Conduit Partners have established a number of strategic relationships with market leaders in specific fields of excellence that enhance and add value to the Conduit process. Partners include:

Blanc & Otus UK, www.blancandotus.com was launched in the summer of 2002, following an eighteen-year legacy of technology PR expertise, having been built in the United States. Offices in the US are based in San Francisco, Atlanta, Austin and Boston.

Blanc & Otus, which is a wholly-owned subsidiary of Hill & Knowlton, has always focused on supporting high-tech related clients, which range from start-ups to the Global 2000. Our expertise areas cover the Enterprise, Consumer, Convergence and VC industries.

In the UK, Blanc & Otus will solely support start-ups and fast-growth companies for two reasons: 1). We have launched to complement Hill & Knowlton's corporate technology offer, which supports the larger, technology companies; and 2). We believe the start-up space is the most 'fun' and where the best opportunities lie for a technology public relations consultancy. Our goal is to target potential clients who are portfolio companies of Venture Capitalists, as well as separate entities.

Our goals are 1). To make our clients desirable; 2). To make technology exciting again in the media and 3). To help start-up and fast growth companies 'shout louder' about what they often do better than their larger, more-establishedcompetitors.

Established in 1999, Calibre One is one of the leading specialist Executive Search firms focused on the Technology, Media and Telecommunications sector in Europe and the US.

With offices in London and San Francisco we have built a portfolio of clients which includes some of the world's leading technology investors and their portfolio companies for whom we provide both interim and permanent executive recruitment services.

Our commitment to quality is backed by one of the most comprehensive guarantees in the market and our list of reference clients is second-to-none.

As another member of the Conduit Partner community who help business teams perform to higher levels, City Challenge offers a refreshing alternative to the conventional team building event. It combines dynamic problem solving,team collaboration and navigation around some of the most amazing cities in the UK and Europe. City Challenge gets people moving and thinking in teams within the busy, real-time, real-life environment of a major city. Using orienteering principles and tasked with working as a team against the clock; your people experience complete involvement, improved communication and shared problem solving.

Hale and Dorr, a leading technology and life sciences law firm, is internationally recognised for its experience in venture capital transactions, initial public offerings, intellectual property and information technology, securities and litigation. Hale and Dorr represents clients in numerous sectors including telecom and wireless, software, hardware, electronics, biotechnology and medical devices. The firm's full service practice also includes tax, commercial, labour and employment, employee benefits, immigration, real estate, environmental, government and regulatory affairs and private client services, and a strong commitment to public service dating from our founding more than eighty years ago. Hale and Dorr has U.S., English and German law capabilities with more than 500 lawyers in offices in Boston, London, Munich, New York, Oxford, Princeton, Reston, Waltham and Washington . For more information please visit our website at www.haledorr.com

As one of the world's largest banking and financial organisations with an extensive global capability, the HSBC Group is a major player in the Business and Corporate and Institutional banking market.

The HSBC Innovation & Technology Unit co-ordinates the bank's specialist support for early stage technology-based firms. This support includes:

• An initial appraisal of technology proposals by the HSBC Chairs of Innovation at Brunel University and University of York.

• Specialist Technology Banking Managers in major technology clusters throughout the UK, to act as a firm's named local business banker.

• Provision of information about issues related to technology firms and updates on HSBC activities.

Ipsolutions is a strategic business within the AEA Technology Group and provide a wide range of Intellectual Property services designed to assess the impact IP can lend to the competitive positioning of a business. Conduit Partners and ipsolutions work together by undertaking a comprehensive audit into a businesses intellectual and capital property.

This is a crucial exercise is ascertaining the IP value of any given business with the objective of accelerating the development of the business and identifying the appropriate mediums to take the IP to market. In addition, this process forms the platform for the planning and execution of diagnostic workshops and further forums to explore the potential value a business.

For more information on ipsolutions and their partnership with Conduit click here.

James & Cowper is one of the largest independent firms of chartered accountants in the Thames Valley UK. A top 60 firm, it is a viable alternative to the UK's national accounting firms, offering a comprehensive range of services whilst retaining its partner-led approach. Delivering leading edge advice, James & Cowper provides a personal, professional and value for money service.

Shirlaws is an international business coaching firm, with operations in Australia, New Zealand, USA, UK and Europe. They help our clients' businesses implement new methods of day-to-day working, that supports and maintains the new focus and alignment delivered by the Conduit Methodology. There unique approach drives higher levels of individual and team performance to achieve both corporate and personal goals.