FIRSTHAND FUNDS
485APOS, 1999-07-16
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                          FILE NOS. 33-73832, 811-8268

                       SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
                             WASHINGTON, D.C. 20549

                                    FORM N-1A

           REGISTRATION STATEMENT UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933 [X]

                         POST-EFFECTIVE AMENDMENT NO. 8

                                     AND/OR

       REGISTRATION STATEMENT UNDER THE INVESTMENT COMPANY ACT OF 1940 [X]

                                AMENDMENT NO. 13

                                 FIRSTHAND FUNDS
               (Exact name of Registrant as Specified in Charter)

          101 Park Center Plaza, Suite 1300, San Jose, California 95113
                    (Address of Principal Executive Offices)

                                 (408) 294-2200
               Registrant's Telephone Number, including Area Code

                                 Kevin M. Landis
                       Interactive Research Advisers, Inc.
          101 Park Center Plaza, Suite 1300, San Jose, California 95113
                     (Name and Address of Agent for Service)

                        Copies of all communications to:
                                 Omar Billawala
                       Interactive Research Advisers, Inc.
          101 Park Center Plaza, Suite 1300, San Jose, California 95113

It is proposed that this filing will become effective (check appropriate box)

     [ ]  immediately upon filing pursuant to paragraph (b) of Rule 485
     [ ]  on (date) pursuant to paragraph (b) of Rule 485
     [ ]  75 days after filing pursuant to paragraph (a)(2) of Rule 485
     [X]  on September 30, 1999 pursuant to paragraph (a)(2) of Rule 485

Registrant  has  registered an indefinite  number of shares under the Securities
Act of 1933  pursuant  to Rule 24f-2 under the  Investment  Company Act of 1940.
Registrant's  Rule 24f-2 Notice for the fiscal year ended December 31, 1998, was
filed with the Commission on February 22, 1999.

<PAGE>

                       CONTENTS OF REGISTRATION STATEMENT

This registration statement contains the following documents:

o    Facing Sheet

o    Contents of Registration Statement

o    Part A - Prospectus  for Firsthand  E-Commerce  Fund and Firsthand  Telecom
     Fund

o    Part B - Statement of Additional  Information for Firsthand E-Commerce Fund
     and Firsthand Telecom Fund

o    Part C - Other Information Signature Page

                                       4
<PAGE>

                                     PART A

                            Firsthand E-Commerce Fund
                             Firsthand Telecom Fund

                                   Prospectus

                                       4
<PAGE>

[LOGO] Firsthand

                                   PROSPECTUS

                               SEPTEMBER 30, 1999

E-COMMERCE FUND
TELECOM FUND

Firsthand  Funds has registered each mutual fund offered in this prospectus with
the U.S.  Securities and Exchange  Commission  (SEC). That registration does not
imply, however, that the SEC endorses the Funds.

The SEC has not  approved or  disapproved  these  securities  or passed upon the
adequacy of this prospectus.  Any  representation  to the contrary is a criminal
offense.

                                       5
<PAGE>

                                    CONTENTS

RISK/RETURN SUMMARY                                                            7
ADDITIONAL PRINCIPAL INVESTMENT STRATEGIES AND RISK CONSIDERATIONS             9
OPERATION OF THE FUNDS                                                        11
HOW TO PURCHASE SHARES                                                        11
HOW TO REDEEM SHARES                                                          12
SHAREHOLDER SERVICES                                                          14
EXCHANGE PRIVILEGE                                                            15
DIVIDENDS AND DISTRIBUTIONS                                                   16
TAXES                                                                         16
CALCULATION OF SHARE PRICE                                                    16

This prospectus contains important information about the investment  objectives,
strategies  and risks of the  Firsthand  E-Commerce  and Telecom  Funds that you
should know because you invest in them. Each Fund is non-diversified  and has as
its investment objective long-term growth of capital.

The initial minimum  investment in each Fund is $10,000 unless the investment is
made by a Firsthand Funds Individual  Retirement Account ("IRA"),  in which case
the minimum initial  investment is $2,000.  IRA accounts which are not Firsthand
Funds IRAs are subject to the $10,000  minimum.  Lower minimums are available to
investors purchasing shares of the Funds through certain brokerage firms. Please
see "How to Purchase Shares" in this Prospectus for additional information.

This Prospectus has  information you should know before you invest.  Please read
it carefully and keep it with your investment records.

FIRSTHAND FUNDS WEB SITE
www.firsthandfunds.com

FOR INFORMATION OR ASSISTANCE IN OPENING AN ACCOUNT, PLEASE CALL:
Nationwide (Toll-Free):  1.888.884.2675

ADDRESS GENERAL CORRESPONDENCE TO:
Firsthand Funds
P.O. Box 5354
Cincinnati, Ohio 45201

                                       6
<PAGE>

                               RISK/RETURN SUMMARY

WHAT ARE THE FUNDS' INVESTMENT OBJECTIVES?

Each Fund's investment objective is long-term growth of capital.

WHAT ARE THE FUNDS' PRINCIPAL INVESTMENT STRATEGIES?

Although certain of the Funds'  investments may produce  dividends,  interest or
other  income,  current  income is not a  consideration  in  selecting  a Fund's
investments.

THE E-COMMERCE  FUND seeks to achieve its objective by investing at least 65% of
its assets in securities of companies that are involved in or support electronic
commerce..

THE TELECOM FUND seeks to achieve its objective by investing at least 65% of its
assets in securities of companies in the telecommunications industry.

WHAT ARE THE PRINCIPAL RISKS OF INVESTING IN THE FUNDS?

The return on and value of an investment in the Funds will fluctuate in response
to stock market  movements.  Stocks and other equity  securities  are subject to
market risks and fluctuations in value due to earnings,  economic conditions and
other factors beyond the control of the Investment Adviser.  As a result,  there
is a risk that you could lose money by investing in the Funds.

The Funds  will be subject to greater  risk  because of their  concentration  of
investments  in the  technology  industry  and within  certain  segments  of the
technology  industry.  Although the Investment  Adviser currently  believes that
investments  by  the  Funds  in  the  technology   industry  may  offer  greater
opportunity  for growth of capital than  investments  in other  industries,  the
value of such investments can and often do fluctuate dramatically and may expose
you to greater than average financial and market risk.

Each Fund may also  invest a portion of its  assets in  securities  that  entail
certain risks, such as foreign  securities and securities of small companies and
unseasoned  issuers  (including  companies  offering  shares in  initial  public
offerings).

Please see "Additional  Investment  Strategies and Risk  Considerations" in this
Prospectus for additional information.

PERFORMANCE SUMMARY

The Firsthand  E-Commerce and Telecom Funds were launched on September 30, 1999.
Fund  performance  results have not been provided because it has not yet been in
existence for a full calendar year.

EXPENSE INFORMATION

This table describes the fees and expenses that you will pay if you buy and hold
shares of the funds.

                                       7
<PAGE>

SHAREHOLDER FEES (FEES PAID DIRECTLY FROM YOUR INVESTMENT):
                                               E-Commerce Fund      Telecom Fund
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Sales load imposed on purchases                None                 None
Sales load imposed on reinvested dividends     None                 None
Deferred sales load                            None                 None
Exchange fee                                   None                 None
Redemption fee                                 2%*                  2%*

* A wire  transfer  fee is  charged  by the  Funds'  Custodian  in the  case  of
redemptions  made by wire.  Such fee is subject to change and is currently [$9.]
See "How to Redeem Shares."

ANNUAL FUND OPERATING EXPENSES (EXPENSES THAT ARE DEDUCTED FROM FUND ASSETS):
                                               E-Commerce Fund      Telecom Fund
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Management fees                                1.50%                1.50%
Distribution (12b-1) fees                      None                 None
Other expenses                                 0.45%                0.45%
Total annual fund operating expenses*          1.95%                1.95%

* The Advisory  Agreement limits each Fund's total annual operating  expenses to
1.95% of the Fund's  average daily net assets up to $200 million,  1.90% of such
assets from $200 million to $500 million, 1.85% of such assets from $500 million
to $1 billion, and 1.80% of such assets in excess of $1 billion.

EXAMPLE:

This  Example is intended to help you compare the cost of investing in the Funds
with the cost of  investing in other  mutual  funds.  It assumes that you invest
$10,000 in a Fund for the time  periods  indicated  and then  redeem all of your
shares  at the  end of  those  periods.  The  Example  also  assumes  that  your
investment has a 5% return each year and that a Fund's operating expenses remain
the same.  Although  your  actual  costs may be higher or lower,  based on these
assumptions your costs would be:

SHAREHOLDER FEES (FEES PAID DIRECTLY FROM YOUR INVESTMENT):
                                               E-Commerce Fund      Telecom Fund
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
1 year                                         $198                 $198
3 years                                        $612                 $612

                                       8
<PAGE>

       ADDITIONAL PRINCIPAL INVESTMENT STRATEGIES AND RISK CONSIDERATIONS

INVESTMENT TECHNIQUES AND STRATEGIES

The  equity  securities  in which the Funds may  invest  include  common  stock,
convertible long-term corporate debt obligations,  preferred stock,  convertible
preferred stock and warrants.  The securities  selected will typically be traded
on a national securities exchange,  the NASDAQ System or  over-the-counter,  and
may include securities of both large,  well-known  companies as well as smaller,
less well-known  companies,  including  foreign  securities  listed on a foreign
securities  exchange  or traded in the United  States.  Although  certain of the
Funds'  investments  may produce  dividends,  interest or other income,  current
income is not a consideration in selecting a Fund's investments.

The  Investment  Adviser's  analysis  of a  potential  investment  will focus on
valuing an  enterprise  and  purchasing  securities of the  enterprise  when the
Investment  Adviser believes that value exceeds the market price. The Investment
Adviser  intends  to  focus on the  fundamental  worth  of the  companies  under
consideration,  where  fundamental  worth is  defined  as the value of the basic
businesses of the firm, including products, technologies, customer relationships
and other  sustainable  competitive  advantages.  For purposes of the Investment
Adviser's  analysis,  fundamental  worth  is a  reflection  of the  value  of an
enterprise's  assets and its earning  power,  and will be  determined  by use of
price-earnings  ratios  and  comparison  with  sales  of  comparable  assets  to
independent  third party  buyers in arms'  length  transactions.  Balance  sheet
strength, the ability to generate earnings and a strong competitive position are
the major factors the  Investment  Adviser will use in appraising an investment.
Applicable  price-earnings  ratios  depend  on  the  earnings  potential  of  an
enterprise as determined by the Investment  Adviser.  For example, an enterprise
that is a  relatively  high  growth  company  would  normally  command  a higher
price-earnings ratio than lower growth companies because expected future profits
would be higher.

Each Fund may purchase  shares in initial public  offerings  (IPOs).  Due to the
typically small size of the IPO allocation available to the Funds and the nature
and market  capitalization  of the companies  involved in IPOs, the Adviser will
often purchase IPO shares that would qualify as a permissible investment for the
Funds but will,  instead,  decide to allocate those IPO purchases to other Funds
the Adviser  advises.  Because IPO shares  frequently are volatile in price, the
Funds may hold IPO shares for a very short period of time. This may increase the
turnover of a Fund's  portfolio  and may lead to  increased  expenses to a Fund,
such as commissions and transaction costs. By selling shares, a Fund may realize
taxable capital gains that it will subsequently distribute to shareholders.

RISK CONSIDERATIONS

EQUITY SECURITIES.  Each Fund invests primarily in equity  securities,  which by
definition entail risk of loss of capital.  Investments in equity securities are
subject to  inherent  market  risks and  fluctuation  in value due to  earnings,
economic  conditions  and other  factors  beyond the  control of the  Investment
Adviser. Securities in a Fund's portfolio may not increase as much as the market
as a whole and some  undervalued  securities may continue to be undervalued  for
long periods of time. Some securities may be inactively traded, and thus may not
be  readily  bought  or sold.  Although  profits  in some Fund  holdings  may be
realized  quickly,  it is not expected  that most  investments  will  appreciate
rapidly.  Each  Fund  may  invest  up to 15%  of  its  net  assets  in  illiquid
securities.

SMALL  CAPITALIZATION  COMPANIES.  Each  Fund may,  from time to time,  invest a
substantial  portion  of its  assets in small  capitalization  companies.  While
smaller companies  generally have potential for rapid growth, they often involve
higher risks because they lack the management  experience,  financial resources,
product diversification and competitive strengths of larger

                                       9
<PAGE>

corporations.  In  addition,  in  many  instances,  the  securities  of  smaller
companies are traded only over-the-counter or on a regional securities exchange,
and the  frequency  and volume of their  trading is  substantially  less than is
typical of larger companies.  Therefore, the securities of smaller companies may
be subject to wider price fluctuations. When making large sales, a Fund may have
to sell portfolio holdings at discounts from quoted prices or may have to make a
series of small sales over an extended period of time.

FOREIGN SECURITIES. Each Fund may purchase foreign securities that are listed on
a  foreign  securities  exchange  or  over-the-counter   market,  or  which  are
represented  by  American  Depository  Receipts  and are  listed  on a  domestic
securities exchange or traded in the United States on over-the-counter  markets.
Foreign  investments  may be subject to risks that are not typically  associated
with  investing in domestic  companies.  For  example,  such  investment  may be
adversely   affected  by  changes  in  currency   rates  and  exchange   control
regulations,  future political and economic  developments and the possibility of
seizure or nationalization of companies,  or the imposition of withholding taxes
on income.

TEMPORARY DEFENSIVE MEASURES. For defensive purposes,  each Fund may temporarily
hold all or a portion of its assets in money market instruments. Such action may
help a Fund  minimize  or  avoid  losses  during  adverse  market,  economic  or
political  conditions.  During  such  a  period,  a Fund  may  not  achieve  its
investment objective. For example, should the market advance during this period,
a Fund may not  participate  as much as it would  have if it had been more fully
invested.

