SARTELL — Andy Johnson briefly met the Weber brothers in summer 2006, when the Webers’ company, W3i, won the Ernst & Young Entrepreneur of the Year 2006 Award in the Minnesota and Dakotas region.

Johnson, then president of Minneapolis-based CMS Direct, also was in the running for the award. When he congratulated the Webers, he learned more about the sibling-owned company in Sartell that started in a college dorm room at St. Cloud State University.

“I was impressed,” Johnson said. “These guys built a fantastic company.”

And the Webers were equally impressed with Johnson. So impressed that W3i’s board of directors in December 2007 named him chief executive of the company.

(Excerpt of article from http://www.sctimes.com By Amy Trang, News Writer, February 20, 2008)
To view the full article on the Saint Cloud Times website, click here.)

Seasoned strategist and e-commerce executive joins W3i to grow its e-services that enable integrated, multi-channel digital content.

St. Cloud, MN December 13, 2007 – W3i Holdings, LLC, an e-service provider based in Sartell, MN, today announced its Board of Governors has appointed Andy Johnson as CEO for the company, effective immediately. Johnson brings over 30 years of senior-level experience and operational excellence in network database management and online marketing for companies, such as CMS Direct, Prefer Network and Fingerhut Companies, Inc.

As president of CMS Direct, a leading network database company serving the direct marketing industry, Johnson grew market share, creating and installing a business planning process, establishing a clear vision statement, mission statement, set of core values and defining a culture of accountability. Under Andy’s leadership, CMS Direct was named to the Minneapolis/St. Paul Business Journal Growth 50 in 2005 as one of the areas fastest growing privately held companies.

“With the appointment of Andy as CEO, W3i has secured a successful, experienced and highly capable executive who will build on W3i’s growth of 106% in gross sales in the last three years to expand its position in desktop and mobile e-services,” comments Robert Weber, Vice President of Business Development and Co-Founder. “Internet marketing has become mainstream and mobile marketing is posed for extreme growth. W3i is in a good position to capitalize on both emerging interactive channels.”

“Desktop and mobile marketing are essential in today’s multi-channel marketing arena.” comments Andy Johnson. “I am very excited to become part of the W3i team as we accelerate our growth in this digital explosion.”

About Us
W3i delivers proven desktop and mobile e-services, which enable increased revenue from integrated, multi-channel digital content. With e-services tested and optimized on over 15 million unique users each month, W3i can increase your revenue from digital content or provide a receptive consumer base for customized, targeted marketing programs. The three Weber brothers, owners of W3i, are recent winners of the Ernst & Young Entrepreneur Of The Year® 2006 Award in the Minnesota and Dakotas region. To learn more about W3i, visit www.W3i.com.

Tags: w3i, andy johnson, ecommerce, desktop, mobile, marketing, e-services, ceo

St. Cloud, MN, October 5, 2007 – Founder and CMO of W3i Holdings, LLC, Ryan Weber will be awarded the 2007 SCSU Alumni Award for the Graduate of the Last Decade (Gold Award) on October 12, 2007, at the 2007 SCSU Alumni Awards Dinner and Ceremony.

Commenting on the award, Ryan Weber, CMO, said, “It is an honor to have been selected as the winner of this year’s SCSU Alumni Awards. I was fortunate to attend SCSU who has a first class science and engineering program. We have built our winning team with many SCSU graduates allowing us to have 106% growth in gross sales over the past four years. My sincere thanks and appreciation goes out to the staff at SCSU and the entire W3i team. We have worked together to build a thriving Internet business in central Minnesota.”

The SCSU Alumni Awards spotlight those alumni, friends and employees of the university who demonstrate the highest standards of integrity and character, individuals whose career and life accomplishments reflect positively on our university community.

About W3i
W3i delivers proven unconventional marketing solutions. With over 15 million unique users each month, W3i provides a receptive consumer base for customized, targeted marketing programs including software marketing, lead generation, display advertising and product placement. The three Weber brothers, owners of W3i, are recent winners of the Ernst & Young Entrepreneur Of The Year® 2006 Award in the Minnesota and Dakotas region.

