by Stephanie T. Gates
Red Herring, Thursday, October 1st, 1998.

MARKET: Develops Internet-based customer service software. Flagship product suite, Live Contact, which began shipping in March, allows customers to communicate with companies’ service representatives using Internet telephony or text-based chat. Suite consists of end-user, server, and client side software. Expected to release a second version in August. Plans to extend existing single-user-to-single-representative format to user groups for online shopping. Initially targeting companies conducting online sales. Partners include NBtel and Grey Interactive. Has offices in San Francisco; Chicago; Washington, D.C.; and Tel Aviv, Israel. Customers include Airshop and Etrade Canada. Competes with Lucent Technologies, Acuity, and Webline.

FINANCE: Not profitable. Raised initial financing of $1.5 million in September 1997 from private investors. Raised a first venture round of $12 million in June from J. L. Albright Venture Partners, Sofinov Ventures, Gemini Israel Funds, and Grey Ventures Canada. Has no immediate plans for another round. Plans to go public in about 18 months. CEO Mark Skapinker founded the company and previously co-founded and was president of Delrina, which was acquired by Symantec in November 1995.