for connecting global television viewers to their television sets without barriers — via the Internet,” said Jon Korchin, chairman of the dot-com. “The range of software tools offered by this incubator gets us to launch faster and stretches our equity.”

Incubator Service Mix

IBM offers a range of software applications, and Conxion provides server management hosting services. Additionally, four other companies lend their services to the fledgling companies.

Mercury Interactive brings e-business testing tools to the table, and Servicesoft Technologies provides customer service e-mail management and call center support.

Silicon Valley Bank offers financial services, and Vignette brings its content management services and personalization capabilities to the new dot-coms.

The dot-coms receive the products and services at no charge for a six-month incubation period. They are under no obligation to purchase services or products from the sponsoring companies, and the dot-coms do not have to give up equity to receive incubation benefits.

Silicon Valley Dot-Coms

The first group of dot-coms includes a variety of e-commerce companies.

Dream Logic, Inc. provides network resource optimization for large IP networks, and Network Utilities, Inc. offers a pay-as-you-use platform for the wireless and hard-wired application service provider (ASP) market.

NoNameArt.com is a marketplace site for emerging artists, and MarketMakers.com provides Web-based marketing events. QOSES in an ASP object-oriented software tool, and ienvironment.com provides environmental compliance support for small and medium-sized businesses.

The incubator program is finalizing selection criteria for the second wave of participants.