W3i Holdings, LLC, was established in 2007 to unite all its business services that were formerly known as Freeze.com, LLC, founded in 2000. Freeze.com continues to be a flagship consumer brand for W3i, along with Ringtone.com, ScreenSaver.com and Wallpapers.com. Today W3i employs more than 60 Internet professionals. To learn more about W3i, visit www.W3i.com.

About St. Cloud State University
Located in St. Cloud, Minnesota, St. Could State University (SCSU) is the largest member of the Minnesota State Colleges and Universities System, the second largest university in Minnesota. SCSU is one of the most highly accredited universities in the upper Midwest offering more that 175 academic programs.

Tags: w3i, ryan weber, scsu, alumni, mobile, st. cloud, st. cloud university, ringtones, screensavers, wallpapers

ST. CLOUD, MN – October 1, 2007 – Robert J. Weber, CEO and Co-Founder of W3i Holdings, LLC, was the keynote speaker at the 4th Annual RAIN Makers Conference held at the St. Cloud Civic Center in St. Cloud, MN. Rob shared his story both as a young entrepreneur that raised seed capital to start a high growth business to becoming an early-stage angel investor himself for other potentially high growth businesses.

“It is through angel investment that entrepreneurs get the funding they need to start businesses that invigorate the nation’s economy. According to the Economist, “America gets more than half of its economic growth from industries that barely existed a decade ago.” “The Internet has opened a new frontier for entrepreneurs. Growing our business to $27 million and over 50 employees has been a challenge. We have always utilized the advice and support of our investors.” comments Rob.

“RAIN Source Capital provides a solid template that makes it possible for people who’d like to be active investors to step up to the plate. Through the RAIN® funds, individual angel investors can share the expertise, the capital, the work, the risk and the financial and emotional rewards of supporting entrepreneurs, building growing companies, and having a positive impact on their community, as well as making money.” said John Reid, RAIN fund member.

About W3i
W3i delivers proven unconventional marketing solutions. With over 15 million unique users each month, W3i provides a receptive consumer base for customized, targeted marketing programs including software marketing, lead generation, display advertising and product placement. The three Weber brothers, owners of W3i, are recent winners of the Ernst & Young Entrepreneur Of The Year® 2006 Award in the Minnesota and Dakotas region.

W3i Holdings, LLC, was established in 2007 to unite all its business services that were formerly known as Freeze.com, LLC, founded in 2000. Freeze.com continues to be a flagship consumer brand for W3i, along with Ringtone.com, ScreenSaver.com and Wallpapers.com. Today W3i employs more than 60 Internet professionals in central Minnesota. To learn more about W3i, visit www.W3i.com.

About RAIN Source® Capital
RAIN Source Capital (www.rainsourcecapital.com) is a multi-state network of RAIN® funds that works with angel investors who are interested in supporting growing companies. RAIN Source helps bring together like-minded angel investors to form individual RAIN funds – and then provides these funds with capital, legal templates, a process for due diligence, management support, access to deal flow and other resources. RAIN funds share expertise, deals and experience between and among RAIN Source Capital’s multi-state network.

Tags: Rain source capital, w3i, ringtones, screensavers, wallpapers, entrepreneur, angel investment, marketing, mobile, internet

St. Cloud, MN, September 24, 2007 – Robert Weber, Founder and CEO of W3i Holdings, LLC, named as one of the CEO’s Under 30 in the 2007 Inc. 5,000 list.

“It is an honor to be named on the CEO’s Under 30 list. Growing an Internet business was a great learning experience. My sincere thanks and appreciation goes out to the entire W3i team and all our partners for enabling us to achieve 106% growth in gross sales over the past three years. We have worked together to build a thriving Internet business in central Minnesota.” comments Robert Weber, CEO.

