e-challenge 2000 announces the winners

e-challenge 2000 announces the winners e-challenge, the worlds largest competition for Internet and wireless companies, today announced the three winners of e-challenge 2000. The independent selection committee has given the title of Best Internet and wireless Company in Europe to Print Europe (Fi), FilmWorld (Uk) and Norkom (Ir). Category: Intermediaries Print Europe has made a vertical portal for the European printing industry, its affiliates and customers. The jury's motivation is that they have a good quality of management and they have a perceived ability to execute. They further have a clear case for reintermediation. Print Europe is defensible in medium and long term. They have a clear market with both need and solution. They also have clarity of thought and focus. Category: Online transaction FilmWorld has created a one-stop shop for film enthusiasts and film professionals alike. The motivation for FilmWorld is that they have an excellent business plan covering partnership, outsourcing, particularly scalability, content and globalisation issues. FilmWorld also has combined content with commerce. The revenue potential of the company is very high and the company has potential to change the whole way the film industry works. Category: Application Norkom develops and implements specialist products to deliver customer intelligence to organisations at all points of interaction. The jury's motivation is first of all the size and growth of the market opportunity. The company has a proven business model with an ability to offer an attractive value proposition to its target market. Norkom also have a very strong management team. Further information about the winners and pictures can be found on www.e- challenge.com tomorrow morning. e-challenge was developed by e-chron, the online venture catalysts, and is backed by some of the most progressive players in the internet and wireless sector, including CNN, Ericsson, Hewlett-Packard, Ernst &Young, Lotus, Silicon Valley Bank, Yankee Group, IFS and Tornado Insider. The e- challenge selection committee consists of an independent panel of leading representatives from different countries, branches and companies. "The vision of e-challenge is to create the most powerful network for early stage Internet and wireless companies globally. We have chosen three companies with innovative technologies and well developed business visions and who we believe have the potential to become truly global players in the Internet and wireless sectors." says Niclas Carlsson, the CEO and founder of e-chron. This year's e-challenge attracted over 700 early stage Internet and wireless companies from 19 European countries. The prizes the three winners will receive, which include advertising/ marketing packages, free Internet subscription, introduction into the financial community, and IPO workshops, are designed to provide the companies with knowledge and infrastructure to enable them to build truly world-class businesses. e- challenge will invite the winners to participate in a global road show to London, Toronto, Silicon Valley and Hong Kong. Notes to editors e-chron is an online venture catalysts that was founded in 1998 to facilitate the matchmaking process between Internet entrepreneurs, venture capitalists and service providers through its Internet portal and through the competition e-challenge. e-chron invest alongside its value added investor network in early stage Internet and Wireless companies and by building an 'economic system': a network of the best venture capital firms in Europe and a network of the world's leading service providers, to accelerate the growth of that next generation of world class companies. e-challenge (www.e-challenge.com) is the largest competition for Internet and Wireless companies in Europe and is own and managed by e-chron and is backed by some of the most progressive players in the internet and wireless sector, including Ericsson, Hewlett-Packard, CNN, Ernst &Young, Lotus, Silicon Valley Bank, Yankee Group, IFS and Tornado Insider. e- challenge is currently extending its network from Europe to other continents. For further information, please contact: Niclas Carlsson Anders Ullstrand President Communications Manager e-chron e-chron Phone: +46 (0) 708 10 78 05 Phone: +46 (0) 708 88 68 09 E-mail: niclas.carlsson@e-chron.com E-mail: anders.ullstrand@e-chron.com Web: www.e-challenge.com ------------------------------------------------------------ Please visit http://www.bit.se for further information The following files are available for download: http://www.bit.se/bitonline/2000/05/17/20000517BIT00950/bit0001.doc http://www.bit.se/bitonline/2000/05/17/20000517BIT00950/bit0002.pdf