OutStart, the leading provider of eKnowledge software solutions for learning and knowledge-sharing, today announced OutStart GmbH, a new German subsidiary. The company also announced it has acquired and will continue to sell, enhance and support LearnCube, a popular eLearning product in the region.  Additionally, Matthias Schulz, who led the development and market introduction of LearnCube, will become managing director for OutStart GmbH, reporting directly to Massood Zarrabian, OutStart president and CEO.

Creating OutStart GmbH furthers the company’s strategic expansion across the globe establishing a physical presence in an important European region, an immediate quality base of (LearnCube) customers, and adds another award-winning product to the OutStart portfolio. OutStart will continue research and development efforts for LearnCube managed by the existing German LearnCube development team and plans to integrate the product with OutStart Evolution LCMS. The integration will offer LearnCube customers a single learning content management repository to support their eLearning initiatives.

“We have identified the German speaking regions of Europe as a strong market for OutStart with both multi-national and small and mid sized businesses,” said Massood Zarrabian, president and CEO of OutStart.  “The acquisition of LearnCube, which we will continue to enhance, jumps starts our initiative by immediately creating a strong customer base in the region and adding a well-regarded product to our portfolio.  With Matthias Schulz as managing director, we have an experienced executive with an understanding of the region’s business practices, as well as the learning and knowledge-sharing market.”

“There is significant market opportunity for learning and knowledge sharing solutions in the German speaking regions of Europe,” said Matthias Schulz, managing director, OutStart GmbH. “OutStart’s entire portfolio of products, including LearnCube, will allow us to meet many different customer requirements with an expansive breadth of offerings for outstanding value.

Matthias Schulz is managing director of OutStart GmbH and chairman of the German section of the Macromedia E-Learning Group. This association has been formed by a number of e-learning companies with the aim to consolidate XML based e-learning specifications. Mr. Schulz is one of the chairmen of the working group "Modularisierung" at "Deutsches Institut für Normung". This project develops instructional and technical specifications for media based education. Mr. Schulz has consulted for knowledge management and e-learning for a number of German blue chip companies, e.g. AUDI and TUI. Mr. Schulz studied economics in Saarbrücken/Germany and is in the process of  acquiring a doctorate on learning organizations

About OutStart GmbH
OutStart GmbH will be headquartered in St.Ingbert, Germany and will serve Austria, Switzerland and Germany.  Contact: Matthias Schulz, OutStart GmbH, Im Reihersbruch 1, 66386 St. Ingbert, Phone: +49 (0) 6894 – 92963- 0, www.outstart.de.

About OutStart
OutStart software powers formal and on-demand learning, knowledge sharing and community/expert collaboration solutions that enable knowledge workers – employees, partners, and customers – to perform their roles far more efficiently and effectively.  Customers like Empire Blue Cross Blue Shield, Steelcase, the US Navy, Verizon and Augusta Westland rely on OutStart to increase individual and organizational performance, improve knowledge transfer and lower operating costs.  Located in Boston, Mass., OutStart has offices throughout the US and Europe and can be found on the web at www.outstart.com.