According to Inc.com the Inc. 5,000, an extension of Inc. magazine’s annual Inc. 500 list, catches many businesses that are too big to grow at the pace required to make the Inc. 500, as well as a host of smaller firms. Taken as a whole, these companies represent the backbone of the U.S. economy. “The Inc. 5,000 provides the most comprehensive look ever at the most important part of the economy – the entrepreneurial part,” said Inc. 5,000 Project Manager Jim Melloan. “The expansion of the list has allowed us to tell the stories of larger companies, older companies, and a wealth of companies in industries like Manufacturing and Construction that are underreported in the business media. (Inc.com, PR Release, August 23, 2007, New York, NY)

About W3i
W3i delivers proven unconventional marketing solutions. With over 15 million unique users each month, W3i provides a receptive consumer base for customized, targeted marketing programs including software marketing, lead generation, display advertising and product placement. The three Weber brothers, owners of W3i, are recent winners of the Ernst & Young Entrepreneur Of The Year® 2006 Award in the Minnesota and Dakotas region.

W3i Holdings, LLC, was established in 2007 to unite all its business services that were formerly known as Freeze.com, LLC, founded in 2000. Freeze.com continues to be a flagship consumer brand for W3i, along with Ringtone.com, ScreenSaver.com and Wallpapers.com. Today W3i employs more than 60 Internet professionals in central Minnesota. To learn more about W3i, visit www.W3i.com.

About Inc.
Inc.com, the Daily Resource for Entrepreneurs, delivers advice, tools, breaking news, and rich multimedia to help business owners and CEOs start, run, and grow their businesses more successfully. Information and advice covering virtually every business and management task, including marketing, sales, finding capital, managing people can be found at http://www.inc.com. Complete information on this year’s Inc. 5,000, can be found at www.inc.com/inc5000.

Tags: w3i, robert weber, Ringtones, Screensavers, Wallpapers, CEO, Software, Inc.com, SMS, Entrepreneurs

St. Cloud, Minnesota, September 17, 2007—MIMA, Minnesota Interactive Marketing Association, announced this week that Robert Weber will be speaking at its annual summit on October 3, 2007 on “How to Create a Successful Widget E-Marketing Campaign.”

For over seven years Rob, CEO and Co-Founder of W3i, parent company of Freeze.com and Ringtone.com, has developed proven unconventional Internet marketing solutions for marketers and publishers. Rob will discuss widget e-marketing strategies, and how unconventional marketing is shaping the Web 2.0 marketplace. “Internet marketing is continually influx. Users want relevant content available at their fingertips and that is where widgets can keep your brand top-of-mind with the consumer.” said Rob Weber.

Rob was ranked as one of Minnesota’s “Top 20 Emerging Leaders” by Twin Cities Business Monthly (January, 2006) and is a regular speaker at marketing and business classes at St. Cloud State University and North Hennepin Community College.

About W3i
W3i delivers proven unconventional marketing solutions. With over 15 million unique users each month, W3i provides a receptive consumer base for customized, targeted marketing programs including software marketing, lead generation, display advertising and product placement. The three Weber brothers, owners of W3i, are recent winners of the Ernst & Young Entrepreneur Of The Year® 2006 Award in the Minnesota and Dakotas region.

W3i Holdings, LLC, was established in 2007 to unite all its business services that were formerly known as Freeze.com, LLC, founded in 2000. Freeze.com continues to be a flagship consumer brand for W3i, along with Ringtone.com, ScreenSaver.com and Wallpapers.com. Today W3i employs more than 50 Internet professionals. To learn more about W3i, visit www.W3i.com.

About MIMA Annual Summit
Over the past six years the MIMA Summit has grown to become the premier interactive marketing event in the Midwest, attracting professionals from all disciplines of design, media, promotions, content development, product development, publishing, marketing, usability and experience design. The 2007 MIMA Summit will be held on October 3, 2007, at The Depot in Minneapolis, MN.

