A global network of 17 "Dot-Com launch centres" has been created by Andersen Consulting.

The centres will support young internet start-ups by providing consulting and back office services worth up to $1.2bn over three years.

In return, Andersen Consulting will take equity stakes in these firms.

If they are successful and float on the stock exchange, this initial investment could bring huge returns.

Fill the gap

Andersen Consulting hopes to fill the gap between so-called "incubators" and venture capitalists.

Internet entrepreneurs with a great idea but little money or business experience often turn for help to incubators, which provide the funding, know-how and infrastructure to get firms going.

However, this support tends to last only two to three months.

Venture capital firms, the next stage in the birth cycle of young internet ventures, supply the money and some technical expertise, but often fail to provide the nuts and bolts needed to run a real business.

James Hall, the leader of London's Dot-Com launch centre, says that this is the point where many companies fail.

Being first or best is not good enough, he argues. "Winners are those who win the race for scale. Launch centres help to win this race".

Mr Hall believes that this is where most start-ups fail. Only if entrepreneurs are able to turn their great idea into a "business with industrial strength" can they grab the market share needed to succeed, he says.

Bricks and mortar

He hopes to attract firms that have a prototype solution ready, but lack the strength to tackle their market, whether it is business to business or business to consumer e-commerce.

The businesses Andersen Consulting wants to support may be virtual, but the Dot-Com launch centres are traditional brick-and-mortar ventures.

Mimicking the approach of incubators, Andersen provides premises and back office infrastructure, based in central London. They come with the consulting firm's advice on design, technology, e-commerce software, delivery skills and industry and market knowledge.

Sink or swim

Start-ups that are short of money will not have far to go either. In December, Andersen Consulting set up its very own venture capital arm, and plans to invest up to $1bn over five years to create new electronic businesses.

Andersen Consulting hopes that this will help to "reduce dramatically the time it takes an eBusiness to go from initially-funded start-up, to revenue-producing business, and ultimately to successful initial public offering" on the stock market.

E-commerce analysts often say that one internet year lasts just one month, and Andersen Consulting takes a similar view.

Mr Hall wants companies to stay with his launch centre for four to six months. If they fail to swim, or the money runs out, they will have to make way for the next internet hopeful.

The successful ones are expected to move on to their own, larger premises - and hopefully stay on as customers of Andersen's traditional consulting business.

Firewalls

Moving into a "studio atmosphere" and rubbing shoulders with potential e-commerce competitors may not be every start-up's cup of tea. James Hall promises his clients that Andersen is "used to work with multiple clients" and will not pass on any trade secrets.

However, should two companies with very similar ideas compete for launch centre space, he is likely to say "no" to one of them.

Five clients have already signed up for Andersen Consulting's new service, and three of them - oneswoop.com, sportal.com and sharepeople - are just entering the market.

Anderson Consulting has set up Dot-Com launch centres in Atlanta, Boston, Chicago, Dublin, Frankfurt, Helsinki, Johannesburg, London, Madrid, Milan, Palo Alto, Paris, Sao Paulo, Singapore, Stockholm, Sydney and Tokyo.