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                                                                   EXHIBIT 10.03

                                NIKU CORPORATION

                           2000 EQUITY INCENTIVE PLAN

                           As Adopted December 8, 1999


        1. PURPOSE. The purpose of this Plan is to provide incentives to
attract, retain and motivate eligible persons whose present and potential
contributions are important to the success of the Company, its Parent and
Subsidiaries, by offering them an opportunity to participate in the Company's
future performance through awards of Options, Restricted Stock and Stock
Bonuses. Capitalized terms not defined in the text are defined in Section 23.


        2. SHARES SUBJECT TO THE PLAN.


            2.1 Number of Shares Available. Subject to Sections 2.2 and 18, the
total number of Shares reserved and available for grant and issuance pursuant to
this Plan will be 6,000,000 Shares plus Shares that are subject to: (a) issuance
upon exercise of an Option but cease to be subject to such Option for any reason
other than exercise of such Option; (b) an Award granted hereunder but are
forfeited or are repurchased by the Company at the original issue price; and (c)
an Award that otherwise terminates without Shares being issued. In addition, any
authorized shares not issued or subject to outstanding grants under the
Company's 1998 Stock Plan (the "PRIOR PLAN") on the Effective Date (as defined
below) and any shares issued under the Prior Plan that are forfeited or
repurchased by the Company or that are issuable upon exercise of options granted
pursuant to the Prior Plan that expire or become unexercisable for any reason
without having been exercised in full, will no longer be available for grant and
issuance under the Prior Plan, but will be available for grant and issuance
under this Plan. In addition, on each January 1, the aggregate number of Shares
reserved and available for grant and issuance pursuant to this Plan will be
increased automatically by a number of Shares equal to 5% of the total
outstanding shares of the Company as of the immediately preceding December 31,
provided that no more than 20,000,000 shares shall be issued as ISOs (as defined
in Section 5 below). At all times the Company shall reserve and keep available a
sufficient number of Shares as shall be required to satisfy the requirements of
all outstanding Options granted under this Plan and all other outstanding but
unvested Awards granted under this Plan.


            2.2 Adjustment of Shares. In the event that the number of
outstanding shares is changed by a stock dividend, recapitalization, stock
split, reverse stock split, subdivision, combination, reclassification or
similar change in the capital structure of the Company without consideration,
then (a) the number of Shares reserved for issuance under this Plan, (b) the
number of Shares that may be granted pursuant to Sections 3 and 9 below, (c) the
Exercise Prices of and number of Shares subject to outstanding Options, and (d)
the number of Shares subject to other outstanding Awards will be proportionately
adjusted, subject to any required action by the Board or the stockholders of the
Company and compliance with applicable securities laws; provided, however, that
fractions of a Share will not be issued but will either be replaced by a cash
payment equal to the Fair Market Value of such fraction of a Share or will be
rounded up to the nearest whole Share, as determined by the Committee.


        3. ELIGIBILITY. ISOs (as defined in Section 5 below) may be granted only
to employees (including officers and directors who are also employees) of the
Company or of a Parent or Subsidiary of the Company. All other Awards may be
granted to employees, officers, directors, consultants, independent contractors
and advisors of the Company or any Parent or Subsidiary of the Company; provided
such consultants, contractors and advisors render bona fide services not in
connection with the offer and sale of securities in a capital-raising
transaction. No person will be eligible to receive more than 2,000,000 Shares in
any calendar year under this Plan pursuant to the grant of Awards hereunder,
other than new employees of the Company or of a Parent or Subsidiary of the
Company (including new employees who are also officers and directors of the
Company or any Parent or Subsidiary of the Company), who are eligible to receive
up to a maximum of 2,500,000 Shares in the calendar year in which they commence
their employment. A person may be granted more than one Award under this Plan.