Tags: w3i, freeze.com, ringtone.com, ringtones, mima, mima summit, widget, e-marketing, marketing, e-commerce

St. Cloud, Minnesota, August 6, 2007 — W3i Holdings, LLC announced today that Matt Mortenson has joined W3i as Director of Product Management, reporting to Ryan Weber, Chief Marketing Officer.

Prior to W3i Matt held various technical lead and management positions at Motorola, Inc. within their Networks business unit. In his last position with Motorola Matt served as the Business and Product Manager responsible for core network products. During his tenure he developed business and product strategies in telecommunications and technology markets working specifically with mobile messaging applications and next generation network product lines.

“Matt brings with him a wealth of Product Management experience from his position with Motorola, Inc.; and we’re excited to welcome him to our team. His experience will be an asset as we continue to grow our download and mobile business, Ringtone.com.” said Robert Weber, Chief Executive Officer.

Matt has a B.S. degree from the University of Minnesota, Institute of Technology, Minneapolis, MN and a Wireless Communications Engineering Certificate from the Illinois Institute of Technology, Chicago, IL.

About W3i
W3i delivers proven downloadable content solutions. With over 15 million unique users each month, W3i provides a receptive consumer base for customized, targeted marketing programs including software marketing, lead generation, display advertising and product placement. The three Weber brothers, owners of W3i, are recent winners of the Ernst & Young Entrepreneur Of The Year® 2006 Award in the Minnesota and Dakotas region.

W3i Holdings, LLC, was established in 2007 to unite all its business services that were formerly known as Freeze.com, LLC, founded in 2000. Freeze.com continues to be a flagship consumer brand for W3i, along with Ringtone.com, ScreenSaver.com and Wallpapers.com. Today W3i employs more than 50 Internet professionals. To learn more about W3i, visit www.W3i.com.

Tags: w3i, matt mortenson

St. Cloud, Minnesota, July 23, 2007 — W3i, LLC today announced a multi-year, global partnership with Yahoo! under which W3i will continue to offer the Yahoo! Toolbar, sponsored search and contextual advertising services to its 15 million unique users monthly.

As a leader in downloadable content, W3i provides its users with useful, safe, free software and utilities to improve their Internet experience. W3i’s goal is to connect users with downloads that make their time on the Internet more enjoyable including screensavers, wallpapers and other desktop enhancements.

“Our partnership with Yahoo! allows us to offer world-class search capabilities to our users. Yahoo! has made impressive strides with its new search marketing system. As a leader in delivering quality, downloadable content, W3i is excited to continue our partnership and looks forward to growing our relationship with Yahoo! even more over time,” comments Robert Weber, CEO and Co-Founder of W3i.

Yahoo! provides search marketing products and services to hundreds of thousands of advertisers in 22 countries worldwide. Currently available in the U.S., Yahoo!’s new search marketing system is designed to deliver even more relevant sponsored search and contextual ad results to users. By encouraging advertisers to focus on the quality of their sponsored search and contextual advertisements, Yahoo!’s new system creates a more valuable marketplace for users, advertisers and publishers.

“W3i has been a trusted partner for years and a great source of quality traffic for our advertisers. We’re thrilled to extend our partnership with them,” said Dean Stackel, Vice President, Business Development, Yahoo!.

About W3i
W3i delivers proven downloadable content solutions. With over 15 million unique users each month, W3i provides a receptive consumer base for customized, targeted marketing programs including software marketing, lead generation, display advertising and product placement. The three Weber brothers, owners of W3i, are recent winners of the Ernst & Young Entrepreneur Of The Year® 2006 Award in the Minnesota and Dakotas region.

W3i Holdings, LLC, was established in 2007 to unite all its business services that were formerly known as Freeze.com, LLC, founded in 2000. Freeze.com continues to be a flagship consumer brand for W3i, along with Ringtone.com, ScreenSaver.com and Wallpapers.com. Today W3i employs more than 50 Internet professionals. To learn more about W3i, visit www.w3i.com.

