Interelate Hits Growth Milestone.

Business Editors

EDEN PRAIRIE--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Aug. 28, 2000

Company Hires 250th Employee and Flaunts a One Hundred Percent

Retention Rate in a Tight IT Market

Interelate, the leading customer intelligence application service provider (ASP), announced today

Since Interelate opened its doors in July 1999, the company's employee base has grown from 1 to 250, including technical, operations and sales and marketing professionals, and has maintained a 100 percent employee retention rate. Interelate attributes the exponential growth rate of its employee base--and its growing success--to the company's ability to attract and keep experienced employees.

The fast-paced growth of a technology startup usually draws many employees to its team, but it has been the exceptional leadership, stimulating culture, compelling business proposition and focus on company-wide growth that is making Interelate a "tech-success" in Minnesota. The company is particular about candidates and prides itself on hiring top talent. More than 90% of the offers the company does extend are accepted.

"Interelate is successful not only because of its exciting, growth-oriented business model, but because of the quality of employees we've brought on board to drive the business," said Wade Myers, Interelate's chairman and chief executive officer. "As a service-oriented company, Interelate's ability to scale our business model depends on our ability to attract top-notch employees to exceed the needs of our clients on an ongoing basis."

Driving employee growth through referrals is Interelate's primary tactic for attracting and retaining highly qualified employees. Many of Interelate's employees were referred by close friends or family members. Over the past year, Interelate has recruited employees from across the country, including executives and leaders from leading information technology, financial services, e-commerce, sales and marketing, knowledge management and Big Five management consulting businesses.

Interelate's recruiting strategy employs unique referral programs to help the company attract and retain technology talent on local and national levels. The company's "Who Wants a Raise?" referral program pays employees who refer new hires $100-per-month for the entire length of time both employees are with Interelate. Other creative and motivating programs are occasionally used to encourage employees to refer certain types of candidates.

"Even in a tight IT market, Interelate's culture and unique employee programs will help us meet our year-end goal of 500 employees and keep turnover rates low," said Jay Syversen, vice president of human resources. "Interelate's referral program works because employees are happy and excited to be part of this fast growing technology company and want to make sure they share their good fortune with family and friends."

Interelate gives employees the tools they need to do their jobs and maintains a culture in which employees thrive. Standard issue equipment for Interelate's completely mobile workforce includes Palm Pilots, mobile phones and laptops for every employee. Interelate's management team promotes strong work-life balance and all of the company's employees are the custodians of a culture that promotes passion, stewardship, insight and integrity. Beginning in October, the company will sponsor employee retreats that help employees understand and apply company values and also offer employees and their families plenty of time to relax.

Interelate's work environment and employee-focused benefits have helped the company establish and grow offices outside Minneapolis in Atlanta, Boston, Chicago, New York, San Francisco and Oregon.

INTERELATE'S MILESTONE EMPLOYEES:

Interelate's 1st employee, the entrepreneur and CEO behind Interelate's vision, was Wade Myers. If the Army advertises its ability to teach leadership skills and teamwork and stay cool-under-fire, Myers is a recruiting poster. Driven by carefully planned capital infusions of more than $30 million during the past year, Myers has grown Interelate purposefully, but with lightning speed.

The company's 50th employee, a Sony robot dog, "Digit," was anything but a traditional hire. Digit joined the Interelate team to boost employee moral on hectic days. Between Digit and the office-wide availability of toy Nerf guns, employees have plenty of options when they need to take a break.

Interelate's 125th employee is a senior solutions engineer in the company's Minnetonka, Minnesota office. Solutions engineers are responsible for developing customer intelligence solutions for Interelate's clients.

The company's 250th employee is a solutions engineer. Signed just last week, he will be joining the Interelate team in their Minnetonka office.

Having outgrown its first location, Interelate's employees are currently at two different locations in Eden Prairie and Minnetonka. The company will begin consolidating its corporate headquarters into a new campus in Eden Prairie, Minnesota later this year. The company also plans to continue to open and expand other offices.

ABOUT INTERELATE

Interelate is the leading customer intelligence ASP (application service provider) that rapidly delivers to decision-makers a unified view of relevant customer information and analysis. This innovative solution empowers clients to grow sales and profits through data mining, campaign management, personalization, and real-time recommendation. Interelate combines deep expertise in data analysis, CRM (customer relationship management), database marketing, and industry verticals with leading, analytics software, proven methodologies, and third-party data through a secure, Web-delivered service.

Interelate's partners include E.piphany, Loudcloud, Net Perceptions, Oracle, EMC, Sun, Microsoft and Dell. Interelate's investors include Goldman Sachs, Deutsche Banc Alex. Brown, and Dell Computer. Headquartered in Minneapolis, Interelate has offices throughout the U.S. and can be reached at (952) 908-8000 or www.interelate.com.