Computer Manufacturers Shifting Their Focus to Start-Ups
R. Krause - August 18, 2000

Event Summary

In July Sun Microsystems, Inc. announced the iForceÖ Startup Community, an industry first marketplace designed to address dot-com customer requirements through cross-market collaboration. The community interacts online through the iForce Startup Community portal, where startups can find news, events, interactive forums and vendor information, and where qualified startups gain access to special offerings of industry-leading products, technologies and services. These vendors' enthusiastic participation in the program illustrates the dynamic growth and momentum behind the iForce Community program announced in March 2000.A broad array of Independent Software Vendors (ISVs), Application Service Providers (ASPs) and E-Integrators have joined forces through the community to focus on providing startups the leveraged relationships, expertise, and fast solution implementation vital to their success. By creating pre-negotiated solutions and delivering them through an easy-to-access online marketplace, the community ensures that startups adopt the right architectures, platforms, products and services from the outset, allows them to make these critical choices in Internet time, and frees them to focus on their core competencies. Consisting of nearly fifty companies, the iForce Startup Community represents the broadest cross-industry support for any startup-focused initiative in existence today. A key component of the Sun iForce Community is the Sun Developer Connection[sm] Startup EssentialsÖ offering, which consists of a bundle of hardware, software, and services at discounted rates, all pre-configured and designed specifically for startups.The iForce Startup Community serves as a dynamic forum for startups to make connections and conduct business with community vendors. Any startup may take advantage of the wealth of information and services Sun is making available on the portal, such as news feeds, insightful editorials, a startup events calendar, scheduled chats to facilitate community dialogues, and showcasing of startups and their real-life implementations. Approved members of the Sun Startup Essentials offering will gain access to pre-negotiated discounted or free offerings from nearly fifty iForce Startup Community vendors, including Sun and its strategic partners. A few days later, Gateway, Inc. announced its expansion of beyond-the-box offerings for business with eBusiness Accelerator Leasing, a program designed to meet the technology financing needs of high potential Internet-based start-ups. Through the program, available today, Gateway will initially lease computers and related equipment to help emerging businesses establish their technology infrastructure. The Gateway eBusiness Accelerator Leasing program gives emerging companies competitive options to build their important technology infrastructure with a trusted technology partner, while developing a positive credit rating. And unlike other dot-com leasing programs, Gateway's eBusiness Accelerator Leasing does not have program restrictions or membership fees - only credit requirements.Gateway's eBusiness Accelerator Leasing complements the relationships emerging dot-com companies have with venture capital and lending firms. Gateway's leasing program gives customers greater flexibility to expand their technology infrastructure, while preserving other funding for business growth and development. Gateway has teamed with eLease to administer billing, collection, tax and other infrastructure support services under an ASP arrangement that provides a flexible and quick time to market solution for customers.Market Impact..