Dotted Out   

Count Novix Media among the dotcom casualties of 2000.

C OUNT NOVIX MEDIA AMONG the dotcom casualties of 2000. The company, which planned to launch a much-anticipated Web site for twentysomethings to be called WetPaint.com , tanks after failing to get needed financing, says Andy Wang , now Novix's former editor in chief. "The story's one that's happened over and over again. It's almost impossible to raise funds in the current climate," Wang says. Venture capitalists who used to throw money at dotcom entrepreneurs have been more wary since the tech stock euphoria ended abruptly earlier this year. One of the first ominous signs for Novix appeared in August, when the company cut loose Ironminds.com , Wang's own smart, essay-filled site for the college-plus set, which it acquired last spring. Eight Novix editorial staffers were also let go, leaving just three editorial employees. Wang says the announcement that Novix was out of business came at an afternoon meeting October 12. Novix co-founder Michael Berman , who also co-founded George magazine, did not return phone calls. Wang, 25, says he's not worried: He's busy trolling for backers for Ironminds, which is being kept alive by volunteers and Wang's own money. And he and former Novix Executive VP Bill Martin , the founder of the financial site Raging Bull , are "sizing up the marketplace [to see] if there's something we can pounce on."