Dash Navigation™, Inc. (www.dash.net), a Silicon Valley start-up, emerged from stealth-mode today.


location based services

The company is developing a new consumer product and service that will, for the first time, give drivers timely and relevant local information on their dashboards. Backed by venture capital firms Kleiner Perkins Caufield & Byers and Sequoia Capital, Dash will unveil its first product on Sept. 26 at the DEMOfall conference.
In 2003 alone, Americans lost 3.7 billion hours of work productivity, quality-time with family and time spent relaxing due to traffic congestion. Dash saves drivers significant time and enables them to find and explore new destinations. Dash will not only deliver real-time and relevant information to the car, but also create a network of drivers who help each other avoid traffic and share information about their destinations.
"If you're a professional who spends hours a day on the road, a commuter stuck in traffic, or a soccer mom juggling schedules, Dash transforms your driving day," said John Doerr, partner at Kleiner Perkins Caufield & Byers. "Dash provides the best traffic and local information for your everyday life."
The Dash executive team leverages nearly a century of senior management expertise at successful consumer technology companies, including XM Satellite Radio, TiVo, RealNetworks, Logitech, General Electric, Good Technology, and Marimba.
Dash CEO Paul Lego is a Silicon Valley veteran with more than 20 years of senior management experience, including two successful IPOs. Lego was chief executive officer of Virage (acquired by Autonomy, PLC) and chief operating officer of Digidesign (acquired by Avid Technology, NASDAQ:AVID). Dash President and COO Rob Currie has15 years of experience growing Silicon Valley startups including TiVo, Marimba and Digidesign. Robert Acker, senior vice president of marketing launched XM Satellite Radio and led the RealNetworks consumer music businesses. Paul Lima, vice president of engineering has over 25 years of experience creating best-of-class consumer and wireless products at companies including Good Technology and Logitech. Steve Wollenberg, vice president of business development is a pioneer in the traffic and auto navigation with over 20 years experience partnering with companies like DaimlerChrysler, Delphi Automotive, Palm, and various departments of transportation.
"With over 200 million cars in the U.S. alone, the potential for the Dash network to help commuters is enormous," said Jim Goetz, partner at Sequoia Capital.
"Dash will set a new industry standard for accurate, up-to-date information that helps alleviate the growing problem of traffic congestion in most major cities," added Matt Murphy, partner at Kleiner Perkins Caufield & Byers.
Dash currently has 44 employees, and has been developing its product, network and service for more than three years. The company has significant engineering experience in both navigation and wireless network technologies, and has several patents already granted, with over 20 additional patent applications filed.
About Dash Navigation, Inc. Dash Navigation connects people to the information that empowers them while in their cars. The company is located in Mountain View, Calif. and is funded by Kleiner Perkins Caufield & Byers, Sequoia Capital, and Skymoon Ventures. For more information, visit Dash Navigation at www.dash.net.
Press Contact: A&R Edelman for Dash Tricia Arana tarana@ar-edelman.com