Shoring up its expertise in the areas of presence-based communication, such as instant messaging, and healthcare information technology, Kodiak Venture Partners adds IMlogic founder Francis deSouza and MIT microbiology professor Dr. Anthony Sinskey to its board of advisors.

deSouza founded and served as CEO of IMlogic, a Kodiak portfolio company acquired by Symantec Corp. Previously, deSouza co-founded and served as CEO of Flash Communications, another real-time communications company that was acquired by Microsoft Corp.

Sinskey sits on the board of directors of Cambridge Devices, a Kodiak portfolio company. He is an expert in the formation of new biotechnology enterprises and has participated in the founding and development of more than 10 biotech companies including Metabolix, Genzyme, Tepha, ABEC, Merrimack Pharmaceuticals.

Based in Waltham, Mass., with a focus on eastern U.S. and Canada, Kodiak makes seed and early-stage investments in companies in emerging communications and wireless, semiconductor and equipment, software and services, and Internet and new media companies. The new advisory board members are expected to provide additional resources to funded companies in presence-based communications and healthcare IT. Last year, Carl Zeiss SMT acquired Kodiak portfolio company ALIS Corp., which develops Helium ion microscope technology.—Mary Kathleen Flynn

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