Stories by Mark Roberti

No workers, no offices: The virtual company

Bob Aldrich, a 30-year veteran of the energy business, had plans for a small, innovative electric generator that could power shopping malls and corporate campuses. There was just one problem: Potential customers wouldn't give him a contract until he had a factory to build the generators, and he couldn't get financing to build a factory until he signed a customer.

FreeMarkets makes deal for supply-chain business

reeMarkets Inc. (FMKT) is making its move into supply-chain management. The undisputed king of online business-to-business auctions revealed Thursday that it has signed a definitive agreement to buy Adexa Inc., a Los Angeles-based provider of supply-chain software, for about US$340 million in stock.

Aviation Exchange Waiting in the Wings

Consolidation among business-to-business marketplaces reached new heights Thursday when two ventures backed by major airlines and large airplane-parts manufacturers announced plans to merge.

Stadium Headed for Virtual Wrecking Ball

The first World Series night game was played there. Roberto Clemente got his 3,000th hit there, and the Steelers' Franco Harris made the "immaculate reception" there in 1972. And now Pittsburgh's famed Three Rivers Stadium is going to be sold piecemeal over the Internet.

Covisint, Start Your Engines

They're celebrating again at Covisint's temporary headquarters in Southfield, Mich.

Imports: The Asian Connection

The U.S. trade deficit, which has already reached alarming levels, will get even worse if a marketplace that was unveiled today catches on. DirectSource Global Purchasing, a Bellevue, Wash., startup, plans to enable companies to import goods from Asia with just a few mouse clicks.

Lessons, failures challenge B2B exchanges: IBM, partners pour $339m into e2open

Industry analysts have long been sceptical that the major companies proposing to build collective electronic marketplaces could actually work together. But last week, IBM and seven major electronics companies announced plans for an online marketplace that just might succeed.

Is the New Transora Exchange the Real Thing?

Consumer products companies may be late to form Web marketplaces, but they're making up for it with sheer numbers. A group of 49 companies, including Coca-Cola, General Mills (GIS) , Kraft Foods, Procter & Gamble and Unilever, announced plans today to launch an online exchange called Transora.com.

Big Name Enters Small Business

Do small businesses need yet another Web portal? Jake Winebaum thinks so. Late last year Winebaum's incubator, eCompanies, paid a headline-grabbing $7.5 million for the business.com URL.

Planned Software Mergers May Boost B-to-B

They may be among the least sexy software mergers in history, but WebMethods Inc.'s proposed acquisition of Active Software Inc. for $1.3 billion and Vignette Corp.'s $1.7 billion deal to buy OnDisplay Inc. - both announced yesterday - are indicative of the growing momentum behind business-to-business e-commerce.

Web Marketplaces Face Industry Goliaths

Most of the attendees at last week's Net Market Makers conference put on a brave face. But inside the neoclassical Imperial Ballroom at the stately Boston Park Plaza Hotel, one could almost smell the fear.

GreenMountain.com Getting Greener

For all those Internet entrepreneurs wondering whether there's life after a failed IPO, the answer, apparently, is yes.