New company lets startups get all-you-can-eat access to a comprehensive group of experienced advisors without burning cash.

PALO ALTO, CA July 10, 2004 -- Wasabi Ventures, today announced the launch of the company and its initial investments. The company offers startups a comprehensive group of experienced advisors that cover every aspect of growing a business, from sales and marketing to organizational design and creativity, along with industry-specific expertise in areas like biotech, wireless, and offshoring. The Wasabi Ventures approach lets an early-stage startup ramp up quickly by getting help from high-level executives it wouldn’t otherwise be able to attract or afford.

“Early stage startups seldom begin with a complete team,” Managing Partner Chris Yeh said. “Wasabi Ventures can fill those experience gaps with our partners, all of whom are practicing executives. We provide high-value, high-leverage advice and introductions to help with every aspect of an emerging business.”

Wasabi Ventures also announced its first investments: Believe Wireless, a full-service wireless ISP based in Baltimore, Maryland; Velocity Services Inc., the leader in affinity-based ISP services, based in Los Angeles, California; and Phantom Technologies, based in St. Paul, Minnesota, which licenses its patented audio