08/24/99
ConsumerREVIEW.com Secures Additional $6 Million Capital Investment Leading European Venture Capitalist Invests In Second-Round Funding Of Web-based Consumer Product Review Site

Sunnyvale, CA. - August 23, 1999 - ConsumerREVIEW.com, Inc. (www.consumerreview.com), the leading Internet provider of quality consumer-generated product reviews and content, today announced more than (USD) $6 million in private equity funding through the Swiss-based venture capital firm Friedli Corporate Finance. This round of equity financing will provide ConsumerREVIEW.com the capital to further promote and create new product-centric enthusiast communities, deliver a scaleable and extensive consumer-generated review capability to partners, and expand its content distribution.
 
"This financing will help jumpstart our objective to rapidly expand product categories and meet the demands of consumers researching products on the web," said Max Mancini, ConsumerREVIEW.com CEO. "As the leader in quality consumer generated reviews on the web, we provide critical information to consumers who have many options for product purchases, but little information to help select exactly the right product. This funding guarantees we can maintain that leadership by quickly adding new sites and implementing strong content distribution programs."
 
ConsumerREVIEW.com develops and manages web communities around common product interests. ConsumerREVIEW.com's mission is to provide consumers the opportunity to review and learn about the products they use, as well as have a forum to interact with people who share a common interest in a hobby or recreational activity. Its Web properties are dedicated to meeting the needs of consumers who are researching products on the Web. This consumer resource is created and grown by developing an environment in which enthusiasts can interact in a focused environment. The communities are created in areas where a large number of products exist and the participants exhibit passion and commitment that will stimulate regular involvement in an online community. Each site contains an online environment that fosters communication, community spirit, and consumer-generated reviews of products, and provides an easy-to-use interface to a large database of product information, forums, and other useful content.
 
ConsumerREVIEW.com distributes its content through its web properties, as well as through relationships with product research and e-commerce partners. Additionally, ConsumerREVIEW content can be found through a number of product research resources on the web including, Excite (Jango) (Nasdaq: XCIT), Netscape NetCenter (Nasdaq: NSCP), Ask Jeeves, and 800.com. With the new investment, ConsumerREVIEW.com plans to significantly expand the number of content distribution relationships.
 
About Friedli Corporate Finance
Friedli Corporate Finance is the leading Swiss venture capital firm representing European public and private investment funds and affiliates of major European banks. Since its inception, Friedli Corporate Finance has invested in nearly 100 early stage companies in the United States in the areas of biotechnology, communications, computer technology and Internet. In 1997, Friedli launched New Venturetec, the first publicly traded venture capital investment company traded on the Swiss Exchange. Friedli recently doubled the size of New Venturetec with investments from many of Europe's largest banks and industrial leaders.