CONCENTRATION  OF INVESTMENTS IN CERTAIN  INDUSTRIES.  The E-Commerce  Fund will
invest primarily in companies within the electronic  commerce segments while the
Telecom Fund will invest primarily in communications  companies.  The Funds will
be subject to greater risk because of their  concentration  of  investments in a
single  industry  and within  certain  segments of the  industry.  For  example,
investments  in the  e-commerce  segments  include  the risk  that the  economic
prospects,   and  the  share  prices,  of  e-commerce  companies  can  fluctuate
dramatically  due to  changes in the  regulatory  or  competitive  environments.
Investments in the high  technology  segment  include the risk that certain high
technology  products  and  services  are subject to  competitive  pressures  and
aggressive pricing. Investments in companies that offer new products in the high
technology  segment  include  the  risk  that  the new  products  will  not meet
expectations  or even reach the  marketplace.  Also,  the technology and medical
industries  are generally  more  susceptible to effects caused by changes in the
economic  climate,  broad market swings,  moves in a dominant  industry stock or
regulatory  changes.  An  investment  in  one or  more  of the  Funds  does  not
constitute a balanced investment program.

YEAR 2000 PROBLEM.  The Funds and their service providers depend upon the smooth
functioning of their computer systems.  Unfortunately,  because of the way dates
are encoded and calculated,  many computer systems in use today cannot recognize
the year 2000, but revert to 1900 or another  incorrect date.  Computer failures
due to the year 2000 problem could negatively  impact the handling of securities
trades and pricing and account services.

The Funds'  software  vendors and service  providers have assured the Funds that
their  systems will be adapted in  sufficient  time to avoid  serious  problems.
There can be no guarantee,  however,  that all of their computer systems will be
adapted  in time.  The  Funds do not  expect  year 2000  conversion  costs to be
substantial  for the Funds because  those costs are borne by the Funds'  vendors
and service providers and not directly by the Funds.

Brokers  and other  intermediaries  that  hold  shareholder  accounts  may still
experience  incompatibility  problems. It is also important to keep in mind that
year 2000 issues may  negatively  impact the

                                       10
<PAGE>

companies  in which the  Funds  invest  and,  by  extension,  the value of those
companies' shares held by the Funds.

                             OPERATION OF THE FUNDS

The  Trust  retains  Interactive   Research  Advisers,   Inc.  (the  "Investment
Adviser"),  101 Park Center Plaza,  Suite 1300, San Jose,  California  95113, to
manage the  investments of each Fund.  The  Investment  Adviser is controlled by
Kevin M. Landis, who also serve as a Trustee of the Trust. Mr. Landis has served
as a  portfolio  manager  of  the  E-Commerce  and  Telecom  Funds  since  their
inception.  Prior to his  association  with the Investment  Adviser,  Mr. Landis
served as New Products  Marketing  Manager for S-MOS Systems,  Inc., a San Jose,
California-based semiconductor firm.

The  Investment  Adviser  receives from each Fund a management fee at the annual
rate of 1.50% of its average daily net assets.  The Advisory  Agreement requires
the Investment Adviser to waive its management fees and, if necessary, reimburse
expenses  of the  Funds to the  extent  necessary  to limit  each  Fund's  total
operating expenses to 1.95% of its average net assets up to $200 million,  1.90%
of such assets from $200 million to $500 million, 1.85% of such assets from $500
million to $1 billion, and 1.80% of such assets in excess of $1 billion.

The Trust has entered into a separate contract (the "Administration  Agreement")
with the Investment  Adviser  wherein the Investment  Adviser is responsible for
providing  administrative and general  supervisory  services to the Funds. Under
the Administration Agreement, the Investment Adviser oversees the maintenance of
all books and records with respect to the Funds' securities transactions and the
Funds' book of accounts in accordance with all applicable federal and state laws
and  regulations.  The Investment  Adviser also arranges for the preservation of
journals,  ledgers,  corporate  documents,  brokerage  account records and other
records  which are  required  to be  maintained  pursuant  to the 1940 Act.  The
Investment  Adviser is responsible  for the equipment,  staff,  office space and
facilities necessary to perform its obligations. The Investment Adviser has also
assumed  responsibility  for  payment  of all of the Funds'  operating  expenses
except  for  brokerage  and  commission   expenses  and  any  extraordinary  and
non-recurring  expenses.  For the services  rendered by the  Investment  Adviser
under the Administration  Agreement,  the Investment Adviser receives a fee from
each Fund at the annual rate of 0.45% of its average daily net assets up to $200
million,  0.40% of such assets from $200 million to $500 million,  0.35% of such
assets from $500 million to $1 billion, and 0.30% of such assets in excess of $1
billion.

CW Fund Distributors,  Inc. (the "Underwriter"),  312 Walnut Street, Cincinnati,
Ohio 45202,  serves as principal  underwriter  for the Funds and as such, is the
exclusive agent for the  distribution of shares of the Funds. The Underwriter is
an indirect  wholly-owned  subsidiary of Countrywide Credit Industries,  Inc., a
New York Stock  Exchange-listed  company  principally engaged in the business of
residential mortgage lending.

                             HOW TO PURCHASE SHARES

You may purchase shares directly  through the Funds' Transfer Agent or through a
brokerage  firm or  financial  institution  that has  agreed to sell the  Funds'
shares. Your initial investment in the Funds ordinarily must be at least $10,000
per Fund (or $2,000 per Fund for  Firsthand  Funds  IRAs).  Lower  minimums  are
available to investors  purchasing shares of the Funds through certain brokerage
firms. Shares of each Fund are sold on a continuous basis at the net asset value
next  determined  after receipt of a purchase  order by the Trust or an agent of
the Trust.  Any order placed with such  brokerage  firm is treated as if it were
placed directly with the Trust.  Your shares will be held in a pooled account in
the  broker's  name,  and the broker will  maintain  your  individual  ownership
information. In addition, your

                                       11
<PAGE>

brokerage firm may charge you a fee for handling your order. Your brokerage firm
is responsible processing your order correctly and promptly, keeping you advised
of the status of your  individual  account,  confirming  your  transactions  and
ensuring  that you receive  copies of the Trust's  Prospectus.  Purchase  orders
received by such agents prior to 4:00 p.m.,  eastern  time,  on any business day
are  confirmed at the net asset value  determined as of the close of the regular
session  of  trading  on the New York  Stock  Exchange  on that  day.  It is the
responsibility of agents to transmit properly completed orders promptly.  Agents
may charge a fee  (separately  negotiated  with their  customers)  for effecting
purchase  orders.  Direct purchase orders received by the Transfer Agent by 4:00
p.m., eastern time, are confirmed at that day's net asset value.

You may open an account  and make an  initial  investment  in the Funds  through
selected brokerage firms or financial intermediaries or by sending a check and a
completed   account   application  form  to  Firsthand  Funds,  P.O.  Box  5354,
Cincinnati, Ohio 45201-5354. Checks should be made payable to "Firsthand Funds."
Third party checks will not be accepted. An account application is included with
this Prospectus.

The Transfer Agent (or your broker) mails you  confirmations of all purchases or
redemptions of Fund shares. Certificates representing shares are not issued. The
Trust  reserves the rights to limit the amount of  investments  and to refuse to
sell to any person.

If an order to purchase  shares is cancelled  because your check does not clear,
you will be responsible  for any resulting  losses or fees incurred by the Trust
or the Transfer Agent in the transaction.

Provided the Trust has received a completed  account  application  form, you may
also purchase  shares of the Funds by bank wire.  Please  telephone the Transfer
Agent (Nationwide call toll-free 1.888.884.2675) for instructions. You should be
prepared to give the name of the Fund in which you wish to purchase shares,  the
name in which the account is to be established,  the address,  telephone  number
and taxpayer  identification  number for the  account,  and the name of the bank
which will wire the money.  Your  investment will be made at the next determined
net  asset  value  after  your  wire  is  received  together  with  the  account
information  indicated  above. If the Transfer Agent does not receive timely and
complete  account  information,  there may be a delay in the  investment of your
money and any accrual of dividends. To make your initial wire purchase, you must
mail a completed account application to the Transfer Agent. Your bank may impose
a charge for sending  your wire.  There is presently no fee for receipt of wired
funds, but the Transfer Agent reserves the right to charge shareholders for this
service upon thirty days' prior notice to shareholders.

You may purchase and add shares to your account ($50 minimum) by mail or by bank
wire. Checks should be sent to Firsthand Funds, P.O. Box 5354, Cincinnati,  Ohio
45201-5354.  Checks  should be made  payable to  "Firsthand  Funds."  Bank wires
should be sent as outlined above. Each additional  purchase request must contain
the account name and number to permit proper crediting.

                              HOW TO REDEEM SHARES

You may  redeem  shares  of each  Fund on each day  that  the  Trust is open for
business.  You will receive the net asset value per share next determined  after
receipt by the Transfer Agent of your  redemption  request in the form described
below.  Payment is normally made within three business days after tender in such
form,  provided that payment in redemption of shares  purchased by check will be
effected only after the check has been  collected,  which may take up to fifteen
days from the purchase date. To eliminate this delay, you may purchase shares of
the Funds by certified check or wire.

                                       12
<PAGE>

BY  TELEPHONE.  You may  redeem  shares  having a value of less than  $50,000 by
telephone.  The proceeds will be sent by mail to the address  designated on your
account or wired  directly to your existing  account in any  commercial  bank or
brokerage firm in the United States as designated on your application. To redeem
by telephone,  call the Transfer Agent (Nationwide call toll-free 888-884-2675).
The  redemption  proceeds  will normally be sent by mail or by wire within three
business days after receipt of your telephone instructions. IRA accounts are not
redeemable by telephone.

The  telephone  redemption  privilege  is  automatically  available  to all  new
accounts.  If you do not  want  the  telephone  redemption  privilege,  you must
indicate this in the  appropriate  area on your account  application or you must
write to the Transfer Agent and instruct them to remove this privilege from your
account.

You may change the bank or brokerage  account  which you have  designated at any
time by writing to the  Transfer  Agent with your  signature  guaranteed  by any
eligible guarantor  institution  (including banks,  brokers and dealers,  credit
unions,  national  securities  exchanges,  registered  securities  associations,
clearing  agencies and savings  associations)  or by  completing a  supplemental
telephone  redemption  authorization  form. Contact the Transfer Agent to obtain
this form.  Further  documentation  will be  required  to change the  designated
account if shares are held by a corporation, fiduciary or other organization.

The  Transfer  Agent  reserves  the right to suspend  the  telephone  redemption
privilege  with  respect  to any  account if the  name(s) or the  address on the
account has been changed within the previous 30 days.

Neither the Trust, the Transfer Agent,  nor their respective  affiliates will be
liable for complying with telephone  instructions they reasonably  believe to be
genuine or for any loss,  damage,  cost or expenses in acting on such  telephone
instructions. The affected shareholders will bear the risk of any such loss. The
Trust or the Transfer  Agent,  or both,  will employ  reasonable  procedures  to
determine  that  telephone  instructions  are  genuine.  If the Trust and/or the
Transfer Agent do not employ such procedures,  they may be liable for losses due
to unauthorized or fraudulent instructions.  These procedures may include, among
others,  requiring  forms  of  personal  identification  prior  to  acting  upon
telephone  instructions,  providing  written  confirmation  of the  transactions
and/or tape recording telephone instructions.

BY MAIL.  You may  redeem any  number of shares  from your  account by sending a
written  request to the  Transfer  Agent.  The request  must state the number of
shares or the dollar amount to be redeemed and your account number.  The request
must be signed exactly as your name appears on the Trust's account  records.  If
the shares to be redeemed have a value of $50,000 or more,  your  signature must
be guaranteed by any of the eligible guarantor  institutions  outlined above. If
the name(s) or the address on your  account has been  changed  within 30 days of
your  redemption  request,  you will be required to request  the  redemption  in
writing with your  signature  guaranteed,  regardless of the value of the shares
being redeemed.

Written  redemption  requests  may also  direct that the  proceeds be  deposited
directly in a domestic  bank or  brokerage  account  designated  on your account
application for telephone redemptions. Proceeds of redemptions requested by mail
are normally mailed within three business days following receipt of instructions
in proper form.

THROUGH  BROKER-DEALERS.  You may also  redeem  shares of the Funds by placing a
wire  redemption  request  through a securities  broker or dealer.  Unaffiliated
broker-dealers  may charge you a fee for this service.  You will receive the net
asset value per share next determined after receipt by the

                                       13
<PAGE>

Trust or its agent of your wire redemption  request. It is the responsibility of
broker-dealers to promptly transmit wire redemption orders.

ADDITIONAL REDEMPTION INFORMATION.  If your instructions request a redemption by
wire,  the  proceeds  will be wired  directly  to your  existing  account in any
commercial  bank or brokerage  firm in the United  States as  designated on your
application  and  you  will  be  charged  an $9  processing  fee by  the  Funds'
Custodian.  The Trust reserves the right,  upon thirty days' written notice,  to
change the  processing  fee. All charges  will be deducted  from your account by
redemption  of shares in your  account.  Your  bank or  brokerage  firm may also
impose a charge for  processing  the wire.  In the event that wire  transfer  of
funds is impossible or impractical, the redemption proceeds will be sent by mail
to the designated account.

Redemption  requests may direct that the proceeds be deposited  directly in your
account  with a commercial  bank or other  depository  institution  by way of an
Automated Clearing House (ACH) transaction. There is currently no charge for ACH
transactions.  Contact  the  Transfer  Agent  for  more  information  about  ACH
transactions.

At the discretion of the Trust or the Transfer  Agent,  corporate  investors and
other  associations  may be  required  to furnish an  appropriate  certification
authorizing  redemptions to ensure proper authorization.  The Trust reserves the
right to require you to close your account, other than an IRA account, if at any
time the  value of your  shares is less than  $10,000  (based on actual  amounts
invested,  unaffected by market  fluctuations),  or such other minimum amount as
the Trust may  determine  from time to time.  After  notification  to you of the
Trust's  intention  to close  your  account,  you will be  given  sixty  days to
increase the value of your account to the minimum amount.

The Trust  reserves the right to suspend the right of  redemption or to postpone
the  date  of  payment  for  more  than  three   business   days  under  unusual
circumstances  as determined by the  Securities and Exchange  Commission.  Under
unusual  circumstances,  when the Board of Trustees  deems it  appropriate,  the
Funds may make payment for shares redeemed in portfolio  securities of the Funds
taken at current value.

                              SHAREHOLDER SERVICES

Contact the  Transfer  Agent  (nationwide  call  toll-free  1.888.884.2675)  for
additional information about the shareholder services described below.

