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Matchmaking by Computer

Various electronic network services that match entrepreneurs with investors.

Before the first electronic matchmaking service between entrepreneurs and investors was booted up, in 1984, folks who needed $100,000 to $1 million to finance their businesses scrambled for it themselves. But over the past several years, a host of computer-based networks have emerged to make the search process more efficient.

Typically, networks charge fees both to money seekers and to investors. Investors check off the sorts of deals they're interested in considering, and the computer does the sorting. "If the potential for creating value is there, people should have no trouble getting introductions," says William E. Wetzel Jr., founder of the first network at MIT. "Whether they're able to sell the investors at that point is really up to them."

Listing fees

Network

Area served

Companies

Investors

Georgia Capital Network Atlanta 404-894-3575

Georgia

$75/year

None

Kentucky Investment Capital Network, Frankfort, Ky. 502-564-4252

Kentucky

None

None

Mid-Atlantic Investment Network, College Park, Md. 301-405-2144

Mostly mid-Atlantic

$35/year

$300/year

Northwest Capital Network Portland, Ore. 503-294-0643

Oregon

$100/year

$225/year

Pacific Venture Capital Network, Irvine, Calif. 714-856-8366

Mostly California

$200/

6 months

$200/year

Private Investor Network Aiken, S.C. 803-648-6851

South Carolina

$100/year

$200

Tennessee Venture Capital Network, Murfreesboro, Tenn. 615-898-2745

Tennessee

$100/

6 months

None

Texas Capital Network Austin 512-794-9398

Texas

$100/

6 months

$200/year

Venture Capital Network at MIT, Cambridge, Mass. 617-253-7163

Mostly Northeast

$250/year

$250/year

Venture Capital Network of Minnesota, St. Paul, Minn. 612-223-8663

Mostly Minnesota

$100/

6 months

$100/

6 months

Washington Investment Network, Seattle 206-464-6282

Washington State

None

None

-- Researched by Christopher Caggiano

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