Tags: w3i, yahoo, robert weber, dean stackel

St. Cloud, MN, July 18, 2007 — W3i Holdings, LLC announced today that Ryan Ranweiler was appointed Vice President of Finance, and Hayden Creque was appointed Vice President and General Counsel, effective July 12, 2007.

Ranweiler, formerly the Company’s Senior Director of Finance, joined W3i in 2005. Prior to that Ranweiler worked for Larson Allen as an auditor. He began his finance career with Grant Thornton. “Ryan’s skills are ideally suited to lead our accounting team,” said Robert Weber, the Company’s Chief Executive Officer. In his expanded role Ranweiler will be, in addition to overseeing the company’s financial compliance, responsible for scaling the Company’s Information Technology infrastructure. Ranweiler received a Bachelor of Science degree from Northwestern College. He is a certified public accountant.

Creque, the Company’s General Counsel, joined W3i in 2006. Creque worked for Lindquist and Vennum as a litigator. He began his career with TDS Telecom. “Hayden’s diverse experience is an asset to our team,” said Weber. In his expanded role Creque will be, in addition to overseeing the company’s legal compliance, responsible for the Company’s Human Resource function. Creque received a juris doctorate, cum laude from the University of Wisconsin and a Bachelor of Science degree magna cum laude from Edgewood College. He is a Certified Information Privacy Professional.

Creque and Ranweiller will report to Weber: “The experience and expertise of Ryan and Hayden position us for continued growth in our download and ringtone businesses. We congratulate them as they expand their management roles at W3i.”

About W3i
W3i delivers proven downloadable content solutions. With over 15 million unique users each month, W3i provides a receptive consumer base for customized, targeted marketing programs including software marketing, lead generation, display advertising and product placement. The three Weber brothers, owners of W3i, are recent winners of the Ernst & Young Entrepreneur Of The Year® 2006 Award in the Minnesota and Dakotas region.

W3i Holdings, LLC, was established in 2007 to unite all its business services that were formerly known as Freeze.com, LLC, founded in 2000. Freeze.com continues to be a flagship consumer brand for W3i, along with Ringtone.com, ScreenSaver.com and Wallpapers.com. Today W3i employs more than 50 Internet professionals. To learn more about W3i, visit www.W3i.com.

Tags: w3i, hayden creque, ryan ranweiler

W3i announced today that Lisa Nistler has joined W3i as Senior Director of Account Development, reporting to CEO Robert Weber.

St. Cloud, MN June 14, 2007 – W3i announced today that Lisa Nistler has joined W3i as Senior Director of Account Development, reporting to CEO Robert Weber.

Lisa Nistler brings a wealth of Internet Marketing and E-commerce experience from her most recent position with Digital River, Inc. Lisa served as the Senior Director of Marketing where she was responsible for national accounts. During Lisa’s time as Senior Director of Marketing she consistently exceeded her revenue and margin targets while retaining 100% of her major clients.

“We’re excited to welcome Lisa to our executive team. Lisa’ experience in marketing and client care will allow us to strengthen our partnerships with our key customers including Yahoo! RealNetworks®, Inc. and The Weather Channel Interactive, Inc,” said Robert Weber, W3i’s CEO.

Lisa Nistler attended the University of Colorado, Boulder and the Minnesota School of Business focusing on Business Administration.

About Us
W3i delivers proven desktop and mobile e-services, which enable increased revenue from integrated, multi-channel digital content. With e-services tested and optimized on over 15 million unique users each month, W3i can increase your revenue from digital content or provide a receptive consumer base for customized, targeted marketing programs. The three Weber brothers, owners of W3i, are recent winners of the Ernst & Young Entrepreneur Of The Year® 2006 Award in the Minnesota and Dakotas region. To learn more about W3i, visit www.W3i.com.

Tags: w3i, lisa nistler, marketing