Comdata adopts Cybera

Cybera, the locally based network security provider, announced Brentwood-based Comdata, the electronic-payments solutions company, has adopted its technology. Release here.

TN-N'ville Venture News

Our latest VentureNotes and NewsBits features include a couple dozen items on new ventures, a new Angel/VC fund, Venture INCITE, state and regional entrepreneurship and tech-transfer initiatives and more. Read it all here.

Cybera ONE tech offering

Cybera, the Franklin, Tenn.-based data security and payment-card systems security provider, announed today it's taking its Cybera ONE suite national. A recent release describes the suite. They said they've added Mapco as a client, also.

Cybera extends security

Cybera®, the Franklin networking and security-services provider for distributed enterprises, today announced the national launch of SECURE|WAVE, its wireless intrusion detection service (SaaS) that identifies threats and vulnerabilities by analyzing wireless network traffic. Earlier this year, Cybera launched SECURE|Link, to help protect Cloud operations.

Cybera's new Cloud solution

Franklin-based Cybera this morning announced its Secure|Link "cloud-based security and connectivity solution for enterprise customers in the retail, restaurant, convenience and healthcare industries."

Cybera supplies Family Christian

Grand Rapids, Mich.-based Family Christian Stores, a retailer of books, music and other Christian products, has adopted Franklin-based Cybera's cloud-based SMART|Network services, according to a release out today.

Cybera picks Scorecard exec

Franklin-based Cybera picked a former Investment Scorecard and Ticketmaster executive, David Lafontaine, to be its new VP for its customer resource group. Release here.

NV techies in VC crosshairs

nTelagent and other healthcare companies are attracting more interest from VCs, reports NBJ. Data security concerns are driving growth at Franklin-based Cybera Inc., which creates dedicated private transactions networks, according to NBJ's Linda Bryant. Cybera is backed in part by Claritas Capital, based in Nashville, as well as by Louisville-base Chrysalis Ventures and Chicago-based Adam Street Partners.

Cybera partners-up

Franklin-based Cybera is moving product and services out to Omaha-based Pamida and Salt Lake City-based Tomax, releases here. Cybera integrates enterprise applications, including private intranet, VoIP, transaction processing, Wi-Fi hotspots and IP video with managed-security and network technology. On Jan. 12, Cybera issued a release on recent milestones in service to customers, here.

Cybera targets enterprise

Cybera, the managed-networks and services provider based at Cool Springs, announced Paul Melton (left) as VP-enterprise sales. Melton was co-founder and VP-sales/marketing for Global Linking Solutions, a managed-services company. Earlier, he was AT&T’s regional sales director for Internet Services. Melton reports to Ken Royer, SVP-sales. Our previous coverage of Cybera here.

Nashville business whistlin' in the dark?

It's great to report that business-sorta-as-usual continues: As reported on VNC today, Frank Pazera of TechCFO is bullish on entering the Nashville market to provide CFOs to tech and life-sciences firms. At the same time, responses to our recent very-informal survey of 104 IT executives suggests, at best, a little tension out there. See the story here. Though there is certainly concern about layoffs, it's interesting to see that CEOs are less concerned on that dimension. At the same time, we continue to hear reports, formally and via the grapevine, of a steady stream of layoffs, realignments and reductions in force. LP, Eastman, Cybera, JewelryTV and others are among the TN firms right-sizing. We'll stick the gauge in, again, this spring and see what folks think then.

Start-ups: 'Resetting expectations'

The New York Times reports today that many startups, often under pressure from their VCs, are doing as we reported Nashville-based Cybera doing -- eliminating discretionary staff and overhead where possible, even when there's plenty of cash onhand, to ensure they have a longer run. Others, said the Times, are turning to wind-down specialists, 'because not every startup that can stay in business, should'. Here's a related Jeff Cornwall post on coping with tough times. The shirt's from StartUpWear, which shares its VC pitch here.

Memphis 'Barbarians'? VC weighs-in amid lay-offs in venture sector

Memphis-based Southeastern Asset Management (SAM) has upped its stake in Sun Microsystems to more than 21 percent (SEC filing), and seems poised to press management for cost reductions at Sun, according to reports in Bay Area papers. SAM Founder Mason Hawkins' recent presentation (filed with SEC) provides a fascinating glimpse into his thinking about the current market, the 7th Bear market in SAM's 33 years of operation. The WSJ blogged about it this morning. The news follows a stream of reports that venture-backed companies are opting to cut costs quickly, before things get worse, reflecting a mindset similar to that which we reported at Nashville-based Cybera, which says it's tightening resource allocation to strategic priorities. With big brands like Yahoo! and eBay having announced about 4,000 job cuts this year between them, and others following, the climate has become conducive to cost-cutting. Says one Valley columnist, "Venture capitalists, including Silicon Valley stalwarts Sequoia Capital and Benchmark Capital, have issued ominous warnings to their portfolio companies about the tough times ahead, coupled with advice to reduce spending." In September, the nation reportedly experienced its worst rash of mass layoffs since September 2001, with 2,269 such events last month. Each one involves at least 50 workers laid-off for at least 30 days. Here in Tennessee, the Memphis Business Journal reports there were a total 29 mass layoffs announced in Tennessee during August and September.