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                                                      2000 Equity Incentive Plan

        4.     ADMINISTRATION.


            4.1 Committee Authority. This Plan will be administered by the
Committee or by the Board acting as the Committee. Except for automatic grants
to Outside Directors pursuant to Section 9 hereof, and subject to the general
purposes, terms and conditions of this Plan, and to the direction of the Board,
the Committee will have full power to implement and carry out this Plan. Except
for automatic grants to Outside Directors pursuant to Section 9 hereof, the
Committee will have the authority to:


            (a) construe and interpret this Plan, any Award Agreement and any
                other agreement or document executed pursuant to this Plan;

            (b) prescribe, amend and rescind rules and regulations relating to
                this Plan or any Award;

            (c) select persons to receive Awards;

            (d) determine the form and terms of Awards;

            (e) determine the number of Shares or other consideration subject to
                Awards;

            (f) determine whether Awards will be granted singly, in combination
                with, in tandem with, in replacement of, or as alternatives to,
                other Awards under this Plan or any other incentive or
                compensation plan of the Company or any Parent or Subsidiary of
                the Company;

            (g) grant waivers of Plan or Award conditions;

            (h) determine the vesting, exercisability and payment of Awards;

            (i) correct any defect, supply any omission or reconcile any
                inconsistency in this Plan, any Award or any Award Agreement;

            (j) determine whether an Award has been earned; and

            (k) make all other determinations necessary or advisable for the
                administration of this Plan.

            4.2 Committee Discretion. Except for automatic grants to Outside
Directors pursuant to Section 9 hereof, any determination made by the Committee
with respect to any Award will be made in its sole discretion at the time of
grant of the Award or, unless in contravention of any express term of this Plan
or Award, at any later time, and such determination will be final and binding on
the Company and on all persons having an interest in any Award under this Plan.
The Committee may delegate to one or more officers of the Company the authority
to grant an Award under this Plan to Participants who are not Insiders of the
Company.

        5. OPTIONS. The Committee may grant Options to eligible persons and will
determine whether such Options will be Incentive Stock Options within the
meaning of the Code ("ISO") or Nonqualified Stock Options ("NQSOS"), the number
of Shares subject to the Option, the Exercise Price of the Option, the period
during which the Option may be exercised, and all other terms and conditions of
the Option, subject to the following:

            5.1 Form of Option Grant. Each Option granted under this Plan will
be evidenced by an Award Agreement which will expressly identify the Option as
an ISO or an NQSO ("STOCK OPTION AGREEMENT"), and, except as otherwise required
by the terms of Section 9 hereof, will be in such form and contain such
provisions (which need not be the same for each Participant) as the Committee
may from time to time approve, and which will comply with and be subject to the
terms and conditions of this Plan.

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                                                                NIKU Corporation
                                                      2000 Equity Incentive Plan


            5.2 Date of Grant. The date of grant of an Option will be the date
on which the Committee makes the determination to grant such Option, unless
otherwise specified by the Committee. The Stock Option Agreement and a copy of
this Plan will be delivered to the Participant within a reasonable time after
the granting of the Option.

            5.3 Exercise Period. Options may be exercisable within the times or
upon the events determined by the Committee as set forth in the Stock Option
Agreement governing such Option; provided, however, that no Option will be
exercisable after the expiration of ten (10) years from the date the Option is
granted; and provided further that no ISO granted to a person who directly or by
attribution owns more than ten percent (10%) of the total combined voting power
of all classes of stock of the Company or of any Parent or Subsidiary of the
Company ("TEN PERCENT STOCKHOLDER") will be exercisable after the expiration of
five (5) years from the date the ISO is granted. The Committee also may provide
for Options to become exercisable at one time or from time to time, periodically
or otherwise, in such number of Shares or percentage of Shares as the Committee
determines.

            5.4 Exercise Price. The Exercise Price of an Option will be
determined by the Committee when the Option is granted and may be not less than
85% of the Fair Market Value of the Shares on the date of grant; provided that:
(i) the Exercise Price of an ISO will be not less than 100% of the Fair Market
Value of the Shares on the date of grant; and (ii) the Exercise Price of any ISO
granted to a Ten Percent Stockholder will not be less than 110% of the Fair
Market Value of the Shares on the date of grant. Payment for the Shares
purchased may be made in accordance with Section 8 of this Plan.

