If you were a telecom/networking/optical/something-that-makes-internet-go-really-fast start-up in 1999 with an esoteric product the venture capitalists did not understand, then boom they would write you a check for oh, I don’t know, $150 million. Zhone Technologies, Yipes and Calient are notables, of this $150 million club.

bq. When things turned sour in 2001, so did the fortunes of the members of this $150-million-each Bubble Club.During the first half of 2000, venture capitalists pumped $4.31 billion into networking and telecom investments locally, according to the MoneyTree Survey, published by PricewaterhouseCoopers, Venture Economics and the National Venture Capital Association.

Well if that is the case, then the Merc list of top ten companies is simply too short – there have to be more. Send me names of the $100 million plus in funding companies.