Nintendo:

Nintendo of America promotes good hand-eye coordination. The firm serves as Western Hemisphere headquarters for Japanese parent Nintendo. The game maker produces Game Boy, the world's #1 handheld system and the Nintendo DS system, which boasts two screens (the bottom screen is also a touchpad) and Wi-Fi capabilities. The company also boasts an array of software products, including the popular "Mario Brothers, Donkey Kong, Pokemon," and "Zelda" games. Nintendo's GameCube fights Microsoft's Xbox for the #2 spot in the console market; Sony's PlayStation 2 is the industry leader.

Acer:

Acer Technology Ventures America manages the North American venture capital investments of computer maker Acer. The company specifically focuses on businesses with emerging/new technologies or unique products and services. Portfolio companies include AirMagnet (wireless network solutions), Clear Cube Technology (managed desktop architecture from a centralized environment), Club Photo (print and film processing), Fortinet (real-time network protection systems), IRF Semiconductor (CMOS IC design for wireless communications), iRobot (robotics), Luxnet Corporation (opto-electronic chips and other fiber optic communications components), and SeeUThere (enterprise meeting management).

Acer Technology Ventures America primarily invests in early-stage companies in the Silicon Valley and Boston; investment amounts range from about $500,000 to $3 million.

As its name implies, Acer Technology Ventures focuses on companies that utilize or are developing leading-edge communications, networking, integrated circuit, and process technologies. Rather than installing its own management team, Acer Technology Ventures looks for companies that already have experienced management.