HAMBURG, GERMANY – February 25, 2004 - Earlybird, an international venture capital fund, is placing additional focus on the growing medical devices market, which is forecast to experience double-digit growth for the next five years, by expanding its medical devices team. The Company today announced that Thom Rasche has joined as venture partner and Graham Lay has joined as venture advisor.

Rasche was the former managing director for ETHICON Endo-Surgery in Germany (a Johnson & Johnson company) focusing on minimal invasive surgery and the vice president Europe for CRITIKON, the inventor of non-invasive automated blood pressure monitoring. Lay, who brings expertise in medical device research and development and clinical and regulatory affairs to Earlybird, is the general manager of NEXAN, Inc., providers of wireless patient monitoring technologies. Previously, he was vice president of research and design for Johnson & Johnson.

“The addition of Thom and Graham brings a wealth of commercial experience to Earlybird”, said Rolf Mathies, a founding Partner of Earlybird. “Additionally their deep industry knowledge will be a real asset as we assess the great investment potential in the medical devices market in the near future.”

Earlybird is the 2nd most active Venture Capital company according to the German Venture Capital Panel 2003. Currently Earlybird has investments in Medical Devices in Calypso Medical, Zonare Inc. and Hemoteq GmbH.

Additional Earlybird Healthcare investments can be found on this homepage at Portfolio/Healthcare.


About Earlybird:

Earlybird is an international venture capital fund with approximately $300 million under management and an investment focus on Healthcare, IT and Technologies. With offices in Europe (Hamburg, Munich) and the US (Palo Alto), Earlybird is well positioned to take advantage of international opportunities and to assist its portfolio companies in gaining access to the international market place and financial resources. Earlybird's investment professionals have extensive finance and start-up operating experience, providing pro-active support to their portfolio companies. In addition, an experienced network of industry specialists serve on the Earlybird advisory board, assisting Earlybird and its portfolio companies by providing strategic advice and operational support. Additional information regarding Earlybird can be found at http://www.earlybird.com.


For further information, please contact:
Daniela von Wedel
Van-der-Smissen-Str. 3
22767 Hamburg
Tel.: +49-40-4329 41-0
Fax: +49-40-4329 41-29
vonwedel@earlybird.com



  www.earlybird.com