NEWS

Benchmark Capital Names Mitch Lasky General Partner

EDITORIAL CONTACT:
Stephanie Gnibus
GMK Communications for Benchmark Capital
408.776.9727
stephanie@gmkcommunications.com

Menlo Park, CA, March 20, 2007 – Benchmark Capital, a leading early-stage high-technology venture capital firm, today announced that Mitch Lasky, former CEO of JAMDAT Mobile, Inc. and executive vice president of Mobile and Online at Electronic Arts, Inc. has joined the firm as a general partner.

At JAMDAT, Mr. Lasky took the company from pre-revenue to an IPO in 2004, and led it through the successful sale to Electronic Arts in 2005 for $680 million. During his tenure, the company expanded from a staff of 11 to nearly 600 employees worldwide, transforming a small mobile game developer into the leading global publisher of wireless applications.

“There are very few executives of Mitch’s stature in either the mobile community or the gaming community, and he has established a remarkable reputation within both. We are really proud to have him join the firm,” said Bill Gurley, Benchmark Capital general partner.  “As the ecosystems of gaming, entertainment and mobile technologies converge, Mitch has the inside track on the publishers, mobile carriers and talented entrepreneurs --both inside and outside traditional Silicon Valley circles -- who are pushing the margins of new media.  He brings a rare blend of business judgment, practical experience and passion to everything he works on, and has the hands-on experience of taking a raw idea and turning it into a leading global company.”

In his new role, Mr. Lasky will identify investment opportunities in mobile content and platforms, next-generation interactive entertainment, and digital privacy and identity. Benchmark’s growing portfolio of mobile gaming and interactive entertainment includes JAMDAT, Red 5, Habbo Hotel, Second Life, Gaia, Bebo and Zlango.

“I am tremendously excited to have the opportunity to focus my energy, creativity and business skills on uncovering the next great disruptive interactive technologies and to help transform start-up ventures into successful companies,” said Mr. Lasky. “There are a lot of great venture capitalists in this valley, but only one great team of venture capitalists.  I’ve witnessed first hand the impact the Benchmark team has had on new ventures, and I believe their commitment to the entrepreneur and dedication to building companies of lasting value really set the firm apart.”

Prior to JAMDAT, Mr. Lasky spent five years at Activision, Inc., a leading worldwide developer, publisher and distributor of interactive entertainment and leisure products, most recently as executive vice president of Worldwide Studios. Earlier in his career, Mr. Lasky practiced law, worked at the Walt Disney Company, and started a massively multiplayer online game company.

Mr. Lasky received his Bachelor of Administration degree in History and Literature from Harvard College and earned a J.D. from the University of Virginia School of Law.

About Benchmark Capital
Benchmark Capital, a leading international venture capital firm, was founded in 1995 to help talented entrepreneurs with original ideas build successful technology companies. Benchmark’s general partners take a team-oriented, labor-intensive approach to venture investing to deliver a superior level of service to the firm’s portfolio companies. Benchmark’s portfolio includes high-profile start-ups like Bebo, Infinera, MySQL, OpenTable, Second Life, Tellme, Yelp, and Zillow, and franchise companies such as eBay, Juniper Networks and Red Hat. Managing more than $3.5 billion in committed venture capital, Benchmark has offices in Silicon Valley, Europe and Israel. For more information on Benchmark Capital, visit its website at www.benchmark.com.