TAX-DEFERRED RETIREMENT PLANS

Shares of each Fund are available for purchase in connection  with the following
tax-deferred retirement plans:

o    Keogh Plans for self-employed individuals
o    Individual  retirement  account  (IRA)  plans  for  individuals  and  their
     non-employed spouses, including Roth IRAs and Education IRAs
o    Qualified pension and profit-sharing  plans for employees,  including those
     profit-sharing plans with a 401(k) provision
o    403(b)(7)  custodial  accounts  for  employees  of public  school  systems,
     hospitals,  colleges and other  non-profit  organizations  meeting  certain
     requirements of the Internal Revenue Code (the "Code")

                                       14
<PAGE>

DIRECT DEPOSIT PLANS

Shares of each Fund may be purchased  through  direct  deposit  plans offered by
certain employers and government  agencies.  These plans enable a shareholder to
have  all or a  portion  of  his  or  her  payroll  or  Social  Security  checks
transferred automatically to purchase shares of the Funds.

AUTOMATIC INVESTMENT PLAN

By completing the Automatic  Investment Plan section of the account application,
you may make automatic monthly  investments in each Fund from your bank, savings
and loan or other depository institution account. The minimum investment must be
$50 under the plan.  The  Transfer  Agent pays the costs  associated  with these
transfers,  but reserves the right,  upon thirty days' written  notice,  to make
reasonable charges for this service. Your depository  institution may impose its
own charge for  debiting  your  account  which would  reduce your return from an
investment  in the  Funds.  You may  change  the  amount  of the  investment  or
discontinue the plan at any time by writing to the Transfer Agent.

                               EXCHANGE PRIVILEGE

Shares of the Funds may be exchanged  for each other at net asset value.  Shares
of any Fund may also be  exchanged  at net asset  value for  shares of the Short
Term Government Income Fund (a series of Countrywide  Investment  Trust),  which
invests in short-term U.S. Government  obligations backed by the "full faith and
credit" of the United  States and seeks high  current  income,  consistent  with
protection of capital.  Shares of the Short Term Government Income Fund acquired
via exchange may be reexchanged for shares of any Fund at net asset value.

You may request an exchange by sending a written  request to the Transfer Agent.
The request must be signed  exactly as your name appears on the Trust's  account
records.  Exchanges  may also be requested  by  telephone.  An exchange  will be
effected at the next  determined  net asset value after  receipt of a request by
the Transfer Agent.  Your request is subject to the Funds' cut-off time which is
normally 4:00 p.m. eastern time.  Requests  received by the Transfer Agent prior
to the  cut-off  time will  receive  the same  day's net asset  value.  Requests
received by the Transfer Agent after the cut-off time will be filled at the next
day's net asset value.

The telephone exchange privilege is automatically available to all shareholders.
Neither the Trust, the Transfer Agent,  nor their respective  affiliates will be
liable for complying with telephone  instructions they reasonably  believe to be
genuine  for any loss,  damage,  cost or  expense  in  acting on such  telephone
instructions. The affected shareholders will bear the risk of any such loss. The
Trust or the Transfer  Agent,  or both,  will employ  reasonable  procedures  to
determine  that  telephone  instructions  are  genuine.  If the Trust and/or the
Transfer Agent do not employ such procedures,  they may be liable for losses due
to unauthorized or fraudulent instructions.  These procedures may include, among
others,  requiring  forms  of  personal  identification  prior  to  acting  upon
telephone  instructions,  providing  written  confirmation  of the  transactions
and/or tape recording telephone instructions.

Exchanges  may only be made for  shares of Funds then  offered  for sale in your
state of residence and are subject to the applicable  minimum initial investment
requirements.  The exchange privilege may be modified or terminated by the Board
of  Trustees  upon 60 days'  prior  notice  to  shareholders.  Before  making an
exchange  for shares of the Short  Term  Government  Income  Fund,  contact  the
Transfer  Agent to  obtain a  current  prospectus  and  more  information  about
exchanges among the Funds.

                                       15
<PAGE>

                           DIVIDENDS AND DISTRIBUTIONS

Each Fund expects to distribute  substantially  all of its net investment income
and net realized gains, if any, at least annually.  Dividends and  distributions
are  automatically  reinvested  in  additional  shares of the Funds  (the  Share
Option) unless cash payments are specified on your  application or are otherwise
requested by contacting the Transfer Agent. All  distributions  will be based on
the net asset value in effect on the payable date.

If you elect to receive  dividends in cash and the U.S.  Postal  Service  cannot
deliver  your  checks or if your checks  remain  uncashed  for six months,  your
dividends may be reinvested in your account at the  then-current net asset value
and your account will be converted to the Share Option.  No interest will accrue
on amounts represented by uncashed distribution checks.

                                      TAXES

Each Fund has  qualified  in all prior  years and  intends to qualify  and to be
treated as a "regulated  investment  company" under  Subchapter M of the Code by
annually  distributing  substantially all of its net investment  company taxable
income,  net  tax-exempt  income  and net  capital  gains  in  dividends  to its
shareholders and by satisfying certain other requirements related to the sources
of its income and the  diversification  of its assets. By so qualifying,  a Fund
will not be  subject  to  federal  income  tax or excise tax on that part of its
investment  company  taxable  income and net realized  short-term  and long-term
capital gains which it distributes to its  shareholders  in accordance  with the
Code's timing requirements.

Dividends and  distributions  paid to shareholders  (whether received in cash or
reinvested in additional shares) are generally subject to federal income tax and
may be subject to state and local  income  tax.  Dividends  from net  investment
income and  distributions  from any excess of net  realized  short-term  capital
gains over net realized  capital losses are taxable to shareholders  (other than
tax-exempt  entities that have not borrowed to purchase or carry their shares of
the Funds) as ordinary income.

Distributions  of net capital gains (the excess of net  long-term  capital gains
over net short-term capital losses) by a Fund to its shareholders are taxable to
you as capital  gains,  without  regard to the length of time you have held your
Fund shares.  Capital  gains  distributions  may be taxable at  different  rates
depending on the length of time a Fund holds its assets.

Redemptions of shares of the Funds are taxable events on which you may realize a
gain or loss.  An exchange of a Fund's shares for shares of another Fund will be
treated as a sale of such shares and any gain on the  transaction may be subject
to federal income tax.

The Trust  will mail a  statement  to you  annually  indicating  the  amount and
federal income tax status of all distributions  made during the year. The Funds'
distributions  may be subject to federal income tax whether  received in cash or
reinvested  in  additional  shares.  In  addition to federal  taxes,  you may be
subject to state and local taxes on distributions.

                           CALCULATION OF SHARE PRICE

On each day that the Trust is open for  business,  the share  price  (net  asset
value) of the shares of each Fund is  determined  as of the close of the regular
session of trading on the New York Stock Exchange  (normally 4:00 p.m.,  eastern
time). The Trust is open for business on each day the New York Stock Exchange is
open for  business  and on any other day when there is  sufficient  trading in a
Fund's  investments that its net asset value might be materially  affected.  The
net asset value per share of each

                                       16
<PAGE>

Fund is  calculated by dividing the sum of the value of the  securities  held by
the Fund plus cash or other assets minus all  liabilities  (including  estimated
accrued expenses) by the total number of shares outstanding of the Fund, rounded
to the nearest cent.  The price at which a purchase or redemption of Fund shares
is effected is based on the next  calculation of net asset value after the order
is placed.

Portfolio  securities are valued as follows:  (1) securities which are traded on
stock  exchanges  or are quoted by NASDAQ are valued at the last  reported  sale
price as of the close of the  regular  session  of trading on the New York Stock
Exchange  on the day the  securities  are being  valued,  or, if not traded on a
particular  day,  at the most  recent bid price,  (2)  securities  traded in the
over-the-counter  market,  and which are not quoted by NASDAQ, are valued at the
last sale price (or,  if the last sale price is not  readily  available,  at the
most recent bid price as quoted by brokers that make markets in the  securities)
as of the close of the regular session of trading on the New York Stock Exchange
on the day the securities are being valued, (3) securities which are traded both
in the  over-the-counter  market and on a stock exchange are valued according to
the broadest  and most  representative  market,  and (4)  securities  (and other
assets) for which  market  quotations  are not readily  available  are valued at
their fair value as  determined in good faith in  accordance  with  consistently
applied procedures established by and under the general supervision of the Board
of Trustees.  The net asset value per share of each Fund will fluctuate with the
value of the securities it holds.

                                       17
<PAGE>

FIRSTHAND FUNDS
101 Park Center Plaza
Suite 1300
San Jose, CA 95113

               INVESTMENT ADVISER
               Interactive Research Advisers, Inc.
               101 Park Center Plaza, Suite 1300
               San Jose, CA 95113

                               UNDERWRITER
                               CW Fund Distributors, Inc.
                               312 Walnut Street
                               Cincinnati, Ohio 45202

                                              TRANSFER AGENT
                                              Countrywide Fund Services, Inc.
                                              P.O. Box 5354
                                              Cincinnati, Ohio 45201
                                              (Toll-free) 1.888.884.2675


Additional  information  about  the  Funds  is  included  in  the  Statement  of
Additional  Information  ("SAI"),  which is  incorporated  by  reference  in its
entirety.  Additional  information about the Funds'  investments is available in
the Funds' annual and semiannual  reports to shareholders.  In the Funds' annual
report,  you will find a discussion of the market conditions and strategies that
significantly affected the Funds' performance during their last fiscal year.

To obtain a free copy of the SAI,  the  annual and  semiannual  reports or other
information  about the Funds, or to make shareholder  inquiries about the Funds,
please call 1.888.884.2675.

Information  about the Funds  (including  the SAI) can be reviewed and copied at
the Securities and Exchange  Commission's  public  reference room in Washington,
D.C.  Information  about  the  operation  of the  public  reference  room can be
obtained  by  calling  the  Commission  at  1.800.SEC.0330.  Reports  and  other
information  about the Funds are available on the Commission's  Internet site at
www.sec.gov.  Copies of  information  on the  Commission's  Internet site may be
obtained,  upon  payment of a  duplicating  fee, by writing to:  Securities  and
Exchange Commission, Public Reference Section, Washington, D.C. 20549-6009.

                                                               File No. 811-8268

<PAGE>

                                     PART B

                            Firsthand E-Commerce Fund
                             Firsthand Telecom Fund

                       Statement of Additional Information

<PAGE>

                                 FIRSTHAND FUNDS

                       STATEMENT OF ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

                               SEPTEMBER 30, 1999

                               THE E-COMMERCE FUND
                                THE TELECOM FUND

This Statement of Additional Information is not a Prospectus.  It should be read
in conjunction  with the Prospectus of Firsthand Funds dated September 30, 1999,
as may be amended. A copy of the Prospectus can be obtained by writing the Trust
at 101 Park Center Plaza, Suite 1300, San Jose,  California 95113, or by calling
the Trust toll-free at 1.888.884.2675.

                                TABLE OF CONTENTS


<PAGE>

                                    THE TRUST

Firsthand Funds (the "Trust"),  an open-end management  investment company,  was
organized as a Delaware  business  trust on November 11, 1993 and offers several
series  of  shares.  This  Statement  of  Information  ("SAI")  pertains  to the
Firsthand  E-Commerce  Fund and the  Firsthand  Telecom  Fund (each a "Fund" and
collectively the "Funds"). Each Fund is a non-diversified series and has its own
investment  objective and policies.  Prior to May 1, 1998, the name of the Trust
was Interactive Investments.

Shares of each Fund have equal voting  rights and  liquidation  rights,  and are
voted in the  aggregate  and not by Fund except in matters where a separate vote
is required by the  Investment  Company Act of 1940 (the "1940 Act") or when the
matter  affects  only the  interest  of a  particular  Fund.  When  matters  are
submitted to shareholders  for a vote, each  shareholder is entitled to one vote
for each full share owned and fractional votes for fractional  shares owned. The
Trust does not normally hold annual meetings of shareholders. The Trustees shall
promptly  call and give notice of a meeting of  shareholders  for the purpose of
voting  upon  removal  of any  Trustee  when  requested  to do so in  writing by
shareholders  holding 10% or more of the Trust's  outstanding  shares. The Trust
will comply  with the  provisions  of Section  16(c) of the 1940 Act in order to
facilitate communications among shareholders.

Each share of a Fund  represents an equal  proportionate  interest in the assets
and liabilities belonging to that Fund with each other share of that Fund and is
entitled to such dividends and  distributions out of the income belonging to the
Fund as are declared by the Trustees.  The shares do not have cumulative  voting
rights  or any  preemptive  or  conversion  rights,  and the  Trustees  have the
authority  from time to time to divide or combine  the shares of any Fund into a
greater  or lesser  number  of shares of that Fund so long as the  proportionate
beneficial  interests  in the  assets  belonging  to that Fund and the rights of
shares of any other Fund are in no way affected. In case of any liquidation of a
Fund,  the  holders of shares of the Fund being  liquidated  will be entitled to
receive as a class a  distribution  out of the assets,  net of the  liabilities,
belonging  to that  Fund.  Expenses  attributable  to any Fund are borne by that
Fund. Any general expenses of the Trust not readily identifiable as belonging to
a particular  Fund are  allocated  by or under the  direction of the Trustees in
such manner as the Trustees  allocate such expenses on the basis of relative net
assets or number of  shareholders.  No shareholder is liable to further calls or
to assessment by the Trust without his express consent.

                  DEFINITIONS, POLICIES AND RISK CONSIDERATIONS

A more  detailed  discussion of some of the terms used and  investment  policies
described in the Prospectus (see "Investment  Objectives,  Investment Strategies
and Risk Considerations") appears below:

MAJORITY.   As  used  in  the   Prospectus  and  this  Statement  of  Additional
Information,  the term "majority" of the outstanding  shares of the Trust (or of
any Fund) means the lesser of (1) two-thirds or more of the  outstanding  shares
of the Trust (or the  applicable  Fund) present at a meeting,  if the holders of
more than 50% of the  outstanding  shares of the Trust (or the applicable  Fund)
are  present  or  represented  at  such  meeting  or (2)  more  than  50% of the
outstanding shares of the Trust (or the applicable Fund).