            5.5 Method of Exercise. Options may be exercised only by delivery to
the Company of a written stock option exercise agreement (the "EXERCISE
AGREEMENT") in a form approved by the Committee (which need not be the same for
each Participant), stating the number of Shares being purchased, the
restrictions imposed on the Shares purchased under such Exercise Agreement, if
any, and such representations and agreements regarding Participant's investment
intent and access to information and other matters, if any, as may be required
or desirable by the Company to comply with applicable securities laws, together
with payment in full of the Exercise Price for the number of Shares being
purchased.

            5.6 Termination. Notwithstanding the exercise periods set forth in
the Stock Option Agreement, exercise of an Option will always be subject to the
following:


            (a)    If the Participant is Terminated for any reason except death
                   or Disability, then the Participant may exercise such
                   Participant's Options only to the extent that such Options
                   would have been exercisable upon the Termination Date no
                   later than three (3) months after the Termination Date (or
                   such shorter or longer time period not exceeding five (5)
                   years as may be determined by the Committee, with any
                   exercise beyond three (3) months after the Termination Date
                   deemed to be an NQSO), but in any event, no later than the
                   expiration date of the Options.

            (b)    If the Participant is Terminated because of Participant's
                   death or Disability (or the Participant dies within three (3)
                   months after a Termination other than for Cause or because of
                   Participant's Disability), then Participant's Options may be
                   exercised only to the extent that such Options would have
                   been exercisable by Participant on the Termination Date and
                   must be exercised by Participant (or Participant's legal
                   representative or authorized assignee) no later than twelve
                   (12) months after the Termination Date (or such shorter or
                   longer time period not exceeding five (5) years as may be
                   determined by the Committee, with any such exercise beyond
                   (a) three (3) months after the Termination Date when the
                   Termination is for any reason other than the Participant's
                   death or Disability, or (b) twelve (12) months after the
                   Termination Date when the Termination is for Participant's
                   death or Disability, deemed to be an NQSO), but in any event
                   no later than the expiration date of the Options.

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                                                      2000 Equity Incentive Plan

            (c)    Notwithstanding the provisions in paragraph 5.6(a) above, if
                   a Participant is terminated for Cause, neither the
                   Participant, the Participant's estate nor such other person
                   who may then hold the Option shall be entitled to exercise
                   any Option with respect to any Shares whatsoever, after
                   termination of service, whether or not after termination of
                   service the Participant may receive payment from the Company
                   or Subsidiary for vacation pay, for services rendered prior
                   to termination, for services rendered for the day on which
                   termination occurs, for salary in lieu of notice, or for any
                   other benefits. In making such determination, the Board shall
                   give the Participant an opportunity to present to the Board
                   evidence on his behalf. For the purpose of this paragraph,
                   termination of service shall be deemed to occur on the date
                   when the Company dispatches notice or advice to the
                   Participant that his service is terminated.

            5.7 Limitations on Exercise. The Committee may specify a reasonable
minimum number of Shares that may be purchased on any exercise of an Option,
provided that such minimum number will not prevent Participant from exercising
the Option for the full number of Shares for which it is then exercisable.

            5.8 Limitations on ISO. The aggregate Fair Market Value (determined
as of the date of grant) of Shares with respect to which ISO are exercisable for
the first time by a Participant during any calendar year (under this Plan or
under any other incentive stock option plan of the Company, Parent or Subsidiary
of the Company) will not exceed $100,000. If the Fair Market Value of Shares on
the date of grant with respect to which ISO are exercisable for the first time
by a Participant during any calendar year exceeds $100,000, then the Options for
the first $100,000 worth of Shares to become exercisable in such calendar year
will be ISO and the Options for the amount in excess of $100,000 that become
exercisable in that calendar year will be NQSOs. In the event that the Code or
the regulations promulgated thereunder are amended after the Effective Date of
this Plan to provide for a different limit on the Fair Market Value of Shares
permitted to be subject to ISO, such different limit will be automatically
incorporated herein and will apply to any Options granted after the effective
date of such amendment.

