X-files chief exec back to earth with new startup

A controversial figure in the hi-tech world who quit his multi-million dollar company to advance his belief that the world's recent technological advancements come from alien intelligence, is back again in the Internet business.

Joseph Firmage, the founder of USWeb, left the company late last year and with $3 million of his own money started The International Space Sciences Organisation in early 1999. He had hoped to persuade the world not only that aliens exist but that much of the world's religious tradition and technological achievements are because of extraterrestrial influence.

But earlier this week, Firmage, along with USWeb/CKS president Toby Corey, announced they will start a new consulting venture called Intend Change Group. Although Firmage did acknowledge that he will continue to investigate and promote his beliefs in extraterrestrial intelligence.

Firmage said the new company will accept three to six startups this year and 10 to 15 per year next year. He added that the company will be different from a venture capital firm in that it will not invest money and will dedicate a lot more consulting time.

"The VCs (venture capitalists) don't perform a lot of the intellectual heavy lifting. They are going to sit down with you for two hours a day for six weeks," Firmage said.

Intend plans to help clients develop business plans and teach them to speak the language of venture capitalists. In return, Intend will receive 10 per cent of a client's equity.

"We'll identify ecommerce business opportunities, even write business plans, provide financing, recruit executive management, help set up strategic business partners, and launch online business and advise," Corey said. "We'll also spin off ecommerce ventures of traditional companies and become partners with startups."

USWeb will benefit in that Intend clients will automatically become USWeb clients as well. USWeb is a major investor in Intend. In a statement, Robert Shaw, USWeb's chief executive said, "our collaboration in conceptually and financially supporting Intend. Change is designed to fuel business growth."

Intend is partnering with Softbank Technology Ventures and others to provide financing and has lined up a unnamed executive search firm to recruit business mangers to head online ventures. The company, which plans to provide Internet-related services, has already signed up three firms: Electron Economy, Infrastructure Defense and Invesmart.

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See also:

Microsoft co-founder backs ET project

A project that uses computers' idle processing time to search for extraterrestrial life has received financial backing from several US hi-tech millionaires including Microsoft co-founder Paul Allen.  09 Aug 2000

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