DEBT SECURITIES.  Each Fund may invest in debt obligations of corporate issuers,
the U.S.  Government,  states,  municipalities or state or municipal  government
agencies that in the opinion of the

                                       1
<PAGE>

Investment Adviser offer long-term capital appreciation possibilities because of
the timing of such  investments.  Each Fund intends that no more than 35% of its
total assets will be comprised of such debt securities. Investments in such debt
obligations may result in long-term  capital  appreciation  because the value of
debt  obligations  varies  inversely with prevailing  interest  rates.  Thus, an
investment in debt obligations  that is sold at a time when prevailing  interest
rates are lower than they were at the time of investment  will typically  result
in capital  appreciation.  However,  the  reverse  is also  true,  so that if an
investment in debt obligations is sold at a time when prevailing  interest rates
are  higher  than  they  were at the time of  investment,  a  capital  loss will
typically be realized.  Accordingly,  if a Fund invests in the debt  obligations
described  above,  such  investments  will generally be made when the Investment
Adviser  expects  that  prevailing  interest  rates  will be  falling,  and will
generally be sold when the Investment Adviser expects interest rates to rise.

Each Fund's  investments  in this area will consist  solely of investment  grade
securities  (rated BBB or higher by  Standard & Poor's  Ratings  Group or Baa or
higher by Moody's Investors Service,  Inc., or unrated securities  determined by
the Investment Adviser to be of comparable  quality).  While securities in these
categories are generally accepted as being of investment grade, securities rated
BBB or Baa have speculative  characteristics  and changes in economic conditions
or other  circumstances  are more  likely to lead to a weakened  capacity to pay
principal  and interest  than is the case with higher grade  securities.  In the
event a security's  rating is reduced below a Fund's minimum  requirements,  the
Fund will sell the security,  subject to market  conditions  and the  Investment
Adviser's assessment of the most opportune time for sale.

COMMERCIAL PAPER.  Commercial paper consists of short-term  (usually from one to
270) unsecured promissory notes issued by corporations in order to finance their
current operations.  Each Fund will only invest in commercial paper rated A-1 by
Standard & Poor's  Ratings  Group  ("Standard  & Poor's")  or Prime-1 by Moody's
Investors  Service,  Inc.  ("Moody's")  or  unrated  paper of  issuers  who have
outstanding  unsecured  debt  rated AA or better by  Standard  & Poor's or Aa or
better by Moody's.  Certain notes may have floating or variable rates.  Variable
and floating rate notes with a demand notice period exceeding seven days will be
subject to each Fund's policy with respect to illiquid  investments  unless,  in
the judgment of the Investment Adviser, such note is liquid.

The  rating of  Prime-1 is the  highest  commercial  paper  rating  assigned  by
Moody's.  Among the factors  considered by Moody's in assigning  ratings are the
following: valuation of the management of the issuer; economic evaluation of the
issuer's industry or industries and an appraisal of speculative-type risks which
may be  inherent  in certain  areas;  evaluation  of the  issuer's  products  in
relation to competition and customer acceptance;  liquidity;  amount and quality
of  long-term  debt;  trend of  earnings  over a period of 10  years;  financial
strength of the issuer's parent company and the  relationships  which exist with
the issuer;  and  recognition  by the  management  of  obligations  which may be
present or may arise as a result of public interest  questions and  preparations
to meet such  obligations.  These  factors  are all  considered  in  determining
whether the commercial paper is rated Prime-1. Issuers of commercial paper rated
A (highest  quality) by Standard & Poor's  have the  following  characteristics:
liquidity ratios are adequate to meet cash  requirements;  long-term senior debt
is rated "A" or better, although in some cases "BBB" credits may be allowed; the
issuer  has  access to at least two  additional  channels  of  borrowing;  basic
earnings  and cash flow have an upward  trend with  allowance  made for  unusual
circumstances;  typically,  the issuer's  industry is well  established  and the
issuer  has a strong  position  within the  industry;  and the  reliability  and
quality of management are unquestioned. The relative strength or weakness of the
above factors determines whether the issuer's commercial paper is rated A-1.

BANK DEBT  INSTRUMENTS.  Bank  debt  instruments  in which the Funds may  invest
consist of  certificates  of deposit,  bankers'  acceptances  and time  deposits
issued by national banks and state

                                       2
<PAGE>

banks, trust companies and mutual savings banks, or by banks or institutions the
accounts of which are insured by the Federal  Deposit  Insurance  Corporation or
the Federal Savings and Loan Insurance Corporation.  Certificates of deposit are
negotiable  certificates  evidencing the  indebtedness  of a commercial  bank to
repay funds  deposited  with it for a definite  period of time  (usually from 14
days to one year) at a stated or variable  interest rate.  Bankers'  acceptances
are credit instruments  evidencing the obligation of a bank to pay a draft which
has been drawn on it by a customer,  which  instruments  reflect the  obligation
both of the bank and of the drawer to pay the face amount of the instrument upon
maturity.  Time  deposits are  non-negotiable  deposits  maintained in a banking
institution for a specified  period of time at a stated interest rate. Each Fund
will not  invest in time  deposits  maturing  in more than  seven  days if, as a
result  thereof,  more than 15% of the value of its net assets would be invested
in such securities and other illiquid securities.

REPURCHASE  AGREEMENTS.  Repurchase  agreements are transactions by which a Fund
purchases a security and  simultaneously  commits to resell that security to the
seller at an agreed upon time and price,  thereby  determining  the yield during
the term of the agreement.  In the event of a bankruptcy or other default by the
seller  of a  repurchase  agreement,  a Fund  could  experience  both  delays in
liquidating the underlying security and losses. To minimize these possibilities,
each Fund intends to enter into  repurchase  agreements only with its Custodian,
with banks having  assets in excess of $10 billion and with  broker-dealers  who
are recognized as primary dealers in U.S. Government  obligations by the Federal
Reserve  Bank of New  York.  Collateral  for  repurchase  agreements  is held in
safekeeping in the customer-only  account of the Funds' Custodian at the Federal
Reserve Bank. A Fund will not enter into a repurchase  agreement not  terminable
within seven days if, as a result thereof, more than 15% of the value of its net
assets would be invested in such securities and other illiquid securities.

Although the securities subject to a repurchase  agreement might bear maturities
exceeding one year,  settlement for the repurchase  would never be more than one
year after the Fund's acquisition of the securities and normally would be within
a shorter  period of time.  The resale  price will be in excess of the  purchase
price,  reflecting  an agreed upon market rate  effective for the period of time
the Fund's money will be invested in the securities,  and will not be related to
the coupon  rate of the  purchased  security.  At the time a Fund  enters into a
repurchase  agreement,  the value of the underlying security,  including accrued
interest,  will equal or exceed the value of the repurchase  agreement,  and, in
the case of a repurchase agreement exceeding one day, the seller will agree that
the value of the underlying  security,  including accrued interest,  will at all
times  equal or exceed the value of the  repurchase  agreement.  The  collateral
securing the seller's obligation must be of a credit quality at least equal to a
Fund's  investment  criteria for  portfolio  securities  and will be held by the
Custodian or in the Federal Reserve Book Entry System.

For purposes of the 1940 Act, a repurchase agreement is deemed to be a loan from
a Fund to the  seller  subject  to the  repurchase  agreement  and is  therefore
subject to a Fund's investment  restriction applicable to loans. It is not clear
whether a court would consider the  securities  purchased by a Fund subject to a
repurchase  agreement as being owned by that Fund or as being  collateral  for a
loan by the Fund to the seller.  In the event of the  commencement of bankruptcy
or insolvency  proceedings  with respect to the seller of the securities  before
repurchase of the security  under a repurchase  agreement,  a Fund may encounter
delay and incur costs before being able to sell the security. Delays may involve
loss of interest or decline in price of the security.  If a court  characterized
the  transaction  as a loan and a Fund has not perfected a security  interest in
the  security,  that Fund may be required to return the security to the seller's
estate and be treated as an  unsecured  creditor of the seller.  As an unsecured
creditor, a Fund would be at the risk of losing some or all of the principal and
income  involved  in the  transaction.  As with any  unsecured  debt  obligation
purchased for a Fund, the Investment  Adviser seeks to minimize the risk of loss
through repurchase agreements by analyzing the creditworthiness of

                                       3
<PAGE>

the obligor,  in this case,  the seller.  Apart from the risk of  bankruptcy  or
insolvency  proceedings,  there  is also the risk  that the  seller  may fail to
repurchase  the security,  in which case a Fund may incur a loss if the proceeds
to that  Fund of the sale of the  security  to a third  party  are less than the
repurchase price.  However, if the market value of the securities subject to the
repurchase   agreement   becomes  less  than  the  repurchase  price  (including
interest),  the Fund  involved will direct the seller of the security to deliver
additional  securities so that the market value of all securities subject to the
repurchase  agreement will equal or exceed the repurchase  price. It is possible
that a Fund will be unsuccessful in seeking to enforce the seller's  contractual
obligation to deliver additional securities.

MONEY MARKET FUNDS. Each Fund may under certain  circumstances  invest a portion
of its assets in money market  investment  companies.  The 1940 Act  prohibits a
Fund from  investing  more  than 5% of the value of its total  assets in any one
investment  company,  or more  than 10% of the  value  of its  total  assets  in
investment companies in the aggregate,  and also restricts its investment in any
investment  company to 3% of the voting  securities of such investment  company.
Investment  in a  money  market  investment  company  involves  payment  of such
company's  pro rata share of advisory  and  administrative  fees charged by such
company, in addition to those paid by the Funds.

WARRANTS.  Each Fund may invest a portion of its assets in warrants, but only to
the extent that such  investments do not exceed 5% of a Fund's net assets at the
time of  purchase.  A warrant  gives the holder a right to  purchase at any time
during a specified period a predetermined  number of shares of common stock at a
fixed price. Unlike convertible debt securities or preferred stock,  warrants do
not pay a fixed  coupon or dividend.  Investments  in warrants  involve  certain
risks,  including  the  possible  lack of a  liquid  market  for  resale  of the
warrants,  potential  price  fluctuations  as a result of  speculation  or other
factors,  and failure of the price of the  underlying  security to reach or have
reasonable  prospects  of reaching a level at which the warrant can be prudently
exercised  (in which  event the  warrant  may expire  without  being  exercised,
resulting in a loss of a Fund's entire investment therein).

FOREIGN  SECURITIES.  Subject to each  Fund's  investment  policies  and quality
standards,  the Funds may invest in the securities of foreign  issuers.  Because
the Funds may invest in foreign  securities,  an investment in the Funds involve
risks that are  different in some  respects  from an  investment in a fund which
invests only in securities of U.S. domestic issuers.  Foreign investments may be
affected  favorably  or  unfavorably  by changes in currency  rates and exchange
control  regulations.  There may be less publicly available  information about a
foreign  company than about a U.S.  company,  and foreign  companies  may not be
subject  to  accounting,   auditing  and  financial   reporting   standards  and
requirements comparable to those applicable to U.S. companies. There may be less
governmental   supervision  of  securities  markets,   brokers  and  issuers  of
securities.  Securities  of some  foreign  companies  are  less  liquid  or more
volatile than securities of U.S.  companies,  and foreign brokerage  commissions
and custodian fees are generally  higher than in the United  States.  Settlement
practices  may  include  delays and may differ  from those  customary  in United
States markets.  Investments in foreign  securities may also be subject to other
risks different from those affecting U.S. investments, including local political
or  economic   developments,   expropriation  or   nationalization   of  assets,
restrictions on foreign  investment and  repatriation of capital,  imposition of
withholding  taxes on dividend or interest  payments,  currency  blockage (which
would prevent cash from being brought back to the United States), and difficulty
in enforcing legal rights outside the United States.

NON-DIVERSIFICATION OF INVESTMENTS. Each Fund is operated as a "non-diversified"
portfolio. As non-diversified  investment companies, the Funds may be subject to
greater risks than diversified  companies because of the possible fluctuation in
the values of securities of fewer issuers.  However, at the close of each fiscal
quarter  at  least  50% of the  value  of  each  Fund's  total  assets  will  be
represented by one or more of the following:  (i) cash and cash items, including
receivables;   (ii)  U.S.  Government  securities;  (iii)  securities  of  other
regulated investment companies; and (iv) securities

                                       4
<PAGE>

(other  than  U.S.  Government  securities  and  securities  of other  regulated
investment  companies)  of any one or more  issuers  which  meet  the  following
limitations:  (a) the Fund will not invest  more than 5% of its total  assets in
the securities of any such issuer and (b) the entire amount of the securities of
such  issuer  owned  by  the  Fund  will  not  represent  more  than  10% of the
outstanding voting securities of such issuer. Additionally, not more than 25% of
the value of a Fund's total assets may be invested in the  securities of any one
issuer.

WRITING COVERED CALL OPTIONS. The E-Commerce Fund and the Telecom Fund may write
covered call options on equity  securities or futures  contracts to earn premium
income,  to assure a  definite  price  for a  security  that  those  Funds  have
considered selling, or to close out options previously purchased.  A call option
gives the holder (buyer) the right to purchase a security or futures contract at
a specified  price (the  exercise  price) at any time until a certain  date (the
expiration  date).  A call  option is  "covered"  if a Fund owns the  underlying
security  subject to the call option at all times  during the option  period.  A
covered call writer is required to deposit in escrow the underlying  security in
accordance with the rules of the exchanges on which the option is traded and the
appropriate clearing agency.

The writing of covered call options is a conservative investment technique which
the Investment Adviser believes involves relatively little risk. However,  there
is no assurance that a closing transaction can be effected at a favorable price.
During the option period, the covered call writer has, in return for the premium
received,  given up the opportunity for capital  appreciation above the exercise
price  should the market  price of the  underlying  security  increase,  but has
retained the risk of loss should the price of the underlying security decline.

WRITING COVERED PUT OPTIONS.  The E-Commerce Fund and the Telecom Fund may write
covered  put options on equity  securities  and  futures  contracts  to assure a
definite price for a security if they are considering  acquiring the security at
a lower price than the current  market price or to close out options  previously
purchased.  A put option  gives the holder of the option the right to sell,  and
the writer has the  obligation to buy, the  underlying  security at the exercise
price at any time  during the option  period.  The  operation  of put options in
other respects is substantially  identical to that of call options.  When a Fund
writes a covered put option,  it  maintains  in a  segregated  account  with its
Custodian  cash or liquid  securities  in an amount  not less than the  exercise
price at all times while the put option is outstanding.

