Better Technology Makes Better Hair and More!

Investors, inventors meet at InfoTech By CARLENE HEMPEL, Staff Writer CHAPEL HILL --

Remona Callair pulls up her hair before being photographed by Hal Wilson of Cyber Imaging™. She was holding her breath as Hal Wilson, president of Cyber Imaging, snapped her photo. Wilson, on the other hand, was breathing a sigh of relief. Because as the photo came up on the computer screen -- along with the hundreds of hairstyles Callair could "try on" with a touch of the screen-- people at Wednesday's InfoTech '99 conference started to gather. "Oh God, no, don't make it red," someone said. "I sort of like her with short hair," said another. It was just the kind of attention Wilson, who three years ago developed the personal appearance imaging software to sell to salons, was hoping for from the conference. Now all he needed was a venture capitalist to take note.

InfoTech, in its ninth year, was organized by the Research Triangle-based Council for Entrepreneurial Development and designed to show off the area's best bets to venture capitalists looking to invest in technology companies. The daylong event featured 25 area technology companies, a keynote speech by Red Hat President Matthew Szulik and a series of seminars designed to teach entrepreneurs how to make it big. "The focus of the CED is making the Triangle the best place in the world to start a business, to grow a business," said Suzanne Cantando, director of new program development for the CED. It looks as if the idea is catching on. There were 80 applications for 25 presenter slots this year, she said, up significantly from last year, though she couldn't say how much. In addition, about 800 people attended; a few years ago, they could barely get 300 to sign on. That means a couple of things, Cantando said: a growing number of start-ups and a growing interest in investing in them. It also means the Triangle is finally emerging as a good place to find the Next Big Thing in technology. And that, she said, is a big deal. Maybe it's true. After all, there were a bunch of Mercedes and BMWs in the parking lot, and just about everyone was ringing or dinging with some kind of electronic device.

The sidewalk outside was littered with people on their cell phones, and inside, every comfy chair was taken by someone slouching with a phone against an ear. For a new technology company in the Triangle -- and even a few older ones, including IBM and Red Hat -- it was the place to be. Michael Jones, president of Raleigh-based alerts.com, said he wasn't even in the market for venture capital to fund his company's software, which notifies Internet surfers when content they want appears on the Web. "We don't need money," Jones confessed. "I've got lines of people out the door that want to invest." But his investors told him to go. He should be there, they said; it would be good PR. Others had different ideas. "Why are we here? Well, looking for money is the simplest way to put it," said Jim Welch, vice president of Cyber Imaging, based in North Raleigh. "We need funding to take this to a different level." Scot Wingo, president of the recently launched auction site auctionrover.com, said he was hoping to rub shoulders with a few trend-setters and business leaders who wanted to strike up a deal. And by the end of the day, he was happy to report that he had succeeded. He had given out all his cards -- not including the stacks still available for the taking in the women's bathroom -- and had collected a good 85 of other people's. "Talked to some good venture-capitalist leads. Talked to some potential partners. Talked to some good potential employees," Wingo said from his cell phone as he prepared to tear down his booth. "Yeah, it was a good day."

Carlene Hempel can be reached at 836-4948 or chempel@nando.com.