Concierge Club, Inc. is getting ready to offer personal services online at http://www.VIPDesk.com later this year. The company, which will provide trained "live" concierge agents to coordinate personal services and purchases for Internet users on the Internet, has secured $3 million in its first round of institutional funding. The funding was led by Washington, DC-based Women's Growth Capital, with support from Scripps Ventures, LP, The Dinner Club and other private investors.

Doing business as Concierge Club.com since 1996, the new site will expand services to its customer base, currently over two million, as a 24-hour, Web-enabled personal coordination and fulfillment service supported by concierge agents based in home offices throughout the country. According to company President Mary Naylor, Concierge Club plans to co-brand with corporations "seeking ways to offer lifestyle benefits to employees and value-added services to end-user customers." In addition to e-commerce capabilities for buying flowers, gifts, event tickets, travel, restaurant reservations and reminder services, Naylor said the new site will process unique requests, such as "find someone to take down my Christmas tree lights", and will provide Web coordination of personal service delivery, such as car and home services.

The Women's Growth Capital Fund, based in Washington, DC, invests equity capital primarily in early and expansion stage women-owned and/or managed businesses. The Fund has $30 million under management, and has invested in a number of other companies, including womenCONNECT.com, Women.com, BuyerZone.com, Destiny, iDolls and Enfish.