The risks  involved  in  writing  put  options  include  the risk that a closing
transaction cannot be effected at a favorable price and the possibility that the
price of the  underlying  security may fall below the exercise  price,  in which
case a Fund may be  required  to purchase  the  underlying  security at a higher
price than the market price of the security at the time the option is exercised.

OPTIONS  TRANSACTIONS  GENERALLY.  Option  transactions  in which  the Funds may
engage  involve the  specific  risks  described  above as well as the  following
risks:  the writer of an option may be  assigned  an exercise at any time during
the option period;  disruptions in the markets for underlying  instruments could
result in losses for options investors;  imperfect or no correlation between the
option and the securities being hedged; the insolvency of a broker could present
risks for the broker's customers;  and market imposed  restrictions may prohibit
the exercise of certain options.  In addition,  the option  activities of a Fund
may affect its portfolio  turnover rate and the amount of brokerage  commissions
paid by a Fund. The success of a Fund in using the option  strategies  described
above  depends,  among other  things,  on the  Investment  Adviser's  ability to
predict the direction and volatility of price movements in the options,  futures
contracts and securities markets and the Investment  Adviser's ability to select
the proper time, type and duration of the options.

                                       5
<PAGE>

By writing options, a Fund forgoes the opportunity to profit from an increase in
the market  price of the  underlying  security or stock index above the exercise
price except insofar as the premium represents such a profit. Each Fund may also
seek to earn  additional  income through  receipt of premiums by writing covered
put options.  The risk involved in writing such options is that there could be a
decrease in the market value of the underlying  security or stock index. If this
occurred,  the option could be exercised and the underlying  security would then
be sold to the Fund at a higher price than its then current  market  value.  The
Funds may purchase put and call options to attempt to provide protection against
adverse  price  effects  from  anticipated   changes  in  prevailing  prices  of
securities or stock indices. The purchase of a put option generally protects the
value of portfolio  holdings in a falling  market,  while the purchase of a call
option  generally  protects  cash reserves  from a failure to  participate  in a
rising  market.  In  purchasing a call option,  a Fund would be in a position to
realize a gain if, during the option period,  the price of the security or stock
index increased by an amount greater than the premium paid. A Fund would realize
a loss if the price of the  security or stock index  decreased  or remained  the
same or did not  increase  during  the  period  by more  than the  amount of the
premium.  If a put or call option  purchased by a Fund were  permitted to expire
without being sold or exercised,  its premium would represent a realized loss to
the Fund.  When  writing put options a Fund will be required to  segregate  cash
and/or liquid  securities to meet its  obligations.  When writing call options a
Fund will be required to own the  underlying  financial  instrument or segregate
with its Custodian cash and/or liquid  securities to meet its obligations  under
written calls.  By so doing, a Fund's  ability to meet current  obligations,  to
honor  redemptions or to achieve its investment  objective may be impaired.  The
staff of the  Securities  and Exchange  Commission  has taken the position  that
over-the-counter  options and the assets  used as "cover"  for  over-the-counter
options are illiquid securities.

The imperfect correlation in price movement between an option and the underlying
financial  instrument  and/or the costs of implementing such an option may limit
the  effectiveness of the strategy.  A Fund's ability to establish and close out
options positions will be subject to the existence of a liquid secondary market.
Although the Funds  generally will purchase or sell only those options for which
there appears to be an active  secondary  market,  there is no assurance  that a
liquid secondary  market on an exchange will exist for any particular  option or
at any particular  time. If an option  purchased by a Fund expires  unexercised,
the Fund will lose the premium it paid. In addition,  a Fund could suffer a loss
if the  premium  paid by the Fund in a closing  transaction  exceeds the premium
income it received. When a Fund writes a call option, its ability to participate
in the capital appreciation of the underlying obligation is limited.

It is the present  intention of the Adviser not to commit  greater than 30% of a
Fund's net assets to option strategies.

BORROWING.  Each Fund may borrow from banks for temporary or emergency  purposes
in an  aggregate  amount  not  to  exceed  25% of its  total  assets.  Borrowing
magnifies the  potential for gain or loss on the portfolio  securities of a Fund
and,  therefore,  if employed,  increases the  possibility of fluctuation in the
Fund's net asset value.  This is the  speculative  factor known as leverage.  To
reduce the risks of borrowing,  each Fund will limit its borrowings as described
above.  Each Fund may pledge its assets in connection with  borrowings.  While a
Fund's borrowings exceed 5% of its total assets, it will not purchase additional
portfolio securities.

The use of borrowing by the Funds involves special risk  considerations that may
not be associated with other funds having similar policies.  Since substantially
all of a Fund's  assets  fluctuate  in value,  whereas the  interest  obligation
resulting  from a borrowing  will be fixed by the terms of the Fund's  agreement
with their  lender,  the asset value per share of the Fund will tend to increase
more when its portfolio  securities increase in value and decrease more when its
portfolio  securities  decrease in value than would otherwise be the case if the
Fund did not borrow funds. In addition, interest costs on

                                       6
<PAGE>

borrowings  may  fluctuate  with  changing  market  rates  of  interest  and may
partially  offset or exceed the return earned on borrowed  funds.  Under adverse
market  conditions,  a Fund  might  have to sell  portfolio  securities  to meet
interest  or  principal   payments  at  a  time  when   fundamental   investment
considerations would not favor such sales.

LOANS OF  PORTFOLIO  SECURITIES.  Each  Fund may  make  short-term  loans of its
portfolio securities to banks, brokers and dealers. Lending portfolio securities
exposes  a Fund to the risk that the  borrower  may fail to  return  the  loaned
securities  or may not be able to provide  additional  collateral or that a Fund
may experience  delays in recovery of the loaned securities or loss of rights in
the collateral if the borrower fails  financially.  To minimize these risks, the
borrower must agree to maintain  collateral  marked to market daily, in the form
of cash and/or U.S.  Government  obligations,  with the Funds'  Custodian  in an
amount at least equal to the market  value of the loaned  securities.  Each Fund
will limit the amount of its loans of its  portfolio  securities to no more than
30% of its total assets.

Under applicable regulatory requirements (which are subject to change), the loan
collateral  must,  on each  business day, at least equal the value of the loaned
securities.  To be acceptable as  collateral,  letters of credit must obligate a
bank to pay  amounts  demanded  by a Fund if the  demand  meets the terms of the
letter.  Such terms and the issuing bank must be  satisfactory  to the Fund. The
Funds receive  amounts  equal to the dividends or interest on loaned  securities
and also  receive  one or more of (a)  negotiated  loan fees,  (b)  interest  on
securities  used as collateral,  or (c) interest on short-term  debt  securities
purchased with such  collateral;  either type of interest may be shared with the
borrower.  The Funds may also pay fees to placing  brokers as well as  custodian
and  administrative  fees in connection  with loans.  Fees may only be paid to a
placing  broker  provided that the Trustees  determine  that the fee paid to the
placing broker is reasonable and based solely upon services  rendered,  that the
Trustees  separately  consider  the  propriety  of any fee shared by the placing
broker  with the  borrower,  and that  the fees are not used to  compensate  the
Adviser or any  affiliated  person of the Trust or an  affiliated  person of the
Adviser or other  affiliated  person.  The terms of the  Funds'  loans must meet
applicable  tests  under  the  Internal  Revenue  Code and  permit  the Funds to
reacquire  loaned  securities  on five  days'  notice  or in time to vote on any
important matter.

ILLIQUID SECURITIES.  Historically, illiquid securities have included securities
subject to  contractual  or legal  restrictions  on resale because they have not
been  registered  under  the  Securities  Act of 1933  (the  "Securities  Act"),
securities  which are otherwise not readily  marketable and  securities  such as
repurchase  agreements  having a maturity of longer than seven days.  Securities
which have not been  registered  under the  Securities  Act are  referred  to as
private placements or restricted  securities and are purchased directly from the
issuer  or in  the  secondary  market.  Mutual  funds  do not  typically  hold a
significant  amount of these restricted or other illiquid  securities because of
the potential for delays on resale and uncertainty in valuation.  Limitations on
resale may have an adverse effect on the  marketability of portfolio  securities
and a mutual fund might be unable to dispose of restricted  securities  promptly
or at  reasonable  prices and might  thereby  experience  difficulty  satisfying
redemption  requirements.  A  mutual  fund  might  also  have to  register  such
restricted  securities  in order to dispose  of them,  resulting  in  additional
expense and delay. Adverse market conditions could impede such a public offering
of securities.

In recent years, however, a large institutional market has developed for certain
securities that are not registered under the Securities Act including repurchase
agreements,  commercial  paper,  foreign  securities,  municipal  securities and
corporate  bonds and  notes.  Institutional  investors  depend  on an  efficient
institutional market in which the unregistered security can be readily resold or
on an issuer's ability to honor a demand for repayment.  The fact that there are
contractual or legal  restrictions on resale to the general public or to certain
institutions may not be indicative of the liquidity of such

                                       7
<PAGE>

investments.  The Board of Trustees may determine  that such  securities are not
illiquid securities  notwithstanding their legal or contractual  restrictions on
resale.  In all other cases,  however,  securities  subject to  restrictions  on
resale will be deemed illiquid.

             QUALITY RATINGS OF CORPORATE BONDS AND PREFERRED STOCKS

THE RATINGS OF MOODY'S AND  STANDARD & POOR'S FOR  CORPORATE  BONDS IN WHICH THE
FUNDS MAY INVEST ARE AS FOLLOWS:

MOODY'S

Aaa - Bonds which are rated Aaa are judged to be of the best quality. They carry
the smallest  degree of investment  risk and are generally  referred to as "gilt
edge." Interest payments are protected by a large or by an exceptionally  stable
margin and principal is secure. While the various protective elements are likely
to change,  such changes as can be  visualized  are most  unlikely to impair the
fundamentally strong position of such issues.

Aa - Bonds which are rated Aa are judged to be of high quality by all standards.
Together with the Aaa group they comprise what are generally known as high grade
bonds.  They are rated lower than the best bonds  because  margins of protection
may not be as large as in Aaa securities or  fluctuation of protective  elements
may be of greater  amplitude or there may be other  elements  present which make
the long-term risks appear somewhat larger than in Aaa securities.

A - Bonds which are rated A possess many favorable investment attributes and are
to be considered as upper medium grade  obligations.  Factors giving security to
principal and interest are considered adequate but elements may be present which
suggest a susceptibility to impairment sometime in the future.

Baa - Bonds  which are rated Baa are  considered  as medium  grade  obligations,
i.e., they are neither highly  protected nor poorly secured.  Interest  payments
and principal  security appear  adequate for the present but certain  protective
elements may be lacking or may be  characteristically  unreliable over any great
length of time. Such bonds lack outstanding  investment  characteristics  and in
fact have speculative characteristics as well.

STANDARD & POOR'S
- -----------------

AAA - Bonds rated AAA have the highest rating assigned by Standard & Poor's to a
debt  obligation.  Capacity to pay  interest  and repay  principal  is extremely
strong.

AA - Bonds  rated AA have a very  strong  capacity  to pay  interest  and  repay
principal and differ from the highest rated issues only in small degree.

A - Bonds rated A have a strong  capacity to pay  interest  and repay  principal
although they are somewhat more susceptible to the adverse effects of changes in
circumstances and economic conditions than bonds in higher rated categories.

BBB - Bonds  rated  BBB are  regarded  as  having an  adequate  capacity  to pay
interest and repay principal.  Whereas they normally exhibit adequate protection
parameters,  adverse  economic  conditions  or changing  circumstances  are more
likely to lead to a weakened  capacity to pay interest and repay  principal  for
bonds in this category than for bonds in higher rated categories.

                                       8
<PAGE>

THE RATINGS OF MOODY'S AND STANDARD & POOR'S FOR  PREFERRED  STOCKS IN WHICH THE
FUNDS MAY INVEST ARE AS FOLLOWS:

MOODY'S
- -------

aaa - An issue which is rated aaa is considered  to be a  top-quality  preferred
stock.  This  rating  indicates  good  asset  protection  and the least  risk of
dividend impairment within the universe of preferred stocks.

aa - An issue which is rated aa is considered a high-grade preferred stock. This
rating  indicates  that there is  reasonable  assurance  that earnings and asset
protection will remain relatively well maintained in the foreseeable future.

a - An  issue  which  is  rated  a is  considered  to be an  upper-medium  grade
preferred  stock.  While risks are judged to be somewhat greater than in the aaa
and  aa  classifications,  earnings  and  asset  protection  are,  nevertheless,
expected to be maintained at adequate levels.

baa - An issue  which is rated baa is  considered  to be medium  grade,  neither
highly  protected  nor poorly  secured.  Earnings  and asset  protection  appear
adequate at present but may be questionable over any great length of time.

STANDARD & POOR'S
- -----------------

AAA - This is the highest  rating that may be assigned by Standard & Poor's to a
preferred  stock issue and  indicates  an extremely  strong  capacity to pay the
preferred stock obligations.

AA - A  preferred  stock  issue  rated  AA  also  qualifies  as  a  high-quality
fixed-income  security.  The capacity to pay preferred stock obligations is very
strong, although not as overwhelming as for issues rated AAA.

A - An issue rated A is backed by a sound  capacity to pay the  preferred  stock
obligations,  although it is somewhat more susceptible to the diverse effects of
changes in circumstances and economic conditions.

BBB - An issue rated BBB is  regarded  as backed by an adequate  capacity to pay
the  preferred  stock   obligations.   Whereas  it  normally  exhibits  adequate
protection parameters, adverse economic conditions or changing circumstances are
more  likely to lead to a weakened  capacity  to make  payments  for a preferred
stock in this category than for issues in the A category.

                             INVESTMENT RESTRICTIONS

The Trust has adopted certain fundamental  investment  restrictions  designed to
reduce the risk of an investment  in the Funds.  These  restrictions  may not be
changed with respect to any Fund without the  affirmative  vote of a majority of
the outstanding voting securities of that Fund. Each Fund may not:

1.  Underwrite  the  securities of other  issuers,  except that the Fund may, as
indicated in the Prospectus,  acquire restricted  securities under circumstances
where,  if  such  securities  are  sold,  the  Fund  might  be  deemed  to be an
underwriter for purposes of the Securities Act of 1933.

