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- Historic Joint Venture Code Named "Project Voyager,"
To Drive Converged Media Experience With Integrated Internet Portal, Studio,
and Press, Launching in Late 2000
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- SAN FRANCISCO - Joe Firmage of Intend Change and Ann
Druyan of Carl Sagan Productions announced today the formation of a historic
joint venture, code-named Project Voyager (www.ProjectVoyager.com). The
agreement will result in a 21st century media network that intends to transform
entertainment and learning drawn from the rapidly expanding knowledge base
of science. The company is building the media network in alliance with
a select group of science, education, Internet, studio, content, technology,
and finance partners. Project Voyager has accepted seed investments totaling
$23 million, led by SOFTBANK Venture Capital and supported by Crosspoint
Ventures. The company's name will be introduced this autumn, and is scheduled
to launch globally in late 2000.
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- "The rise of the Internet has joined advancing tools
of visualization and interaction to make new experiences and services possible
for individuals across a borderless planetary community," said Joe
Firmage. "Soon, wireless devices fitting in the palm of a child's
hand will speak and understand spoken words, providing instant access to
a universe of learning, adventure and community for every mind. We are
building a remarkable company made up of visionary and talented professionals
who hope to address an audience of people in search of meaningful experiences
and knowledge."
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- "Carl Sagan, and those of us privileged to work
with him, demonstrated that there is a world-wide appetite for compelling
entertainment that reflects our deepening understanding of cosmic evolution
and our place in its great story," said Ann Druyan. "The global
success of these efforts, both critical and financial, transcend every
conceivable demographic of age, gender, economics and culture. There is
a hunger for myths, images and dreams that do justice to our radically
altered sense of who, where and when we are. . .And where we might go and
who we might become."
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- With seed financing of $23 million led by SOFTBANK Venture
Capital and supported by Crosspoint Ventures, the company is rapidly developing
its Internet, Studio and Press teams. The Internet team is drawing from
both internal expertise and resources and a network of strategic partners
to create a living platform for online learning and discovery, entertainment,
community and commerce related to nature and science. In each of these
areas, thoughtful, user-minded functionality is being pioneered. The studio
team has begun development on original works for television and cinematic
release in alliance with studio and distribution partners. The press team
will publish select works of nonfiction, fiction, and art in concert with
integrated learning and entertainment productions.
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- Proven science, technology and media executives will
lead the company. Joe Firmage will assume a permanent role as chairman
and CEO for the overall enterprise, with headquarters in San Francisco.
Prior to Project Voyager, Firmage was chairman of Intend Change, a leading
venture construction firm that created a small number of significant enterprises
in 1999 and 2000, the last of which is Project Voyager. Intend Change organized
$250 million in financing for these companies. Previously, Mr. Firmage
was the co-founder and CEO of USWeb/CKS, which pioneered Internet Professional
Services, and became the largest Internet consulting company in the world
during his tenure. Mr. Firmage writes and speaks frequently on issues of
social, economic, scientific, and technological transformation.
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- Ann Druyan of Carl Sagan Productions is assuming the
role of CEO of the studio subsidiary, with offices in Los Angeles and Ithaca,
N.Y. Ms. Druyan is a recognized leader in the world of science-based entertainment,
having collaborated with the late Carl Sagan on numerous projects including
the Emmy and Peabody Award-winning series COSMOS, the books COMET and SHADOWS
OF FORGOTTEN ANCESTORS, and the 1997 Warner Bros. motion picture CONTACT.
She was Creative Director of NASA's Voyager Interstellar Message. Most
recently, she is co-author of Passport to the Universe, the first presentation
of the Rose Sky Theater at the new Hayden Planetarium in New York City,
which premiered December 31, 1999.
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- About Project Voyager
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- Project Voyager is the code name of an integrated media
network that intends to transform entertainment and learning drawing upon
our knowledge of science. The company is being organized by Joe Firmage
of Intend Change and Ann Druyan of Carl Sagan Productions and has accepted
seed capital from SOFTBANK Venture Capital and Crosspoint Ventures. The
company will announce its name in late summer of 2000, and expects to launch
globally in late 2000. Additional information will be released in coming
months. Our announcement is on the web at http://www.ProjectVoyager.com.
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- Contact: James Espinas, Project Voyager, jespinas@intendchange.com
or 650-289-6657
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