Bermuda's first formal networking event aimed at bringing together e-commerce entrepreneurs with investors and venture capitalists was hailed a success by Minister of Telecommunications and E-commerce Renee Webb.

The event, called Blue Angels and organised by the Ministry, saw more than 60 people attend the reception at the Centre Solutions rooftop gardens at the Zurich Centre South on Pitts Bay Road.

"I feel the evening has been a great success,'' said Ms Webb at the reception. "It has been very informative and proved to be a great place to meet people.'' The event had six presenters, John Hele, president of Worldinsure.com, Paul Helmers, president and CEO of Centre Solutions, Tony Nagel, CEO of QuoVadis Ltd, Elmore Warren, CEO and executive producer of Fresh Creations.com and Johann Wong, president of HedgeWorld Ltd.

Blue Angels is an informal non-profit group of private individuals which aims to link investors with ideas for e-commerce.

The idea is based loosely on `First Tuesdays' which started in London two years ago.

Since then the events have spread across the world and spawned thousands of start-up companies.

The introductory information stated: "Blue Angels aims to link private investors and high-growth potential companies, create an informal but interested network of investors and companies and act as a window on investment opportunities abroad and for foreign investment in Bermuda companies.'' Ms Webb said that Blue Angels sprang from the realisation that Bermuda has creative entrepreneurs with good start-up ideas and also has many "angel investors /groups'' who are looking for investment opportunities.

Ms Webb said: "The interaction of Blue Angels attendees may result in investment opportunities outside of the Island as well as the opportunity to drive new Internet ventures to Bermuda.'' Linking ideas with cash: Minister of Telecommunications and E-commerce Renee Webb addresses a group of Bermuda's entrepreneurs and venture capitalists at the first `Blue Angels' networking event aimed at getting e-commerce start-ups off the ground.

BUSINESS BUC