2.  Purchase or sell real estate or interests  in real estate,  but the Fund may
purchase marketable  securities of companies holding real estate or interests in
real estate.

                                       9
<PAGE>

3.  Purchase or sell  commodities  or  commodity  contracts,  including  futures
contracts, except that The Medical Specialists Fund, The Technology Leaders Fund
and The Technology  Innovators  Fund may purchase and sell futures  contracts to
the extent authorized by the Board of Trustees.

4. Make loans to other  persons  except (i) by the  purchase  of a portion of an
issue of publicly  distributed  bonds,  debentures  or other debt  securities or
privately  sold  bonds,   debentures  or  other  debt   securities   immediately
convertible  into equity  securities,  such  purchases  of  privately  sold debt
securities not to exceed 5% of the Fund's total assets,  and (ii) the entry into
portfolio lending agreements (i.e., loans of portfolio securities) provided that
the value of securities subject to such lending agreements may not exceed 30% of
the value of the Fund's total assets.

5.  Purchase  securities  on  margin,  but the Fund may obtain  such  short-term
credits  as may be  necessary  for the  clearance  of  purchases  and  sales  of
securities.

6. Borrow money from banks except for  temporary or emergency  (not  leveraging)
purposes,  including  the meeting of redemption  requests  that might  otherwise
require the untimely  disposition  of  securities,  in an  aggregate  amount not
exceeding  25% of the value of the Fund's total assets at the time any borrowing
is made.  While the Fund's  borrowings  are in excess of 5% of its total assets,
the Fund will not purchase portfolio securities.

7.  Purchase  or sell  puts and calls on  securities,  except  that The  Medical
Specialists Fund, The Technology Leaders Fund and The Technology Innovators Fund
may purchase and sell puts and calls on stocks and stock indices.

8. Make short sales of securities.

9.  Participate on a joint or joint and several basis in any securities  trading
account.

10. Purchase the securities of any other investment company except in compliance
with the 1940 Act.

With respect to the percentages adopted by the Trust as maximum limitations on a
Fund's  investment  policies  and  restrictions,   an  excess  above  the  fixed
percentage (except for the percentage  limitations  relative to the borrowing of
money) will not be a violation  of the policy or  restriction  unless the excess
results  immediately  and directly from the  acquisition  of any security or the
action taken.

                              TRUSTEES AND OFFICERS

The  business  of the  Trust is  managed  under  the  direction  of the Board of
Trustees  in  accordance  with the  Declaration  of Trust  of the  Trust,  which
Declaration of Trust has been filed with the Securities and Exchange  Commission
and is  available  upon  request.  Pursuant  to the  Declaration  of Trust,  the
Trustees  shall elect officers  including a president,  secretary and treasurer.
The Board of Trustees  retains  the power to  conduct,  operate and carry on the
business of the Trust and has the power to incur and pay any expenses  which, in
the opinion of the Board of Trustees,  are  necessary or incidental to carry out
any of the Trust's purposes. The Trustees, officers, employees and agents of the
Trust,  when  acting in such  capacities,  shall not be subject to any  personal
liability  except  for his or her  own bad  faith,  willful  misfeasance,  gross
negligence  or reckless  disregard of his or her duties.  Following is a list of
the Trustees and executive officers of the Trust and their compensation from the
Trust for the fiscal year ended December 31, 1998.

                                       10
<PAGE>

NAME                    AGE      POSITION HELD         AGGREGATE COMPENSATION**
- ----                    ---      -------------         ------------------------

*Kevin M. Landis        [38]     Trustee/President             $
Michael T. Lynch        [37]     Trustee                          8,000
Mark K. Taguchi         [43]     Trustee                          8,000
Yakoub Bellawala        [34]     Treasurer

* Kevin M. Landis is an affiliated  persons of  Interactive  Research  Advisers,
Inc., the Funds' investment adviser,  and is an "interested person" of the Trust
within the meaning of Section 2(a)(19) of the 1940 Act.
** The Trust does not maintain pension or retirement plans.

The principal  occupations  of the Trustees and executive  officers of the Trust
during the past five years are set forth below:

KEVIN M. LANDIS, 101 Park Center Plaza, Suite 1300, San Jose,  California 95113,
has been Vice President and Secretary of Interactive  Research  Advisers,  Inc.,
since its  founding  in  August  1993 and a  portfolio  manager  of  Interactive
Research Advisers since 1994.

MICHAEL T. LYNCH, 400 North 34th St. Suite 300, Seattle, WA 98103 is currently a
Vice President of Sales and Business Development of Digital  Intelligence,  Inc.
Mr. Lynch served as a Product  Manager for Iomega Corp.  from 1995 through 1999.
Mr. Lynch served as a Product  Manager for Adaptec,  Inc. during 1995. He served
as Product Line Manager for Calera Recognition Systems,  Inc., a manufacturer of
Optical Character Recognition Software, from 1990 to 1995.

MARK K.  TAGUCHI,  526  Occidental  Avenue,  San  Mateo,  California  94402,  is
currently   Director  of  Business   Development  and  Strategic   Alliances  at
Software.Com and a principal with Renaissance Management, a business development
firm. Prior to this he was strategic relations manager for the WebFORCE group at
Silicon Graphics, Inc.

YAKOUB BELLAWALA, 101 Park Center Plaza, Suite 1300, San Jose, California 95113,
is Chief  Operating  Officer  of  Interactive  Research  Advisers,  Inc.  He was
previously  the  Database   Marketing   Manager  for  Silicon   Graphics,   Inc.
(1995-1996);  the  Director  of Product  Management  and Product  Marketing  for
Starbase  Corporation  (1994-1995);  and a Senior  Product  Manager  for  Oracle
Corporation (1989-1994).

                     INVESTMENT ADVISORY AND OTHER SERVICES

Interactive Research Advisers, Inc. (the "Investment Adviser"),  101 Park Center
Plaza,  Suite 1300, San Jose,  California  95113, is registered as an investment
adviser  with the  Securities  and  Exchange  Commission  under  the  Investment
Advisers Act of 1940. The Investment Adviser is controlled by Kevin M. Landis.

Under  the  terms of the  Investment  Advisory  and  Management  Agreement  (the
"Advisory  Agreement")  between  the  Trust  and  the  Investment  Adviser,  the
Investment  Adviser (i) manages the  investment  operations of each Fund and the
composition of its portfolio,  including the purchase, retention and disposition
of securities in accordance with each Fund's investment objective, (ii) provides
all statistical,  economic and financial information  reasonably required by the
Funds and  reasonably  available to the Investment  Adviser,  (iii) provides the
Custodian of the Funds'  securities  on each  business day with a list of trades
for that day, and (iv)  provides  persons  satisfactory  to the Trust's Board of
Trustees to act as officers and employees of the Trust.

                                       11
<PAGE>

Pursuant to the Advisory Agreement, each Fund pays to the Investment Adviser, on
a monthly basis, an advisory fee at an annual rate of 1.50% of its average daily
net assets.  The Advisory Agreement requires the Investment Adviser to waive its
management fees and, if necessary, reimburse expenses of the Funds to the extent
necessary to limit each Fund's total operating  expenses to 1.95% of its average
net assets up to $200  million,  1.90% of such assets from $200  million to $500
million, 1.85% of such assets from $500 million to $1 billion, and 1.80% of such
assets in excess of $1 billion.

By its terms, the Advisory Agreement remains in force from year to year, subject
to annual approval by (a) the Board of Trustees or (b) a vote of the majority of
a  Fund's  outstanding   voting  securities;   provided  that  in  either  event
continuance  is  also  approved  by a  majority  of the  Trustees  who  are  not
interested  persons of the Trust,  by a vote cast in person at a meeting  called
for  the  purpose  of  voting  such  approval.  The  Advisory  Agreement  may be
terminated at any time, on 60 days' written  notice,  without the payment of any
penalty,  by the  Board  of  Trustees,  by a vote of the  majority  of a  Fund's
outstanding  voting  securities,  or by the  Investment  Adviser.  The  Advisory
Agreement automatically terminates in the event of its assignment, as defined by
the 1940 Act and the rules thereunder.

The Board of Trustees of the Trust has approved an Administration Agreement with
the Investment  Adviser  wherein the Investment  Adviser is responsible  for the
provision  of  administrative  and  supervisory   services  to  the  Funds.  The
Investment Adviser,  at its expense,  shall supply the Trustees and the officers
of the Trust with all statistical information and reports reasonably required by
it and reasonably  available to the Investment  Adviser.  The Investment Adviser
shall  oversee  the  maintenance  of all books and records  with  respect to the
Funds' security  transactions and the Funds' books of account in accordance with
all applicable  federal and state laws and regulations.  The Investment  Adviser
will arrange for the  preservation  of the records  required to be maintained by
the 1940 Act.

Pursuant to the Administration  Agreement,  each Fund will pay to the Investment
Adviser, on a monthly basis, a fee equal to 0.45% per annum of its average daily
net assets up to $200  million,  0.40% of such assets from $200  million to $500
million, 0.35% of such assets from $500 million to $1 billion, and 0.30% of such
assets in excess of $1 billion.

The  Administration  Agreement may be terminated by the Trust at any time, on 60
days' notice to the Investment  Adviser,  without  penalty either (a) by vote of
the  Board  of  Trustees  of the  Trust,  or (b) by  vote of a  majority  of the
outstanding voting securities of a Fund. It may be terminated at any time by the
Investment Adviser on 60 days' written notice to the Trust.

                                 THE UNDERWRITER

CW Fund Distributors,  Inc. (the "Underwriter"),  312 Walnut Street, 21st Floor,
Cincinnati,  Ohio 45202, serves as principal  underwriter for the Trust pursuant
to an  Underwriting  Agreement.  Shares  are sold on a  continuous  basis by the
Underwriter.  The  Underwriter  has  agreed to use its best  efforts  to solicit
orders  for  the  sale of  Trust  shares,  but it is not  obliged  to  sell  any
particular amount of shares.  The Underwriting  Agreement  provides that, unless
sooner  terminated,  it will  continue in effect  from year to year,  subject to
annual  approval  by (a) the Board of  Trustees  or a vote of a majority  of the
outstanding shares, and (b) by a majority of the Trustees who are not interested
persons of the Trust or of the  Underwriter  by vote cast in person at a meeting
called for the purpose of voting on such approval.

The Underwriting  Agreement may be terminated by the Trust at any time,  without
the  payment  of any  penalty,  by vote of a  majority  of the  entire  Board of
Trustees of the Trust or by vote of a majority of

                                       12
<PAGE>

the  outstanding  shares  of  the  Funds  on 60  days'  written  notice  to  the
Underwriter,  or by the  Underwriter  at any time,  without  the  payment of any
penalty,  on 60 days' written notice to the Trust.  The  Underwriting  Agreement
will automatically terminate in the event of its assignment.

                             SECURITIES TRANSACTIONS

The Investment Adviser furnishes advice and recommendations  with respect to the
Funds'  portfolio  decisions  and,  subject to the  supervision  of the Board of
Trustees  of the  Trust,  determines  the  broker  to be used  in each  specific
transaction.  In executing the Funds'  portfolio  transactions,  the  Investment
Adviser seeks to obtain the best net results for the Funds,  taking into account
such factors as the overall net  economic  result to the Funds  (involving  both
price paid or received and any commissions and other costs paid), the efficiency
with which the  specific  transaction  is  effected,  the  ability to effect the
transaction where a large block is involved,  the known practices of brokers and
the  availability to execute possibly  difficult  transactions in the future and
the financial strength and stability of the broker. While the Investment Adviser
generally  seeks  reasonably  competitive  commission  rates,  the  Funds do not
necessarily pay the lowest commission or spread available.

The Investment  Adviser may direct the Funds' portfolio  transactions to persons
or firms because of research and investment services provided by such persons or
firms if the amount of commissions in effecting the  transactions  is reasonable
in  relationship  to the value of the investment  information  provided by those
persons  or firms.  Such  research  and  investment  services  are  those  which
brokerage  houses  customarily  provide to  institutional  investors and include
statistical and economic data and research  reports on particular  companies and
industries.  These services may be used by the Investment  Adviser in connection
with all of its  investment  activities,  and some of the  services  obtained in
connection  with the  execution  of  transactions  for the  Funds may be used in
managing the Investment Adviser's other investment accounts.

The Funds may deal in some  instances  in  securities  which are not listed on a
national securities exchange but are traded in the over-the-counter  market. The
Funds may also purchase  listed  securities  through the "third  market"  (i.e.,
otherwise  than on the  exchanges  on which the  securities  are  listed).  When
transactions  are executed in the  over-the-counter  market or the third market,
the  Investment  Adviser  will seek to deal with  primary  market  makers and to
execute  transactions  on the Funds' own behalf,  except in those  circumstances
where,  in the opinion of the Investment  Adviser,  better prices and executions
may be  available  elsewhere.  The Funds do not allocate  brokerage  business in
return for sales of the Funds' shares.

Neither  the  Investment   Adviser  nor  any  affiliated   person  thereof  will
participate  in  commissions  paid by the Funds to  brokers  or  dealers or will
receive any reciprocal  business,  directly or  indirectly,  as a result of such
commissions.

The Board of Trustees reviews periodically the allocation of brokerage orders to
monitor the operation of these policies.

                               PORTFOLIO TURNOVER

A Fund's  portfolio  turnover  rate is  calculated  by  dividing  the  lesser of
purchases  or sales of portfolio  securities  for the fiscal year by the monthly
average of the value of the  portfolio  securities  owned by the Fund during the
fiscal year. High portfolio turnover involves  correspondingly greater brokerage
commissions  and other  transaction  costs,  which will be borne directly by the
Funds. A 100% turnover rate would occur if all of a Fund's portfolio  securities
were replaced once within a one year period.

                                       13
<PAGE>

Generally, each Fund intends to invest for long-term purposes. However, the rate
of portfolio turnover will depend upon market and other conditions,  and it will
not be a limiting  factor when the Adviser  believes that portfolio  changes are
appropriate.  It is expected  that the turnover for the  E-Commerce  and Telecom
Funds will be between 100% and 200% annually.

