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Contact: Kerry McGagin
KMA Communications
310.258.9801
kerry@kmacommunications.com
Voyager Capital Becomes the First Venture Firm to Join the Open Source Development Labs
Voyager Continues to Commit Resources to Further the Growth of Oregon's Information Technology Industry
SEATTLE, WA- November 11, 2004 - Voyager Capital, a leading Pacific Northwest information technology venture firm, announced today it is the first venture firm to join the Open Source Development Labs (OSDL), an Oregon-based organization dedicated to accelerating the growth and adoption of Linux® in the enterprise. Voyager will bring its network of important business contacts, its insights into developments of both software and hardware technologies, and aid in the expansion of OSDL's member consortium.
"Use of Open Source Software, especially Linux, is becoming an essential platform for startups to consider for business and enterprise computing," said Frank Gill, former Executive Vice President of Intel Corporation and Voyager Capital Advisory Board Member. "By joining OSDL, Voyager has the unique opportunity to support the OSS/Linux industry as a whole as well as play into the strengths of the Oregon technology community."
OSDL is a not-for-profit global consortium dedicated to accelerating the adoption of Linux . It has a membership of more than 60 technology and end user companies on five continents. One of its key services is to provide state-of the-art computing and test facilities in the United States and Japan made available free of charge to Linux developers around the world. OSDL also hosts and coordinates three Linux-specific industry working groups: Carrier Grade Linux, Data Center Linux and Desktop Linux. These working groups focus on different usage models of Linux with the goal of business-hardening the software and accelerating its use. OSDL also has initiatives designed to defend Linux against legal challenges and provides general market education about the value and growth of Linux worldwide. Founding member companies include IBM, HP, CA, Intel, Fujitsu and NEC.
"We are seeing increased business development in Oregon with an uptick in early stage term sheets, the return of successful serial entrepreneurs to the region, and the utilization of open source technologies by these entrepreneurs to build their products and services," remarked Erik Benson, Managing Director at Voyager. "OSDL's presence in Oregon will further IT growth and spawn more start-ups in the coming years as the industry acknowledges and utilizes Oregon's deep technology resources."
"We view Voyager as a significant contributor to Oregon's IT industry," stated Stuart Cohen, chief executive of OSDL. "The firm has been heavily involved with the development of the entrepreneurial community and has shown its commitment to the region with investments in such companies as Qsent and Kryptiq. We believe other venture firms will follow their lead and get involved in OSDL."
About the Open Source Development Labs
OSDL - home to Linus Torvalds, the creator of Linux - is dedicated to accelerating the growth and adoption of Linux. Founded in 2000 by CA, Hitachi, HP, IBM, Intel and NEC, OSDL is a non-profit organization at the center of Linux supported by a global consortium of more than 40 of the world's largest Linux customers and IT industry leaders. OSDL sponsors industry-wide initiatives around Linux in telecommunications, in the enterprise data center and on corporate desktops. The Lab also provides Linux expertise and computing and test facilities in the United States and Japan available to developers around the world. Visit OSDL on the Web at http://www.osdl.org/.
About Voyager Capital
Voyager Capital is a leading Pacific Northwest information technology venture capital firm, providing entrepreneurs with the resources, experience, and connections to build successful companies. Voyager invests primarily in early stage business software and services, mobility, digital media and infrastructure companies, where the firm's domain expertise, team-building track record and go-to-market resources help build market leaders. Voyager Capital has $265M under management with offices in Seattle, WA and on Sand Hill Road in Menlo Park, CA. For more information, visit Voyager's web site at www.voyagercapital.com or telephone (206) 438-1800.
Linux is a registered trademark of Linus Torvalds in the US and other countries.