            5.9 Modification, Extension or Renewal. The Committee may modify,
extend or renew outstanding Options and authorize the grant of new Options in
substitution therefor, provided that any such action may not, without the
written consent of a Participant, impair any of such Participant's rights under
any Option previously granted. Any outstanding ISO that is modified, extended,
renewed or otherwise altered will be treated in accordance with Section 424(h)
of the Code. The Committee may reduce the Exercise Price of outstanding Options
without the consent of Participants affected by a written notice to them;
provided, however, that the Exercise Price may not be reduced below the minimum
Exercise Price that would be permitted under Section 5.4 of this Plan for
Options granted on the date the action is taken to reduce the Exercise Price.

            5.10 No Disqualification. Notwithstanding any other provision in
this Plan, no term of this Plan relating to ISO will be interpreted, amended or
altered, nor will any discretion or authority granted under this Plan be
exercised, so as to disqualify this Plan under Section 422 of the Code or,
without the consent of the Participant affected, to disqualify any ISO under
Section 422 of the Code.

        6. RESTRICTED STOCK. A Restricted Stock Award is an offer by the Company
to sell to an eligible person Shares that are subject to restrictions. The
Committee will determine to whom an offer will be made, the number of Shares the
person may purchase, the price to be paid (the "PURCHASE PRICE"), the
restrictions to which the Shares will be subject, and all other terms and
conditions of the Restricted Stock Award, subject to the following:

            6.1 Form of Restricted Stock Award. All purchases under a Restricted
Stock Award made pursuant to this Plan will be evidenced by an Award Agreement
("RESTRICTED STOCK PURCHASE AGREEMENT") that will be in such form (which need
not be the same for each Participant) as the Committee will from time to time
approve, and will comply with and be subject to the terms and conditions of this
Plan. The offer of Restricted Stock will be accepted by the Participant's
execution and delivery of the Restricted Stock Purchase Agreement and full
payment for the Shares to the Company within thirty (30) days from the date the
Restricted Stock Purchase Agreement is

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                                                                NIKU Corporation
                                                      2000 Equity Incentive Plan

delivered to the person. If such person does not execute and deliver the
Restricted Stock Purchase Agreement along with full payment for the Shares to
the Company within thirty (30) days, then the offer will terminate, unless
otherwise determined by the Committee.

            6.2 Purchase Price. The Purchase Price of Shares sold pursuant to a
Restricted Stock Award will be determined by the Committee on the date the
Restricted Stock Award is granted, except in the case of a sale to a Ten Percent
Stockholder, in which case the Purchase Price will be 100% of the Fair Market
Value. Payment of the Purchase Price may be made in accordance with Section 8 of
this Plan.

            6.3 Terms of Restricted Stock Awards. Restricted Stock Awards shall
be subject to such restrictions as the Committee may impose. These restrictions
may be based upon completion of a specified number of years of service with the
Company or upon completion of the performance goals as set out in advance in the
Participant's individual Restricted Stock Purchase Agreement. Restricted Stock
Awards may vary from Participant to Participant and between groups of
Participants. Prior to the grant of a Restricted Stock Award, the Committee
shall: (a) determine the nature, length and starting date of any Performance
Period for the Restricted Stock Award; (b) select from among the Performance
Factors to be used to measure performance goals, if any; and (c) determine the
number of Shares that may be awarded to the Participant. Prior to the payment of
any Restricted Stock Award, the Committee shall determine the extent to which
such Restricted Stock Award has been earned. Performance Periods may overlap and
Participants may participate simultaneously with respect to Restricted Stock
Awards that are subject to different Performance Periods and having different
performance goals and other criteria.

            6.4 Termination During Performance Period. If a Participant is
Terminated during a Performance Period for any reason, then such Participant
will be entitled to payment (whether in Shares, cash or otherwise) with respect
to the Restricted Stock Award only to the extent earned as of the date of
Termination in accordance with the Restricted Stock Purchase Agreement, unless
the Committee will determine otherwise.


