archer>malmo Launches Investment Company

Ad Agency's Owners Create Opportunities for Digital Entrepreneurs

MEMPHIS, Tenn (March 1, 2011)—archer>malmo's owners are so bullish about the future of digital commerce they have formed an investment company to cultivate startup digital businesses.

The new investment company, a>m ventures, was formed by four of the agency's principals, Chief Executive Officer Russ Williams; Chief Creative Officer Gary Backaus; Chief PR Officer Cynthia Ham; and Senior Vice President Jay Cooper.

Having formed a>m ventures in 2009, Williams has since been quietly conducting due diligence on prospective business startups or acquisitions. He is focused on opportunities that need both cash as well as "creative capital," something he sees in abundance at every turn in his responsibilities at archer>malmo.

In fact, a>m ventures has already invested in two startups with a third investment pending. The first was founded organically, based on an idea developed by Patrick Woods, a member of archer>malmo's lifesize digital marketing staff.

The startup was created to ease the challenges associated with conducting online fundraisers. As its name suggests, 5minuteFundraiser.com helps non-profits create and manage online fundraisers in about five minutes and provides simple tools for tracking overall campaign progress. The site is currently seeking Memphis-area non-profit organizations to beta-test the site. The site will expand beyond Memphis at the conclusion of the testing phase.

The second investment is in MarksMenus, a startup founded by Scott Brown and partners. MarksMenus is a unique and robust tool for matching diners with restaurants.

"My partnership with a>m ventures gives me access to the exceptional digital and marketing talent I need to more quickly scale MarksMenus to its full potential," Brown said.

a>m ventures has also signed on as a partner and accredited angel investor with Seed Hatchery, a mentorship-driven seed stage investment program that supports emerging technology entrepreneurs and helps them sharpen their ideas into strong startups.

"We're thrilled to have a>m ventures involved," said Seed Hatchery partner and founder Eric Mathews. "Its highly respected business acumen, digital depth and marketing skills will be invaluable to our entrepreneurs."

Williams said that while a>m ventures and archer>malmo are separate entities, the synergies are obvious. "We're excited about all the possibilities that are coming before us, especially knowing that we can call upon the ‘creative capital' of the 100+ talented people within the walls of our offices." Williams said.

"As we invest in start-up opportunities that can be maximized by strategic thinking, digital expertise and fresh marketing approaches, archer>malmo will benefit by acquiring exciting entrepreneurial clients and, in turn, the clients will become exceptional marketers with archer>malmo as their agency," he said.

Williams noted that Memphis is steeped in entrepreneurial tradition.

"archer>malmo has been around almost 60 years and we feel that today the city is as full of talent and possibilities as ever. Through a>m ventures, we hope to do our part to keep Memphis' entrepreneurial spirit alive and flourishing."

archer>malmo's offices are located in the Cotton Exchange Building in Downtown Memphis.

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about a>m ventures:

a>m ventures is an investment company formed by four principals of archer>malmo to invest in early-stage digital businesses. It is focused on discovering digital entrepreneurs who need cash as well as creative capital that leverages the marketing and digital expertise of archer>malmo. For more information, go to www.amventures.co