                   PURCHASE, REDEMPTION AND PRICING OF SHARES

CALCULATION OF SHARE PRICE

The share price (net asset value) of the shares of each Fund is determined as of
the close of the  regular  session of  trading  on the New York  Stock  Exchange
(currently 4:00 p.m., eastern time), on each day the Trust is open for business.
The Trust is open for  business on every day except  Saturdays,  Sundays and the
following  holidays:  New Year's Day,  Martin Luther King, Jr. Day,  President's
Day, Good Friday,  Memorial Day,  Independence Day, Labor Day,  Thanksgiving and
Christmas.  The Trust may also be open for business on other days in which there
is sufficient trading in a Fund's portfolio  securities that its net asset value
might be materially affected. For a description of the methods used to determine
the share price, see "Calculation of Share Price" in the Prospectus.

In valuing a Fund's  assets  for the  purpose of  determining  net asset  value,
readily marketable portfolio securities listed on a national securities exchange
are valued at the last sale price on such  exchange  on the  business  day as of
which such value is being determined. If there has been no sale on such exchange
on such day,  the security is valued at the closing bid price on such day. If no
bid price is quoted on such exchange on such day, then the security is valued by
such method as the  Investment  Adviser  under the  supervision  of the Board of
Trustees determines in good faith to reflect its fair value.  Readily marketable
securities  traded  only in the  over-the-counter  market are valued at the last
sale price,  if  available,  otherwise  at the most recent bid price.  If no bid
price is quoted on such day,  then the  security is valued by such method as the
Investment Adviser under the supervision of the Board of Trustees  determines in
good faith to reflect its fair value.  All other assets of the Funds,  including
restricted securities and securities that are not readily marketable, are valued
in such manner as the Investment  Adviser under the  supervision of the Board of
Trustees in good faith deems appropriate to reflect their fair value.

PURCHASE OF SHARES

Orders for  shares  received  by the Trust in proper  form prior to the close of
business on the New York Stock Exchange (the "Exchange") on each day during such
periods  that the Exchange is open for trading are priced at net asset value per
share  computed  as of the  close  of the  regular  session  of  trading  on the
Exchange.  Orders received in proper form after the close of the Exchange, or on
a day it is not open for  trading,  are priced at the close of such  Exchange on
the next day on which it is open for  trading at the next  determined  net asset
value per share.

REDEMPTION OF SHARES

The  right  of  redemption  may not be  suspended  or the date of  payment  upon
redemption  postponed for more than seven  calendar  days after a  shareholder's
redemption  request  made in  accordance  with the  procedures  set forth in the
Prospectus,  except for any period  during which the  Exchange is closed  (other
than customary  weekend and holiday  closing) or during which the Securities and
Exchange  Commission  determines that trading thereon is restricted,  or for any
period during which an emergency (as  determined by the  Securities and Exchange
Commission)  exists as a result of which disposal by a Fund of securities  owned
by it is not reasonably practicable or as a result of which it is not reasonably
practicable for a Fund to fairly  determine the value of its net assets,  or for
such other period as the

                                       14
<PAGE>

Securities  and Exchange  Commission  may by order permit for the  protection of
security holders of the Funds.

The Trust will redeem all or any portion of a shareholder's  shares of the Funds
when requested in accordance with the procedures set forth in the "How to Redeem
Shares" section of the Prospectus.

REDEMPTION IN KIND

Payment  of the  net  redemption  proceeds  may be  made  either  in  cash or in
portfolio securities (selected in the discretion of the Investment Adviser under
supervision  of the  Board  of  Trustees  and  taken  at  their  value  used  in
determining  the net asset  value),  or partly in cash and  partly in  portfolio
securities.  However,  payments  will be made wholly in cash unless the Board of
Trustees  believes  that  economic  conditions  exist  which  would  make such a
practice  detrimental  to the best  interests  of a Fund.  If payment for shares
redeemed is made wholly or partly in portfolio  securities,  brokerage costs may
be incurred by the investor in converting  the securities to cash. The Trust has
filed an election with the Securities and Exchange  Commission pursuant to which
a Fund will effect a redemption in portfolio  securities  only if the particular
shareholder  of record is  redeeming  more than  $250,000  or 1% of net  assets,
whichever is less, during any 90-day period.  The Trust expects,  however,  that
the amount of a redemption  request would have to be significantly  greater than
$250,000 or 1% of net assets  before a redemption  wholly or partly in portfolio
securities would be made.

                                      TAXES

Each Fund has  elected,  and  intends to qualify  annually,  for the special tax
treatment  afforded  regulated  investment  companies under  Subchapter M of the
Internal  Revenue  Code of 1986,  as  amended  (the  "Code").  To  qualify  as a
regulated  investment  company,  a Fund must, among other things,  (a) derive in
each  taxable  year at least 90% of its gross  income from  dividend,  interest,
payments  with  respect to  securities  loans,  and gains from the sale or other
disposition  of  stock,  securities  or  foreign  currencies,  or  other  income
(including  gains from  options,  futures and forward  contracts)  derived  with
respect to their business of investing in such stock,  securities or currencies;
(b)  diversify  its holdings so that,  at the end of each quarter of the taxable
year, (i) at least 50% of the market value of the Fund's assets are  represented
by  cash,  U.S.  Government  securities,   the  securities  of  other  regulated
investment  companies,  and other securities,  with such other securities of any
one issuer limited for the purposes of this calculation to an amount not greater
than 5% of the value of the Fund's total assets or 10% of the outstanding voting
securities of such issuer,  and (ii) not more than 25% of the value of its total
assets  are  invested  in the  securities  of any one  issuer  (other  than U.S.
Government securities or the securities of other regulated investment companies)
or in two or more issuers  which the Funds  control and which are engaged in the
same or similar  trades or  businesses;  and (c)  distribute at least 90% of its
investment  company taxable income (which includes  dividends,  interest and net
short-term  capital  gains in excess of any net long-term  capital  losses) each
taxable year.

As regulated investment companies, each Fund will not be subject to U.S. Federal
income tax on its investment  company  taxable income and net capital gains (any
long-term  capital gains in excess of the sum of net  short-term  capital losses
and capital loss carryovers  available from the eight prior years), if any, that
it distributes to shareholders.  Each Fund intends to distribute annually to its
shareholders  substantially all of its investment company taxable income and any
net capital gains.  In addition,  amounts not  distributed by a Fund on a timely
basis in accordance with a calendar year distribution requirement are subject to
a nondeductible  4% excise tax. To avoid the tax, a Fund must distribute  during
each  calendar  year  an  amount  equal  to the sum of (1) at  least  98% of its
ordinary income (with  adjustment) for the calendar year and (2) at least 98% of
its capital  gains in excess of its capital  losses  (and  adjusted  for certain
ordinary losses) for the 12 month period ending on October 31 of the calendar

                                       15
<PAGE>

year, and (3) all ordinary income and capital gains for previous years that were
not distributed  during such years. In order to avoid  application of the excise
tax,  each  Fund  intends  to  make   distributions  in  accordance  with  these
distribution requirements.

In view of each  Fund's  investment  policies,  it is  expected  that  dividends
received from  domestic and certain  foreign  corporations  will be part of each
Fund's gross income.  Distributions  by the Funds of such dividends to corporate
shareholders may be eligible for the "70% dividends received" deduction, subject
to the holding period and debt-financing  limitations of the Code. However,  the
portion of each Fund's gross income  attributable  to  dividends  received  from
qualifying  corporations is largely dependent on its investment activities for a
particular year and therefore  cannot be predicted with certainty.  In addition,
for purposes of the dividends  received deduction  available to corporations,  a
capital  gain  dividend  received  from a  regulated  investment  company is not
treated as a dividend.  Corporate shareholders should be aware that availability
of the  dividends  received  deduction is subject to certain  restrictions.  For
example,  the  deduction is not available if Fund shares are deemed to have been
held for less than 46 days (within the 90-day  period that begins 45 days before
the ex-dividend date and ends 45 days after the ex-dividend date) and is reduced
to the  extent  such  shares  are  treated  as  debt-financed  under  the  Code.
Dividends,  including the portions thereof qualifying for the dividends received
deduction,  are  includable  in the tax base on which  the  federal  alternative
minimum tax is  computed.  Dividends of  sufficient  aggregate  amount  received
during a prescribed  period of time and  qualifying  for the dividends  received
deduction may be treated as "extraordinary  dividends" under the Code, resulting
in a  reduction  in a  corporate  shareholder's  federal  tax  basis in its Fund
shares.

Each Fund may invest as much as 15% of its net assets in  securities  of foreign
companies and may therefore be liable for foreign  withholding  and other taxes,
which will reduce the amount  available for  distribution to  shareholders.  Tax
conventions  between the United States and various other countries may reduce or
eliminate such taxes. A foreign tax credit or deduction is generally allowed for
foreign  taxes paid or deemed to be paid.  A  regulated  investment  company may
elect to have the foreign tax credit or  deduction  claimed by the  shareholders
rather  than  the  company  if  certain  requirements  are  met,  including  the
requirement that more than 50% of the value of the company's total assets at the
end of the taxable year consist of securities in foreign  corporations.  Because
the Funds do not anticipate  investment in securities of foreign corporations to
this extent, the Funds will likely not be able to make this election and foreign
tax credits will be allowed only to reduce a Fund's tax liability, if any.

Under the Code, upon disposition of certain securities  denominated in a foreign
currency,  gains or  losses  attributable  to  fluctuations  in the value of the
foreign  currency between the date of acquisition of the securities and the date
of  disposition  are  treated as ordinary  gain or loss.  These gains or losses,
referred to under the Code as  "Section  988" gains or losses,  may  increase or
decrease the amount of a Fund's investment company taxable income.

Any dividend or distribution  received  shortly after a share purchase will have
the effect of reducing  the net asset value of such shares by the amount of such
dividend or  distribution.  Such  dividend  or  distribution  is fully  taxable.
Accordingly,  prior to  purchasing  shares  of the  Funds,  an  investor  should
carefully consider the amount of dividends or capital gains  distributions which
are expected to be or have been announced.

Generally, the Code's rules regarding the determination and character of gain or
loss on the sale of a capital asset apply to a sale, redemption or repurchase of
shares of the Funds that are held by the shareholder as capital assets. However,
if a  shareholder  sells shares of the Funds which he has held for less than six
months and on which he has received  distributions of capital gains, any loss on
the sale or exchange of such shares must be treated as long-term capital loss to
the extent of such distributions. Any loss realized on the sale of shares of the
Funds will be disallowed by the "wash sale" rules to the

                                       16
<PAGE>

extent the shares sold are replaced (including through the receipt of additional
shares through  reinvested  dividends) within a period of time beginning 30 days
before and ending 30 days after the shares are sold.  In such a case,  the basis
of the shares acquired will be adjusted to reflect the disallowed loss.

The Trust is required to withhold and remit to the U.S. Treasury a portion (31%)
of dividend  income on any account  unless the  shareholder  provides a taxpayer
identification  number and  certifies  that such  number is correct and that the
shareholder is not subject to backup withholding.

Provided that a Fund qualifies as a regulated investment company under the Code,
it will not be liable  for  California  corporate  taxes,  other  than a minimum
franchise  tax, if all of its income is  distributed  to  shareholders  for each
taxable year.  Shareholders,  however,  may be liable for state and local income
taxes on distributions from the Funds.

The above  discussion  and the  related  discussion  in the  Prospectus  are not
intended to be complete  discussions of all applicable  federal tax consequences
of an investment in the Funds. The law firm of Paul, Hastings, Janofsky & Walker
LLP has expressed no opinion in respect thereof.  Nonresident aliens and foreign
persons are subject to different tax rules, and may be subject to withholding of
up to 30% on certain payments received from the Funds.  Shareholders are advised
to consult with their own tax advisors  concerning  the  application of foreign,
federal, state and local taxes to an investment in the Funds.

                       HISTORICAL PERFORMANCE INFORMATION

A Fund's total returns are based on the overall  dollar or percentage  change in
value of a  hypothetical  investment  in the Fund,  assuming all  dividends  and
distributions   are  reinvested.   Average  annual  total  return  reflects  the
hypothetical  annually  compounded  return  that  would have  produced  the same
cumulative  total return if the Fund's  performance  had been  constant over the
entire period presented. Because average annual total returns tend to smooth out
variations in the Fund's returns,  investors  should recognize that they are not
the same as actual year-by-year returns.

For the purposes of quoting and comparing the  performance  of the Funds to that
of other mutual funds and to other relevant  market  indices in  advertisements,
performance  will be stated  in terms of  average  annual  total  return.  Under
regulations adopted by the Securities and Exchange Commission, funds that intend
to advertise  performance  must include  average annual total return  quotations
calculated according to the following formula:

                                        n
                                  P(1+T)  = ERV
Where:
P = a hypothetical initial payment of $1,000
T = average annual total return
N = number of years (1, 5, or 10)
ERV = ending  redeemable  value of a  hypothetical  $1,000  payment  made at the
      beginning of the 1-, 5-, or 10- year period, at the end of such period (or
      fractional portion thereof).

Under the foregoing formula,  the time periods used in advertising will be based
on rolling calendar quarters, updated to the last day of the most recent quarter
prior to submission of the advertising for  publication,  and will cover 1-, 5-,
and 10-year  periods of a Fund's  existence or shorter  periods  dating from the
commencement  of the Fund's  operations.  In calculating  the ending  redeemable
value,  all  dividends  and  distributions  by the Fund are assumed to have been
reinvested at net asset value as

                                       17
<PAGE>

described  in the  Prospectus  on the  reinvestment  dates  during  the  period.
Additionally,  redemption  of  shares  is  assumed  to  occur at the end of each
applicable time period.

The foregoing  information  should be considered in light of a Fund's investment
objectives and policies,  as well as the risks incurred in the Fund's investment
practices. Future results will be affected by the future composition of a Fund's
portfolio,  as well as by changes in the general  level of interest  rates,  and
general economic and other market conditions.

Each Fund may also advertise total return (a "nonstandardized  quotation") which
is calculated  differently from average annual total return.  A  nonstandardized
quotation  of  total  return  may be a  cumulative  return  which  measures  the
percentage  change in the value of an account between the beginning and end of a
period, assuming no activity in the account other than reinvestment of dividends
and capital gains distributions.

