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Former Level One Co-Founder Joins JatoTech Ventures as Partner

AUSTIN, Texas--(BUSINESS WIRE)--April 12, 2001--Daniel Ray, a co-founder of Level One Communications, has joined JatoTech Ventures LP as a partner, Walt Thirion and Molly Pieroni, co-founders of the Austin-based venture capital firm, announced Friday.

Ray joined Intel Corp. in 1982 as a senior design engineer for telecommunications mixed-signal integrated circuits (ICs) and left in 1985 to co-found Level One Communications, one of the first companies to successfully establish the fabless semiconductor business model. As a Level One Fellow, he was the key architect of most of Level One's revenue producing products. His contribution to the company's innovations in communications ICs played a major role in its outstanding growth and eventual acquisition by Intel Corp. for $2.2 billion.

Following the acquisition, Ray was made an Intel Fellow, Intel's highest technical position.

``Dan is a key addition to our company building model in that he'll play advisory roles with our portfolio companies and help us with technical due diligence on new companies,'' said Thirion. ``Moreover, Dan will be instrumental in identifying new technology directions well before they're on everybody's radar screen.''

Ray holds eight patents, with four pending, in the areas of communications systems architecture and high speed mixed signal CMOS (complementary metal oxide semiconductor) circuit design. He also has authored several technical papers and been actively involved in the creation of several IEEE (Institute of Electrical and Electronic Engineers) communications standards, including gigabit ethernet.

Ray received his bachelor of science degree in electrical engineering from the University of Arizona in 1981 and his masters of science degree in electrical engineering from the University of California at Berkeley in 1982.

``The JatoTech position gives me the opportunity to become involved with aggressive leading-edge technology companies whose knowledge, energy and enthusiasm are unmatched. I hope to leverage my expertise in communications systems and high speed mixed signal integrated circuit design to evaluate new technology areas in addition to consulting with existing portfolio companies,'' Ray said.

About JatoTech Ventures:

JatoTech Ventures, L.P. is an Austin, Texas-based venture capital firm specializing in start-up and early stage funding to new technology-based businesses focused in the networking, communications and Internet-related areas that have exceptional growth potential, proprietary and well-differentiated new products, services or market opportunities. For more information on the company, please visit the Web site at www.jatotech.com or call 512/236-6950.

     JatoTech Ventures LP, Austin
     Kari Hunt, 512/236-5956
     info@jatotech.com
     or
     Shelton Communications Group
     Rita Archer, 972/239-5119
     rarcher@sheltongroup.com