ANDALE LAUNCHES NONPROFIT PROGRAM TO HELP LOW INCOME INDIVIDUALS BECOME INTERNET ENTREPRENEURS

Andale and partners to provide hands-on training and financial aid for building an Internet auction selling business

SANTA CLARA, Calif. – March 2, 2000 – Andale™, Inc., the company setting the standard in web-based business management solutions for online sellers, today announced a nonprofit program designed to turn qualified low income individuals into successful Internet entrepreneurs. The Andale Entrepreneur Assistance program offers hands-on training, financial aid and ongoing support to lower income individuals striving for independence. This represents the first work assistance program designed to help people build their own Internet-based businesses.

Andale has joined forces with several Bay Area and nationally-affiliated organizations to develop the Andale Entrepreneur Assistance program, including Sacred Heart Community Service, Second Start, and Lenders for Community Development (LCD), a community development financial institution representing a consortium of 23 banks.

"We have Andale sellers who started their businesses with a $5 product they sold on eBay and built up an inventory of items to sell just based on the profits from that first online sale," said Munjal Shah, CEO of Andale, Inc. "Auction selling businesses naturally have a low barrier-to-entry and Andale wants to extend this exciting opportunity to ambitious low income people across the country. The Andale Entrepreneur Assistance program is designed to be a 'jump-start' for individuals who are ready to put the time and energy into building their own Internet business."

Andale Entrepreneur Assistance Program
Andale is creating an innovative training program with the assistance of Sacred Heart Community Service and Second Start. Both organizations already offer "Welfare to Work" types of services and are looking to add auction selling as another option for qualified clients. A pilot program will start this spring involving low-income individuals identified by these organizations. The full program will be implemented in the Bay Area in June with national rollout by the end of the year.

In a classroom setting, Andale Entrepreneur Assistance participants learn everything from how to start a home-based business and financial record keeping, to how to sell on Internet auction sites and identify additional inventory to sell. Individuals who successfully complete this training are eligible to apply for financing through Andale and LCD to start their home-based businesses. Knowledgeable follow-up and support is provided over their first six months of business operations to help ensure the success of the individual.

According to Michael Brauner, executive director of Second Start, "The Andale Entrepreneur Assistance program is a work assistance effort that is current with the times and trends shaping the economy, and provides an excellent business opportunity for our members. We are excited to be a part of this ambitious program."

Nonprofit organizations interested in offering the program should contact Trish Brock, project coordinator, at 408.997.0985. Interested participants should call 800.857.2757

About Andale

Andale (Ahn-du-lay) app.vendio.com is the first Web-based Auction Business Management service for auction sellers that makes it possible to sell twice as much merchandise, on multiple markets such as eBay™, Amazon.com™ Auctions, Yahoo!™ Auctions and others, with half the amount of time and effort. Andale offers a best-of-breed resource for automating and managing all aspects of auction selling – from product merchandising, to inventory and financial management, to customer communications and supplier sourcing – on multiple Net markets. Andale has received financing from Accel Partners, Mohr Davidow Ventures, Oak Hill Venture Partners and other angel investors. For more information call, 1-800-450-7515 or visit app.vendio.com.