71.   Twelve venture capital firms now have offices in Austin, most of them arriving in the past three years, and other out-of-town venture firms are interested.

72.   Venture firms raise money from pension funds and other long-term investors.

73.   Venture firms can be particularly choosy about whose money they use because they do not need to raise as much money as buyout specialists.

74.   Venture firms have the right to sue investors who try to back out of funds, but it rarely happens.

75.   Venture Strategy Partners of San Francisco is another venture catalyst firm that focuses on consulting.

76.   Wilson said she approached dozens of venture firms but, like many other startups, found the well had run dry.

77.   Worse yet, Lycos board member David Wetherell, chief executive of the Internet venture firm CMGI Inc. in Andover, reversed his earlier support for the merger.

78.   Yett said he is aware of several venture firms that are trying to raise funds but are finding little interest from limited partners.

79.   He will become chairman and CEO of Associated Communications, a small venture firm in high-tech wireless communications.

80.   But scandals involving start-up venture firms have rocked his administration.