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| Katerra Corporation |
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Go To: Company Overview |
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Go To: Product/Technology Overview |
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| Position: CEO |
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Go To: Continuum Page - SciFi MMPG |
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Go To: AtTheCrossroads- Classic Gaming |
Products/Technology:
- Massive multi-user 3D environment client/server technology platform
- The Continuum - SciFi MMPG (built using Katerra technology)
- At The Crossroads - Classic Gaming Web Site
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| Situation/Background: Katerra
Corporation was a spin-off from Miacomet, Inc. Miacomet's VP of Development, Rusty
Dawe, a highly regarded engineer and architect in the software industry had worked on the
first truly massive multi-user internet gaming platform at Sierra On-line/Imagination
Network. This work was later purchased by AT&T and ultimately found is way to
America Online (AOL) as the foundation for WorldPlay. The project was essentially
buried at AOL and the disappointed development team scattered to other companies.
Upon learning about this project and its potential I asked Rusty Dawe to determine which
of the original 12 member team would be available to pick up where they left off if the
project was resurrected and funded. The answer was 8 out of 12 were absolutely
willing to pursue completing their dream, and the others would join over time as they
finished existing projects. This project was labeled "Omniworlds" as the
technology would allow the ability to build massively multi-user interconnected 3D worlds.
The project overview document, created by Rusty
Dawe, along with a business proposal was presented to the Miacomet, Inc. board of
directors for approval to be funded and spun-off as a unique entity with unique business
goals that complimented Miacomet but required a focused management team and corporate
identity. The Miacomet board of directors approved pursuing the Omniworld project and
Miacomet's primary investors, Dennis Kozlowski and Mark Swartz of TYCO Industries, agreed
to cover the entire seed round of $6M for the venture. The venture was initially
renamed eWorlds, Inc. and ultimately settled on the trademarkeable name of Katerra
Corporation.
A key component of the Omniworld proposal was the desired acquisition of the company
Crossroads Media Group which developed and ran the classic gaming web site www.atthecrossroads.com . This company was
primarily owned and operated by Gary Skiba and Richard Gardella. It was determined
that a critical success factor for the Omniworld project was talented management,
development, and gaming content. The acquisition of the Crossroads Media Group went
a long way in meeting these requirements. Gary Skiba was recruited to be President
and COO of the company given his unique talents as an accomplished developer and business
manager and Richard Gardella was recruited as the chief developer for our classic gaming
content. The atthecrossroads.com site, provided classic gaming content and vehicle
to rapidly accumulate a base of users that could later be transitioned to be the first
users of Katerra's 3D world creation platform. An equally important component of
success was the recruitment of Mark Tsai (from GameFx/THQ), a game industry veteran who
could and did assemble the talent required to build a groundbreaking massively
multi-player game using the Katerra Platform technology. This component was
needed to drive the efforts of the client/server team to build the most robust environment
possible, and to provide a state-of-the-art game that would draw attention to the
platform. The project name for this MMPG was "Continuum".
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| Position Objectives: After post seed
round funding the key first year objectives were to hire the management talent required to
build and bring to market the 3D client/server development technology and related
software, meet or exceed development spending and implementation milestones, build
relationships with strategic business partners, and line up post-seed round financing
partners. |
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| Issues: The technology being developed
was extremely complex and could easily be subject to delays. Management and
engineering talent was very hard to attract given the rapid growth of .com organizations.
The adoption and deployment of broadband connections in businesses and at home
would be crucial to the success of the company. |
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Results:
- Company attracted and recruited all senior management and core engineering talent in
first 3 months of operations.
- Company successfully ramped up operations in Oakhurst, CA, Woburn, MA and Springfield,
MA growing from 0 to 40 employees in 6 months. Company communications and accounting
backbone technologies in place and operational.
- Company after 10 months of operations met every development milestone and was almost $1M
under budget.
- Company had recruited the first 3 Beta test customers and was in active discussions with
the top five gaming publishers regarding developing strategic partnership.
- An updated business plan was created and over 30 Venture firms were contacted in efforts
to raise post-seed round financing.
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| Turning Point Event: The .com crash and
technology market downturn in Q4'00 disheartened the companies key investors and securing
post-seed round financing on a timely basis became a major point for concern.
Another significant issue on the primary investors minds was the reality than an
IPO would most likely not be possible in the near future given the dramatic shift in the
invesment communities views of internet related stocks. |
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| Response: In December 2000 the Katerra
Board of Directors voted to shut down the company immediately. Key reason cited:
Lack of faith that capital markets would be in a position, or willing to invest in
the company by it April/May 2001 deadline. The company CEO, myself, resigned prior
to this event due to disagreement with the board pursuing this course of action. |
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| Current Situation: The company has been
closed and ceased active operation as of the first week in January 2001. The company
technology and intellectual assets have either been transitioned to new companies or are
up for sale. (effective 2/15/01). |
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| For more Information see document and articles
below, or go to: |
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Company
Overview Page |
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