Proofpoint pulls in $7 million

Proofpoint, a spam-blocking start-up founded by former Netscape Communications Chief Technology Officer Eric Hahn, received $7 million in financing from Stanford University, Mohr Davidow Ventures and Benchmark Capital, the Cupertino, Calif.-based company said Monday.

Hahn said aside from blocking unwanted e-mail, Proofpoint scans for e-mail viruses and ensures compliance with new rules and regulations affecting corporate e-mail use. He said none of his competitors can claim to block spam plus "manage other online communication that enters, leaves and circulates" within businesses. Proofpoint's competitors include Cloudmark and Brightmail.