Companies

Crossmedia Corp., Reston

Business: Turning e-mail into audible messages Chief executive: Bob Nelson First Big Break: In 1996, $50,000 from William Dunbar, Pebble Hill Capital Now: Earlier this year received $2.5 million from Kwok Li, chief technology officer of Lucent Carrier Networks; launched first product; employees have grown from five to 16

Cyveillance Inc., Alexandria

Business: Software that finds illegal uses of a company's information on the Internet Chief executive: Brandy Thomas First Big Break: In 1998, $300,000 from Capital Investors (18-person investing group) Now: Went from seven to 30 employees since the funding; tripled revenues to $1 million in 1998; and doubled customers, which include the Recording Industry Association of America and Time Inc.

Digital Addiction, Laurel

Business: Online games Chief executive: Jamey Harvey First Big Break: In 1997, $100,000 from Digex founder Doug Humphrey Now: Has 13 employees, 1998 revenue was $250,000; projecting $3 million in revenue in 1999, 30,000 accounts set up

EyeCast, Sterling

Business: Remote monitoring over the Internet Chief executive: Shaun S. Amini First Big Break: In 1998, $300,000 from former UUNet vice president Jeff Osborn Now: Negotiating contracts with government and national retail customers, 20 employees

Net.Capitol Inc., Washington

Business: Internet products and services for political and public affairs organizations Chief executive: Oron Strauss First Big Break: In 1996, $50,000 from Softbank Ventures co-chairman Brad Feld, Bill Ritchie, president of Binary Arts Corp., and John Street, president of USA.Net Now: Has more than 100 customers, is profitable and doubled in size over the past six months

Newsletters.com, College Park

Business: Online clearinghouse for investing newsletters Chief executive: Ari Jacoby First Big Break: In 1998, $75,000 from former UUNet vice president Jeff Osborn and Digex founder Doug Humphrey Now: Has 65 newsletters on site, global partners, sales are up 400 percent from last year

Spring Technologies Inc., Falls Church

Business: ID systems that use scans of the human eye Chief executive: Stewart Mann First Big Break: In 1997, $100,000 from two people who don't want to be named Now: Test-launching two new products; has four employees, though no revenue yet

Womenconnect.com, McLean

Business: Web site for female professionals and business owners Chief executive: Susan Williams DeFife First Big Break: In 1997, $130,000 from former Legent chief executive John Burton, Don Heitzmann, a Boston investor, and David Segre, a partner with high-tech law firm Wilson Sonsini Goodrich & Rosati Now: One million page views per month, a 6,000 percent growth in traffic since first funding; 1998 revenue at $600,000