PRESS ARCHIVE

NextStage Advisors Appoints Adams to Managing Partner Position

Collegeville, PA – July 2003 – Today, NextStage Advisors announced the appointment of Robert S. Adams to Managing Partner of NextStage Advisors, a subsidiary of T. Williams Consulting, Inc. (TWC) that helps companies become stronger competitors and more attractive to investors, buyers, and strategic partners. Adams joins NextStage after serving six years as Principal and Vice President of Safeguard Scientifics in Wayne, PA. There, he was chartered with sourcing, structuring, and negotiating many investments for Safeguard's portfolio.

At NextStage, Adams joins the executive team of Terry Williams and Dan McKinney. An ex-VC and entrepreneur, he has the unique ability to sit on both sides of the financing table.

"Rob brings tremendous experience to the NextStage team. I know him both personally and professionally, and can attest to the high caliber of his work. His strong track record as a venture capitalist will add momentum to the success that NextStage has already achieved," says Michael Forgash, Managing Partner and founding member of Zon Capital Partners.

While at Safeguard, Adams designed and executed private equity investment strategies for portfolio companies including PacWest Telecomm ($100 million IPO), Extant ($200 million acquisition), and ThinAirApps ($20 million acquisition). He also focused on building strategic relationships with companies such as IBM and Palm to increase deal flow. He currently sits on the Boards of OmniChoice Solutions, RealTime Media, and DotGlu, a subsidiary of Kirschenbaum Bond and Partners.

"We're excited to have Rob on board," says Dan McKinney, Co-founder and Managing Partner of NextStage, "He has strong operating experience in both large and small companies. His insight and experience with early-stage ventures will prove invaluable to the execution of NextStage's capital raising, marketing, and operational Business Advisory Services."

Before joining Safeguard, Adams spent time at Ernst & Young as a Senior Advisor in the Entrepreneurial Services division. At Ernst & Young, he worked with executives of technology-based, venture-backed companies to manage financial statement audits and financial advisory services. He also consulted with young organizations in the areas of capital raising, business plan development, and channel partnerships. After Ernst & Young, he gained experience in the media and entertainment industry overseeing P&L for a compliance division of a large business management firm.

Adams also served as a Financial Analyst for Intel Corporation in Chandler, AZ. where he helped to refine the indirect labor hiring practices of Intel's Pentium fabrication plant.

Adams is a licensed CPA and holds a Masters of Business Administration from the University of Michigan and a Bachelor of Arts in Economics from Skidmore College. He resides in Berwyn, PA with his wife and daughter.

About NextStage Advisors
Founded in 2003, NextStage Advisors strengthens young companies by improving their value proposition and better positioning them to attract venture capital. Focused on advising growth stage companies and preparing them for fundraising and long-term success, NextStage's expertise as veteran VCs and business operators includes identifying new market opportunities and modifying companies' business models, funding strategies, go-to-market strategies, and financial models to take them to the next stage.