San Jose, January 15th, 2005 – Software industry veterans Jim Leonard and Pat Bitton today announced the formation of a new sales and marketing service for technology start-ups under the name Euresto Partners.

"When it comes to sales and marketing, start-ups are torn in many directions”, says Leonard. "Should we sell direct or through channels? Should we hire our own sales people or outsource to an agency? How do we get those first reference sales? How can we generate leads when we don't have a marketing budget? Where does PR fit? The list just goes on and on.

"We've both been in this position in the past, and the single most valuable resource would have been unbiased advice from someone who's been through this experience themselves. That's why Pat and I decided to form Euresto Partners, to do just that.”

Both Leonard and Bitton come from an anti-virus background; Leonard was McAfee Associates' first Director of Sales, and Bitton brought Dr Solomon's Software to the US (where it was subsequently sold to McAfee). The pair first worked together at Trend Micro in 1996, with the launch of Trend's first enterprise anti-virus product, InterScan VirusWall. In the late 90s, they moved on to Perpetual, an early-stage systems management startup where they added business plan development, operational support and venture capital raising skills to their portfolios. Most recently they joined forces again at PestPatrol, the first commercial anti-spyware company, in 2001; PestPatrol was acquired by Computer Associates in August 2004.

Former colleagues wholeheartedly support the new venture:

"I've known and worked with Pat for many years. She built a strong marketing team and international channel that were significant factors in the successful sale of PestPatrol", says Bob Bales, former President & CEO of PestPatrol, and co-founder of the National Computer Security Association (NCSA), later the ICSA and now known as TruSecure Corporation.

Adds Greg Gianforte, Founder and CEO, RightNow Technologies, "Jim has a natural ability to find prospects' hot buttons and turn them into buyers - even better, repeat buyers. Companies trust his judgment and know he won't waste their time with solutions that don't fit their needs."

Euresto Partners has signed its first client, an email security vendor, and is in discussions with several other start-up ventures. "We welcome approaches from technology companies directly, by referral, and through venture capital investors”, says Bitton. "We have informal relationships with several VC firms, as well as industry analysts and consultancies in complementary areas of operation.”

Additional information about Euresto Partners may be found at the company's web site, www.eurestopartners.com, or by telephone at 1-866 835 9800.