For Immediate Release

PremiumCHAT Accepted Into Epoch Internet / IBM WebAccelerator Program

April 11, 2001, Huntington Beach, CA - PremiumCHAT, a client of RippleImpact, announced today that it has been accepted into the Epoch Internet / IBM WebAccelerator Program. As part of this program, PremiumCHAT has joined the ranks of numerous emerging companies in the Southern California area.

The WebAccelerator program "provides qualified companies with end-to-end e-business technology infrastructure for six months, and helps accelerate early stage development and has the goals of enabling start-ups to prove their concept, raise capital and get to market quickly." The benefits of the program include hardware, software and web hosting on Windows and Linux operating systems, as well as an entry into the funding and incubator community.

"Partnering with two strong, forward-thinking companies like Epoch and IBM makes a great deal of sense for us," noted Robert Fair, CEO of PremiumCHAT. "The combined capabilities of Epoch Internet and IBM are very complementary and have provided us with the infrastructure and networking we need to get our product out to market."

PremiumCHAT was introduced into the program through RippleImpact in order to leverage the unique benefits of this partnership. "As we incubate our portfolio companies, we need to partner with well-established organizations who can speed up the time it takes to get companies like PremiumCHAT launched in the marketplace," stated S. Ramesh, CEO and Chief Software Architect of RippleImpact. "Epoch and IBM were the best solution for us."

Epoch and IBM announced the WebAccelerator program in April 2000 and selected the first round of qualifying companies in May. To start in the program, each company attends a two-day seminar that focuses on business and technology education, as well as developing key industry relationships with recognized legal, accounting and technology firms. The program's business development partners include Silicon Valley Bank, O'Melveny & Meyers LLP, Deloitte & Touche and several venture capital and business consulting firms.

For media information, contact:
Brenda Harris
RippleImpact
Telephone: (310) 316-3100
Fax: (310) 316-9500
media@rippleimpact.com
http://www.rippleimpact.com

RippleImpact is a software development division focusing on custom object oriented applications and enterprise internet software solutions. It is a division of Philosopher's Stone Ventures, a high technology incubator based in Southern California.