www.the-ef.org/wn-BJ062298.html -
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Published on: 11/4/1999
Last Visited: 5/7/2002
"I could give stock to anybody in this kind of a program," said Dave Corbin, CEO of Silicon Light Machines, one of the first companies to join with the Entrepreneur's Foundation."But what I liked about EF is that the idea is not to do a bunch of little programs with untried people and untried management, but to take tested programs with good people and management, and duplicate them on a broader scale."
Eleven startups already have joined with the Entrepreneur's Foundation, and the organization hopes to have 50 signed on by the end of the year.
After five years, Mr. Myers wants to have 500 companies involved, generating $200 million in equity and supporting 15 community organizations a year.With 600 new startups in the valley each year, the foundation should always have a replenishable supply of equity, even if all companies are not successful.
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"I may not have any proof, but I believe companies that are people-oriented, community-oriented, even environmentally oriented, are viewed very positively by customers," said Mr. Corbin about his decision to involve Silicon Light Machines with the Entrepreneur's Foundation."From my perspective, I'd like to be seen as one of the companies that does give, as opposed to one that does not."