24.05.2007
Incubator i5invest enters 3D-Onlineworld Papermint
New York & Vienna, 24th May 2007. Internet Entrepreneur Markus Wagner leaves the US-telecommunication group VeriSign with immediate effect in order to launch i5invest, an IT company that boosts Internet start-ups based in the US and Austria. One of the first steps is to enter in to the 3D online world, Papermint.
Farewell 3united/VeriSign
"I've been tempted to something new for a while now" says Markus Wagner, "I'm ready to go with new ideas." At his last job Wagner took care of the quick and seamless integration of 3united AG with VeriSign New York. Wagner, a graduate at the university of applied sciences in Salzburg, and his partners have been expanding their business since 1999 into the worldwide leading provider for premium-sms, m-commerce and mobile content solutions. In February 2006 VeriSign took over 3united for 55 million euros. Markus's business know-how and capital, which were gained during the process of setting up, internationalizing and selling the company, will now be used to help boost new business ideas in Austria, Germany and the rest of Europe.
The Establishment of i5invest
At i5invest, Wagner has put together a team of 12 experienced and internationally oriented entrepreneurs, many of them former companions. "i5invest will act as an incubator of future business ideas. i5 stands for; innovate, inspire, incubate, invest and internationalize". Hence i5invest will mainly invest in business-to-consumer (B2C) web 2.0 projects and take them from conception to success on an international level.
Wagner himself describes i5invest as a bridge between the US and Europe. "We have a powerful network that reaches from Vienna, to New York and Boston to the Silicon Valley in California", says Markus Wagner. "This is ideal for European start-ups, who want to grow internationally and seek global partners." As a side effect i5invest promotes Austria as a location for hi-tech centers of excellence.
Joining Papermint
One of the first projects by i5invest is to enter the Austrian 3D online world, Papermint. The virtual social network by the Viennese software company Avaloop went live on the 21st of March 2007 and was widely discussed in the national media scene. As a business angel, who contributes capital and know-how, Markus Wagner is now helping Papermint with financing and internationalization processes. "I see great advertising potential with Papermint. The advertising volume inside of virtual worlds are growing rapidly", says Wagner. Avaloop is glad about the support and plans on going live in Germany and the rest of Europe as soon as possible. "A business personality such as Markus Wagner enriches our team enormously. He has a lot of experience with building up companies from the start and his knowledge concerning further financing and the planed internationalization of Papermint will be a great help for us," says Martin Sirlinger, Managing Director at Avaloop.
By now i5invest is already moving into the same office building as the Avaloop team, which is located inside a former cinema in the 14th district, Vienna.
For i5invest the support of Papermint is only the first step towards a promising future. Ever since the IT branch got wind of Wagner's plans, more and more business ideas reach the i5invest office. Wagner plans on starting off with a few carefully selected ideas within the next few months, "I don't want to give away more about it for now" he says and smiles.
About i5invest
The i5invest GmbH ( www.i5invest.com ) is based in New York, Vienna and Salzburg and can be described as a start-up factory for the IT and telecom sector. Together with a team of 12 internationally experienced entrepreneurs and a network in New York, Boston and the Silicon Valley, i5invest works as an incubator for future online business ideas.
About Avaloop/Papermint
The Avaloop IT Solutions GmbH (www.avaloop.com) is Austria's first business that concentrates fully on the development 3D online worlds and virtual social networks. Avaloop's team of 11 employees is located inside a former cinema in Vienna and was originally build up by Lev Ledit, Martin Sirlinger, Markus Nenning and Claudia Kogler. On the 21st of March 2007 Avaloop's "multiplayer online game and chat" Papermint (http://www.papermint.com) went online.
About 3united/Verisign
At his last job Wagner was responsible for the quick and seamless integration of 3united AG with VeriSign New York. 3united, which was cofounded by Markus Wagner in 1999, quickly turned into one of the worldwide leading providers for premium-sms, m-commerce and mobile content solutions. In February 2006 the American telecommunication group VeriSign Inc. (Nasdaq: VRSN, http://www.verisign.com) took over 3united for 55 million euros.
Press contact:
i5invest
Bernhard Lehner
Hütteldorfer Straße 253, A-1140 Vienna
Mail: b.lehner@i5invest.com
Press-Hotline: +43 664 439 86 09
www.i5invest.com
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