Peter Benedek, United Talent Agency (UTA)
John Borthwick, VP New Product Development, AOL Interactive Properties
Hugh J. Freund, Partner, Richards & O’Neil, LLP
Nicholas Grouf, CEO and Founder, PeoplePC
Benjamin V. Lambert, Chairman and CEO, Eastdil
Douglas Rushkoff, Professor of Media Studies, NYU

Peter Benedek is one of the founders and senior partners of United Talent Agency. A graduate of the University of Michigan, Columbia Law School, and the London School of Economics, Peter has built one of the most distinguished careers in Hollywood. UTA represents diverse talent such as Jim Carrey, Johnny Depp, Harvey Keitel, Terry Gilliam, and is responsible for some of the industry’s most critically acclaimed films and television programs, including The Sixth Sense, Magnolia, Three Kings, The Sopranos, Buffy the Vampire Slayer, Law & Order, and The Drew Carey Show. Peter brings to New Things unique access to Hollywood talent that can be leveraged in conjunction with Internet properties under incubation with New Things.

As Vice President of New Product Development, John leads a New York-based group responsible for identifying new brands and opportunities for AOL. The group was formed in February 1997 when John sold his company to America Online. John's company, WP-Studio, founded in 1994, was one of the first Web studios in Silicon Alley, sites produced included: Total New York, Spanker and äda ‘web. John holds an MBA from Wharton (1994) and an undergraduate degree BA in Economics from Wesleyan University (1987).

Founded in 1985, America Online, Inc., based in Dulles, Virginia, is the world's leader in interactive services, Web brands, Internet technologies, and e-commerce services. America Online, Inc. operates: two worldwide Internet services, America Online, with more than 22 million members, and CompuServe, with more than 2.5 million members; several leading Internet brands including ICQ, AOL Instant Messenger and Digital City, Inc.; the Netscape Netcenter and AOL.COM portals; the Netscape Navigator and Communicator browsers; AOL Moviefone, the nation's #1 movie listing guide and ticketing service; Spinner.com and NullSoft's Winamp, leaders in Internet music; and Mapquest a leader in providing online, voice and wireless mapping, directions and destination information solutions. Through its strategic alliance with Sun Microsystems, the company develops and offers easy-to-deploy, end-to-end e-commerce and enterprise solutions for companies operating in the Net Economy.

A partner and Chairman of the Executive Committee at Richards & O’Neil, LLP, Hugh brings over thirty years of legal experience to New Things. Hugh and his team at Richards & O’Neil provide expert advice on the formation of Internet startups, and legal matters relating to the effective administration of New Things. Hugh has represented numerous business investors in transactions with technology funds and companies. He received his A.B. from Dartmouth, and graduated from New York University School of Law.

As the Founder, Chairman, and CEO of PeoplePC, Nicholas Grouf oversees the fastest-growing American company, in terms of revenues, since Compaq Computer. Founded in January 1999, PeoplePC has over 500,000 users of its $24.95 per month personal computer, with contracts to provide Ford and Delta Airlines’ employees with home computers. Prior to creating PeoplePC, Nick served as a Venture Partner/Entrepreneur-in-Residence at Softbank Technology Ventures. A successful Internet entrepreneur, Nick founded Firefly in 1995, pioneering the use of personalization technologies on the Web. Firefly was acquired by Microsoft in April 1998. Nick holds an MBA from Harvard, and a BA from Yale. He spent his early career with McKinsey & Co. and Goldman Sachs. Nick brings to New Things first-hand knowledge of building Internet companies, and operational guidance on maximizing growth and speed to market.

Benjamin Lambert founded Eastdil in 1967 as one of the first real-estate banking firms in the United States. Since Eastdil’s inception, Ben has been involved in numerous real-estate partnerships, REITs, and the financing, sale, and management of all forms of real estate in the United States and East Asia. In addition to serving as CEO of Eastdil, Ben is a member of the Board of Directors of Hilton Hotels Corporation, the Irvine Company, and Ripplewood Holdings LLC. He is a past Chairman of the Board to the National Realty Committee, and serves as a Trustee Emeritus to Brown University, where he received his B.A. in 1960. With space being a perennial concern of all nascent Internet companies, Ben brings to New Things and its investments the ability to find innovative solutions to their needs.

Douglas Rushkoff is the author of seven books on new media and popular culture, including Cyberia, Media Virus, and Playing the Future. His latest book, Coercion: Why We Listen to What “They” Say, was published to critical acclaim by Riverhead in September 1999. Doug is a professor of media culture at New York University’s Interactive Telecommunications Program, and an advisor to the United Nations Commission on World Culture. He regularly appears on television and radio, from the NBC Nightly News and Frontline to Larry King and Politically Incorrect. New York magazine has listed Doug as one of the founders of Silicon Alley. Doug is an advisor to many early stage Internet companies, and a consultant to Fortune 100 corporations seeking interactive media guidance. Doug brings a unique cultural and intellectual perspective to New Things, with an ability to identify future cultural trends and media opportunities.