A nonstandardized quotation may also indicate average annual compounded rates of
return over periods other than those  specified for average annual total return.
A  nonstandardized  quotation  of total return will always be  accompanied  by a
Fund's average annual total return as described above.

The performance  quotations described above are based on historical earnings and
are not intended to indicate future performance of the Funds.

To help investors  better  evaluate how an investment in the Funds might satisfy
their  investment  objective,  advertisements  regarding  each Fund may  discuss
various measures of Fund  performance,  including  current  performance  ratings
and/or rankings  appearing in financial  magazines,  newspapers and publications
which track mutual fund performance. Advertisements may also compare performance
(using the  calculation  methods set forth in the  Prospectus) to performance as
reported by other investments,  indices and averages.  When advertising  current
ratings or rankings,  the Funds may use the following publications or indices to
discuss or compare Fund performance:

Lipper  Mutual  Fund  Performance  Analysis  measures  total  return and average
current  yield for the mutual fund  industry  and ranks  individual  mutual fund
performance   over  specified  time  periods   assuming   reinvestment   of  all
distributions,  exclusive  of sales  loads.  The Funds may  provide  comparative
performance  information  appearing  in any  appropriate  category  published by
Lipper  Analytical  Services,  Inc. In addition,  the Funds may use  comparative
performance  information of relevant  indices,  including the S&P 500 Index, the
Dow Jones Industrial Average, the Russell 2000 Index, the NASDAQ Composite Index
and the Value Line Composite  Index.  The S&P 500 Index is an unmanaged index of
500 stocks, the purpose of which is to portray the pattern of common stock price
movement.  The Dow Jones  Industrial  Average is a measurement of general market
price movement for 30 widely held stocks listed on the New York Stock  Exchange.
The  Russell  2000  Index,  representing  approximately  11% of the U.S.  equity
market,  is an unmanaged  index  comprised of the 2,000 smallest U.S.  domiciled
publicly-traded  common stocks in the Russell 3000 Index (an unmanaged  index of
the  3,000  largest  U.S.  domiciled  publicly-traded  common  stocks  by market
capitalization representing approximately 98% of the U.S. publicly-traded equity
market).  The NASDAQ  Composite  Index is an unmanaged  index which averages the
trading prices of more than 3,000 domestic over-the-counter companies. The Value
Line Composite  Index is an unmanaged  index  comprised of  approximately  1,700
stocks,  the purpose of which is to portray  the  pattern of common  stock price
movement.

In assessing such  comparisons  of  performance an investor  should keep in mind
that the composition of the investments in the reported  indices and averages is
not  identical  to the  Funds'  portfolios,  that  the  averages  are  generally
unmanaged and that the items included in the calculations of such averages may

                                       18
<PAGE>

not  be  identical  to  the  formula  used  by  the  Funds  to  calculate  their
performance. In addition, there can be no assurance that the Funds will continue
this performance as compared to such other averages.

                                    CUSTODIAN

Firstar, N.A., 425 Walnut Street,  Cincinnati,  Ohio 45201, has been retained to
act as Custodian for each Fund's investments.  Firstar, N.A. acts as each Fund's
depository,  safekeeps its portfolio  securities,  collects all income and other
payments  with respect  thereto,  disburses  funds as  instructed  and maintains
records in connection with its duties.

                           LEGAL COUNSEL AND AUDITORS

The law firm of Paul,  Hastings,  Janofsky & Walker LLP, 345 California  Street,
29th Floor, San Francisco, California 94104, acts as legal counsel for the Trust
and the Trust's independent Trustees.

The  firm  of  [_______________________],  8 Penn  Center  Plaza,  Philadelphia,
Pennsylvania 19103, has been selected as independent  auditors for the Trust for
the fiscal year ending December 31, 1999.  [______________________]  performs an
annual audit of the Trust's financial statements and will advise the Trust as to
certain accounting matters.

                         COUNTRYWIDE FUND SERVICES, INC.

Countrywide Fund Services, Inc. ("Countrywide"),  312 Walnut Street, Cincinnati,
Ohio 45202,  is retained by the  Investment  Adviser to maintain  the records of
each  shareholder's  account,  process  purchases and  redemptions of the Funds'
shares and act as dividend and distribution  disbursing agent.  Countrywide also
provides  administrative services to the Funds, calculates daily net asset value
per share and  maintains  such  books and  records  as are  necessary  to enable
Countrywide to perform its duties.  For the performance of these  services,  the
Investment Adviser (not the Funds) pays Countrywide (1) a fee for administrative
services at the annual rate of .1% of the average value of each Fund's daily net
assets  up  to  $100,000,000,   .075%  of  such  assets  from   $100,000,000  to
$200,000,000  and .05% of such assets in excess of  $200,000,000;  (2) a fee for
transfer  agency  and  shareholder  services  at the  annual  rate  of  $16  per
shareholder  account  of the Funds;  and (3) a monthly  fee for  accounting  and
pricing  services  which will vary  according to each Fund's  average net assets
during such month. In addition,  the Investment Adviser  reimburses  Countrywide
for out-of-pocket expenses,  including but not limited to, postage,  stationery,
checks,  drafts,  forms,  reports,  record storage,  communication lines and the
costs of external pricing services.

Countrywide  is  an  indirect  wholly-owned  subsidiary  of  Countrywide  Credit
Industries,  Inc., a New York Stock Exchange listed company  principally engaged
in the business of residential mortgage lending.  Countrywide is an affiliate of
the Underwriter by reason of common ownership.

                                       19
<PAGE>

                                     PART C

                                Other Information

<PAGE>

Part C.   OTHER INFORMATION

Item 23.  EXHIBITS

(a)  Declaration of Trust
     (i)  Declaration  of  Trust--Incorporated  by reference  to  Post-Effective
          Amendment  No.  7 to the  Registration  Statement  as  filed  with the
          Commission on May 11, 1999 ("Post-Effective Amendment No. 7).
     (ii) Amendments  to  Declaration  of  Trust  as  adopted  on  February  14,
          1998--Incorporated by reference to Post-Effective Amendment No. 7.
(b)  Bylaws
     (i)  By-Laws--1998--Incorporated  by reference to Post-Effective  Amendment
          No. 7.
     (ii) Amendments to By-Laws as adopted on February 14,  1998--  Incorporated
          by reference to Post-Effective Amendment No. 7.
(c)  Incorporated by reference to the Declaration of Trust and Bylaws
(d)  Advisory Agreement for The Technology Value Fund with Interactive  Research
     Advisers,  Inc.--Incorporated by reference to Post-Effective  Amendment No.
     7.  (Pursuant  to Rule  8b-31,  the  Advisory  Agreement  for  The  Medical
     Specialists Fund, The Technology Leaders Fund and The Technology Innovators
     Fund has been omitted due to the fact they are substantially similar except
     for date of execution and parties thereto.)
(e)  Underwriting Agreement with CW Fund Distributors, Inc.*
(f)  Inapplicable
(g)  Custody Agreement with Firstar, N.A.*
(h)  Other Material Contracts
     (i)   Administration Agreement with Interactive Research Advisers, Inc.*
     (ii)  Transfer, Dividend  Disbursing,  Shareholder  Service and Plan Agency
           Agreement with Countrywide Fund Services, Inc.*
     (iii) Administration Agreement with Countrywide Fund Services, Inc.*
     (iv)  Accounting Services Agreement with Countrywide Fund Services, Inc.*
(i)  Opinion and Consent of Counsel relating to Issuance of Shares--Incorporated
     by reference to Post-Effective Amendment No. 7.
(j)  Consent of Independent Public Accountants--n/a
(k)  Inapplicable
(l)  Agreement Relating to Initial Capital*
(m)  Inapplicable
(n)  Financial Data Schedules*
(o)  Inapplicable

*    Incorporated by reference to Registration Statement on Form N-1A.

Item 24.  Persons Controlled by or Under Common Control with Registrant.

          No person is  directly or  indirectly  controlled  by or under  common
          control with the Registrant.

Item 25.  Indemnification.

          Under section  3817(a) of the Delaware  Business Trust Act, a Delaware
          business  trust  has the  power to  indemnify  and hold  harmless  any
          trustee, beneficial owner or other person from and against any and all
          claims and demands  whatsoever.  Reference is made to sections 5.1 and
          5.2

<PAGE>

          of the Declaration of Trust of Interactive  Investments  (the "Trust")
          pursuant to which no trustee,  officer, employee or agent of the Trust
          shall be subject to any personal liability,  when acting in his or her
          individual   capacity,   except  for  his  own  bad   faith,   willful
          misfeasance,  gross  negligence  or reckless  disregard  of his or her
          duties.  The Trust shall  indemnify  each of its  trustees,  officers,
          employees and agents against all liabilities  and expenses  reasonably
          incurred by him or her in connection  with the defense or  disposition
          of any  actions,  suits or other  proceedings  by reason of his or her
          being or having been a trustee,  officer,  employee  or agent,  except
          with  respect  to any  matter  as to which he or she  shall  have been
          adjudicated to have acted in or with bad faith,  willful  misfeasance,
          gross negligence or reckless disregard of his or her duties. The Trust
          will comply with Section 17(h) of the Investment  Company Act of 1940,
          as amended (the "1940 Act") and 1940 Act Releases number 7221 (June 9,
          1972) and number 11330 (September 2, 1980).

          Insofar  as   indemnification   for  liabilities   arising  under  the
          Securities  Act of 1933 may be  permitted  to  trustees,  officers and
          controlling persons of the Trust pursuant to the foregoing,  the Trust
          has been  advised that in the opinion of the  Securities  and Exchange
          Commission,   such   indemnification  is  against  public  policy  and
          therefore  may  be  unenforceable.  In the  event  that  a  claim  for
          indemnification  (except insofar as it provides for the payment by the
          Trust  of  expenses  incurred  or  paid  by  a  trustee,   officer  or
          controlling  person in the successful  defense of any action,  suit or
          proceeding) is asserted against the Trust by such trustee,  officer or
          controlling person and the Securities and Exchange Commission is still
          of the same  opinion,  the Trust  will,  unless in the  opinion of its
          counsel the matter has been settled by controlling  precedent,  submit
          to a court of  appropriate  jurisdiction  the question of whether such
          indemnification  by it is against  public  policy as  expressed in the
          Securities Act of 1933 and will be governed by the final  adjudication
          of such issue.

          Indemnification  provisions  exist  in  the  Advisory  Agreement,  the
          Administration  Agreement  and the  Underwriting  Agreement  which are
          substantially  identical  to those in the  Declaration  of Trust noted
          above.

          The Trust  maintains a standard  mutual fund and  investment  advisory
          professional and directors and officers  liability policy.  The policy
          provides  coverage to the Trust,  its Trustees and  officers,  and its
          Investment  Adviser.  Coverage  under the  policy  includes  losses by
          reason  of  any  act,  error,   omission,   misstatement,   misleading
          statement, neglect or breach of duty.

Item 26.  Business and Other Connections of the Investment Adviser

          (a)  Inapplicable

          (b)  Inapplicable

Item 27.  Principal Underwriters.

          (a)  CW Fund  Distributors,  Inc.  also  acts as  underwriter  for the
               following   open-end   investment   companies:   Atalanta/Sosnoff
               Investment Trust, Brundage,  Story and Rose Investment Trust, The
               Caldwell & Orkin Funds,  Inc., Profit Funds Investment Trust, the
               Lake  Shore  Family of Funds,  UC  Investment  Trust,  The Winter
               Harbor Fund and The James Advantage Funds.

          (b)  The  following  list  sets  forth  the  directors  and  executive
               officers  of the  Distributor.  Unless  otherwise  noted  with an
               asterisk(*), the address of the persons named below is 312 Walnut
               Street, Cincinnati, Ohio 45202.

* The address is 4500 Park Granada Boulevard, Calabasas, California 91302.

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Name                         Position with Distributor                         Position with Registrant
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
<S>                          <C>                                               <C>
*Angelo R. Mozilo            Chairman of the Board, Director                   None
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
*Andrew S. Bielanski         Director                                          None
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
*Thomas H. Boone             Director                                          None
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
*Marshall M. Gates           Director                                          None
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Robert H. Leshner            President, Vice Chairman, Chief                   None
                             Executive Officer, Director
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Maryellen Peretzky           Vice President, Secretary                         Assistant Secretary
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Robert L. Bennett            Vice President, Chief Operations Officer          None
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Terrie A.  Wiedenheft        Vice President, Chief Financial                   None
                             Officer, Treasurer
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
</TABLE>

          (c)  Inapplicable

Item 28.  Location of Accounts and Records.

          Accounts,  books and other  documents  required  to be  maintained  by
          Section  31(a) of the  Investment  Company  Act of 1940 and the  Rules
          promulgated  thereunder  will be maintained  by the  Registrant at its
          offices  located  at 101 Park  Center  Plaza,  Suite  1300,  San Jose,
          California 95113 or at the offices of the Registrant's  transfer agent
          ocated at 312 Walnut Street, Cincinnati, Ohio 45202.

Item 29.  Management Services Not Discussed in Parts A and B.

          Inapplicable

Item 30.  Undertakings.

          Inapplicable

<PAGE>

                                   SIGNATURES

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended,  and the
Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended,  the Registrant has duly caused this
Registration Statement to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned,  thereunto
duly authorized, in the City of San Jose and the State of California on the 16th
of July, 1999.

FIRSTHAND FUNDS

By: /s/ Kevin M. Landis
    -------------------
    Kevin M. Landis, President

Pursuant to the  requirements of the Securities Act of 1933,  this  Registration
Statement has been signed below by the following  persons in the  capacities and
on the dates indicated.

Mark Taguchi*                          Trustee                  July 16, 1999
- -----------------------------
Mark Taguchi

Mike Lynch*                            Trustee                  July 16, 1999
- -----------------------------
Mike Lynch

Ken Kam*                               Trustee                  July 16, 1999
- -----------------------------
Ken Kam

/s/ Kevin Landis                       Chairman of the          July 16, 1999
- -----------------------------          Board of Trustees
Kevin Landis


*By: /s/ Kevin Landis
     ----------------
     Kevin Landis, attorney-in-fact pursuant
     to powers of attorney previously filed



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