Kodiak Venture Partners Adds Two New Advisory Board Members

Business Wire, Feb 20, 2007

Francis deSouza and Dr. Anthony Sinskey bring presence-based communication and bio-technology expertise

WALTHAM, Mass. -- Kodiak Venture Partners, a seed and early stage venture capital firm, today announced two new additions to its advisory board. IMlogic founder Francis deSouza and MIT professor Dr. Anthony Sinskey join existing members Atiq Raza and Mike Volpi on Kodiak's board of advisors.

"Francis and Anthony are long-time friends of Kodiak, and know first hand what it takes to be successful entrepreneurs in their industries," said Dave Furneaux, Managing General Partner, Kodiak Venture Partners. "We look forward to formalizing this relationship and extending their valuable industry expertise and networks to all of Kodiak's partners and portfolio companies."

A presence-based communication expert, Francis deSouza founded and served as CEO of IMlogic (a Kodiak portfolio company, acquired by Symantec). Previously, deSouza co-founded and served as CEO of Flash Communications, another real-time communications company. Microsoft acquired Flash Communications and tapped deSouza to lead its first significant real-time communication program involving instant messaging. More than an operations expert, deSouza's engineering background also includes research and development at the IBM T.J. Watson Research Center, Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) Department of Physics and MIT Media Lab. He earned master and bachelor degrees in both electrical engineering and computer science at MIT.

"I learned, as an entrepreneur running IMlogic, how closely Kodiak works with its portfolio companies," said Francis deSouza. "I am proud to be part of the Kodiak family, and look forward to working with the partners and portfolio companies in the presence-based communications fields."

Dr. Anthony Sinskey is a professor of microbiology at MIT (Dept. of Biology and Health Sciences and Technology) and currently sits on Cambridge Devices' (a Kodiak portfolio company) board of directors. He is recognized as a leading expert in the formation of new biotechnology enterprises and a renowned academic entrepreneur. Dr. Sinskey has participated in the founding and development of over 10 biotechnology companies including Metabolix, Genzyme, Tepha, ABEC, Merrimack Pharmaceuticals and serves on the board of directors and advisory boards of 8 companies. Dr. Sinskey earned a Sc.D. from MIT and a B.S. from the University of Illinois. He completed his Post Doctoral Fellowship at the Harvard School of Public Health.

"As an advisor to Cambridge Devices, I see the role that Kodiak plays in nurturing its portfolio companies; Kodiak knows that building companies into market leaders takes much more than capital, "said Dr. Anthony Sinskey. "I am delighted to join Kodiak's advisory board and look forward to playing an active role in the success of Kodiak's life science-related investments by extending the benefit of my experience and network."

About Kodiak Venture Partners

Kodiak Venture Partners is a Waltham, Mass.-based venture capital firm focused on seed and early stage investments in emerging communications/wireless, semiconductor/equipment, software/services and Internet/new media companies. With a focus in the eastern regions of the U.S. and Canada, Kodiak establishes relationships with entrepreneurs seeking market success. Kodiak's investment partners are successful high-technology business entrepreneurs who take a hands-on approach to building market leaders. For more information, visit www.kodiakvp.com.