FALMOUTH, ME — May 13, 2003 — Entrepreneur Mark Waite and scientist-engineer Dr. Dan Martin announce they have formed Launch Momentum LLC to help technology innovators create value and accelerate the process of turning their ideas into successful businesses.

“Maine has a wealth of technology innovators with million-dollar ideas that we want to turn into $100-million companies,” says Mark Waite, Launch Momentum President. “Our goal is to spark growth and create a flourishing, sustainable, and commercially successful technology community.”

“Our engineering expertise means we can decode complex problems and get engineering and product development teams on the right track,” says Dan Martin, PhD, Launch Momentum Chief Technical Officer. “Combined with our business development and marketing experience, Launch Momentum can help companies move to the next level of growth and create more value.”

Launch Momentum combines strategic consultation with tactical implementation to identify and execute critical success factors:

• Evaluating technical ideas for commercial potential
• Focusing engineering and development teams to create market-driven products
• Developing and executing scalable marketing strategies
• Attracting and securing working capital

“Launch Momentum offers a unique combination of entrepreneurial experience, financial know-how, and technical ability which when combined can improve the velocity of a company’s development. That's real value in today's marketplace,” says Peter G. Moore, Managing Director, Rockwater Capital.

“Many small tech companies in Maine accomplish an amazing amount with only one or two executives,” says Greg Fryer, a partner at Verrill & Dana, LLP, which is counsel to Launch Momentum. “As talented as those executives might be, however, there will often be some significant gap in their expertise. Being able to draw upon a firm like Launch Momentum for technical or bring-to-market issues could really make a difference.”

Launch Momentum’s principals together have 40 years of experience working for a combination of start-up, small, and large technology companies, including Toshiba America Semiconductor, Raytheon, IBM, Scientific Systems, and General Signal. Most recently, Mark Waite co-founded semiconductor company Extreme Packet Devices, which was acquired by PMC Sierra for $415 million in 2000. Since leaving PMC Sierra in 2001, Mr. Waite has worked with local technology-based start-up companies in an advisory capacity. Dan Martin most recently was principal investigator of the Distributed Control Evaluation System (DISCO), and lead software developer on a Multiplatform Tracking Simulator project for Integrity Systems and the Air Force Research Laboratory.

Launch Momentum is actively seeking relationships with emerging technology companies that need help turning their ideas into successful businesses, as well as established companies that need fresh insight and motivated team members.

About Launch Momentum

Launch Momentum transforms technology ideas into successful businesses. Founded by serial entrepreneur Mark Waite and scientist-engineer Dan Martin, its combination of engineering expertise and business development savvy identifies strengths and eliminates complexity to help technology businesses create value and realize their full potential. Launch Momentum’s goal is to spark growth and create a flourishing, sustainable, and commercially successful technology community within the state of Maine.

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