Where would North Carolina’s economy be today were it not for the entrepreneurs who dreamed, built and delivered Research Triangle Park and undertook similar efforts in the Triad and Charlotte?

One shudders at the thought.

Which brings us to the death of Jake Froelich. One of the Triad’s leading entrepreneurs died last week and was buried on Saturday. Froelich received glowing treatment in obituaries from local press. They were well deserved.

Froelich was chairman of the Piedmont Entrepreneurs Network and one of the original investors in the Piedmont angels network.

In other news last week, MediaSpan generated a great deal of attention — raising additional venture capital as well as losing Chief Executive Officer Steve Vetter and Sam Whitt, who handled legal affairs. Vetter is going to pursue other interests. Whitt is returning to law and also will be an active partner in Southern Capitol Ventures.

Here’s a look back at another busy week, courtesy of LTW headlines:

ENTREPRENEURSHIP & VC:

Services for Jake Froelich, Chairman of Piedmont Entrepreneurs Network, Are Saturday: www.localtechwire.com/article.cfm?u=4027

How Lo-o-o-o-w Can They Go? Venture Numbers Keep Dropping: www.localtechwire.com/article.cfm?u=4017

Auctionworks Lands $2M, Reports Another Profitable Quarter: www.localtechwire.com/article.cfm?u=4003

MediaSpan Gets $4.5M, Acquires Competitor But Loses CEO: www.localtechwire.com/article.cfm?u=4000

MediaSpan Exec Goes Back to Law, Joins Southern Capitol: www.localtechwire.com/article.cfm?u=3972

Former Cogent CEO Explores Ideas at Emerging Issues Institute: www.localtechwire.com/article.cfm?u=4036

‘Future’s So Bright,’ Says Mi-Co Exec, ‘We Gotta Wear Shades’:www.localtechwire.com/article.cfm?u=4015

GUEST OPINIONS:

Monomania on Iraq Leaves Pressing Issues Like Economy, Health Care Uncovered: www.localtechwire.com/article.cfm?u=4025

Lessons from Duke Startup Challenge – Biotech, Focus, Friends & Family, Rising Angels, and More: www.localtechwire.com/article.cfm?u=4002

Exploring the Software Development Conundrum: Don’t Focus Simply on the Code: www.localtechwire.com/article.cfm?u=3982

Software Development Process Has Made Great Strides in the Last 25 Years, But –: www.localtechwire.com/article.cfm?u=3961

OTHER NEWS:

Peopleclick Cuts 10 Percent of Workforce: www.localtechwire.com/article.cfm?u=4023

NCEITA, MEC Team up for ‘TopTech 2003’ in Charlotte: www.localtechwire.com/article.cfm?u=4018

Tekelec Forms New Switching Subsidiary in $40M Deal With Rival: www.localtechwire.com/article.cfm?u=4008

Three for three? Ogle Launches a Third Venture Even as Women Gather To Talk Business at New Forum.: www.localtechwire.com/article.cfm?u=4016

Microsoft Picks Charlotte, TechExpo 2003 To Introduce New ‘Business Portal’: www.localtechwire.com/article.cfm?u=4024

UNC Charlotte’s Tech Record Lures Entrepreneurs for Launch of ‘Smart’ Net Security Firm: www.localtechwire.com/article.cfm?u=4001

VENTURE 2003 PROFILES:

Taking the Mystery Out of Inhalers Is Goal for Oriel Therapeutics: www.localtechwire.com/article.cfm?u=4022

A Drug Discovery Factory? TransTech Says Its Technology Is Helping Produce a Pipeline of Candidates.: www.localtechwire.com/article.cfm?u=4007

E-Billing Leaders: Total Billings Turns World of Paper-Based Bills and Invoices into a Digital One: www.localtechwire.com/article.cfm?u=3990

Finding Staff for Healthcare Providers Proves Lucrative for United Emergency Services: www.localtechwire.com/article.cfm?u=3971