Calgary’s Userful Receives $1-million Investment To Green The World’s Computer Industry

Aug. 19, 2008 - PRLog -- Calgary, AB - A Calgary-based software company that helped its customers cut global CO2 emissions by more than 29,000 tonnes over the last 12 months (the environmental equivalent of taking 5,000 cars off the road), is preparing to ramp-up sales of it's ecologically-friendly software that’s already revolutionized over 30,000 public and private desktops worldwide, says Tim Griffin, president of Userful Corporation.

Userful is a web-service that lets users multiply and manage their desktop computers. They can multiply their hardware investment, creating up to 10 independent workstations from a single computer by attaching multiple monitors, mice and keyboards. This reduces demand for electricity and cuts hardware waste by up to 80%.

Userful also enables users to manage and monitor their desktops through a central administrative web site, which generates significant savings in administration. Userful replaces expensive administrative tools, licenses, and IT staff enabling non-experts to easily manage and control their desktops from a simple web-browser. By switching to Userful, organizations typically save over 50% on their desktop computing costs, says Griffin.

In an effort to expand Userful’s international reach and boost sales of its products, AVAC Ltd. has committed a $1-million investment from AVAC’s capacity builder program.

“Userful software programs are becoming recognized as the new global standard in ‘green’ computing on Linux and represent a significant growth opportunity,” says Jacques LaPointe, senior
investment manager, AVAC Ltd.

“Userful’s products are unique in the marketplace and AVAC’s investment, which will be repaid through revenues over time, will help the company take better advantage of the global opportunities
their technology presents. It will also help Userful attract third-party risk capital to its user-friendly technology,” adds LaPointe.

More specifically, AVAC’s investment will help Userful attract new personnel and build channel sales, whereby independent partners act as an extension of Userful’s direct sales force, says Griffin.

“We’ve got a very successful product and this money is strategically important because of what it will help us do. The investment is also a vote of confidence in Userful and our long-term approach to the company’s development,” adds Griffin.

AVAC helps Alberta-based companies build capacity and attract commercial investment to advance ideas and products in agri-business, ICT, life sciences and other industrial technology sectors.

“The fund addresses a shortage of available funding from third-party investors for new and existing companies. It also provides mentoring, marketing and operational guidance and other support to help Alberta businesses become competitive in both local and global markets,” explains Ross Bricker, AVAC president and CEO.

Contacts:

Tim Griffin
President
Userful Corporation
T: 403-289-2177
Toll-free: 1-866-USERFUL (873-7385)
tim@userful.com
www.userful.com

Jacques LaPointe
Senior. Investment Manager
AVAC Ltd.
T: 403-274-2774
jlapointe@avacltd.com
www.avacltd.com

Ross Bricker
CEO
AVAC Ltd.
T: 403-274-2774
rbricker@avacltd.com
www.avacltd.com

2008 AVAC Limited
CALGARY LOCATION:
220, 6815-8 Street NE,
Calgary, Alberta T2E 7H7.
(403) 274-2774.

LEDUC LOCATION:
6547 Sparrow Drive,
Leduc, Alberta T9E 7V7.
(780) 980-2411
AVAC Ltd.

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About Userful (Userful.com)
Userful software lets you multiply and manage your desktops: multiplying your hardware investment by delivering up to ten workstations from just one standard PC, and managing them all through a central web-portal. Privately held and founded in 1999, Userful was recently named Alberta's 10th fastest growing company under $20 million in revenue.
For more information, visit http://www.userful.com