Internet Entrepreneurs, The

Kraus's particular role in Excite

His position as the non-technologist pushed Kraus into the job of marketing and selling the Excite idea. In fact, he earned the nickname 'phoneboy' - his main task while his friends were developing the software being to get on the phone to bankers, investors, the coffee shop, whoever. He explains:

'The disadvantage I probably felt at the time was that I had no programming experience. But the thing that I knew I did have was an ability to talk to people and an ability to communicate. So when all this programming was going on, I felt that I was contributing uniquely because my job was very different to the rest of the jobs in the venture.'

A fresh approach to marketing has helped turn Excite into one of the best ...