        7. STOCK BONUSES.

            7.1 Awards of Stock Bonuses. A Stock Bonus is an award of Shares
(which may consist of Restricted Stock) for services rendered to the Company or
any Parent or Subsidiary of the Company. A Stock Bonus may be awarded for past
services already rendered to the Company, or any Parent or Subsidiary of the
Company pursuant to an Award Agreement (the "STOCK BONUS AGREEMENT") that will
be in such form (which need not be the same for each Participant) as the
Committee will from time to time approve, and will comply with and be subject to
the terms and conditions of this Plan. A Stock Bonus may be awarded upon
satisfaction of such performance goals as are set out in advance in the
Participant's individual Award Agreement (the "PERFORMANCE STOCK BONUS
AGREEMENT") that will be in such form (which need not be the same for each
Participant) as the Committee will from time to time approve, and will comply
with and be subject to the terms and conditions of this Plan. Stock Bonuses may
vary from Participant to Participant and between groups of Participants, and may
be based upon the achievement of the Company, Parent or Subsidiary and/or
individual performance factors or upon such other criteria as the Committee may
determine.

            7.2 Terms of Stock Bonuses. The Committee will determine the number
of Shares to be awarded to the Participant. If the Stock Bonus is being earned
upon the satisfaction of performance goals pursuant to a Performance Stock Bonus
Agreement, then the Committee will: (a) determine the nature, length and
starting date of any Performance Period for each Stock Bonus; (b) select from
among the Performance Factors to be used to measure the performance, if any; and
(c) determine the number of Shares that may be awarded to the Participant. Prior
to the payment of any Stock Bonus, the Committee shall determine the extent to
which such Stock Bonuses have been earned. Performance Periods may overlap and
Participants may participate simultaneously with respect to Stock Bonuses that
are subject to different Performance Periods and different performance goals and
other criteria. The number of Shares may be fixed or may vary in accordance with
such performance goals and criteria as may be determined by the Committee. The
Committee may adjust the performance goals applicable to the Stock Bonuses to
take into account changes in law and accounting or tax rules and to make such
adjustments as the

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                                                                NIKU Corporation
                                                      2000 Equity Incentive Plan

Committee deems necessary or appropriate to reflect the impact of extraordinary
or unusual items, events or circumstances to avoid windfalls or hardships.

            7.3 Form of Payment. The earned portion of a Stock Bonus may be paid
currently or on a deferred basis with such interest or dividend equivalent, if
any, as the Committee may determine. Payment may be made in the form of cash or
whole Shares or a combination thereof, either in a lump sum payment or in
installments, all as the Committee will determine.

        8. PAYMENT FOR SHARE PURCHASES.

            8.1 Payment. Payment for Shares purchased pursuant to this Plan may
be made in cash (by check) or, where expressly approved for the Participant by
the Committee and where permitted by law:

            (a)    by cancellation of indebtedness of the Company to the
                   Participant;

            (b)    by surrender of shares that either: (1) have been owned by
                   Participant for more than six (6) months and have been paid
                   for within the meaning of SEC Rule 144 (and, if such shares
                   were purchased from the Company by use of a promissory note,
                   such note has been fully paid with respect to such shares);
                   or (2) were obtained by Participant in the public market;

            (c)    by tender of a full recourse promissory note having such
                   terms as may be approved by the Committee and bearing
                   interest at a rate sufficient to avoid imputation of income
                   under Sections 483 and 1274 of the Code; provided, however,
                   that Participants who are not employees or directors of the
                   Company will not be entitled to purchase Shares with a
                   promissory note unless the note is adequately secured by
                   collateral other than the Shares;

            (d)    by waiver of compensation due or accrued to the Participant
                   for services rendered;

            (e)    with respect only to purchases upon exercise of an Option,
                   and provided that a public market for the Company's stock
                   exists:

                   (1)    through a "same day sale" commitment from the
                          Participant and a broker-dealer that is a member of
                          the National Association of Securities Dealers (an
                          "NASD DEALER") whereby the Participant irrevocably
                          elects to exercise the Option and to sell a portion of
                          the Shares so purchased to pay for the Exercise Price,
                          and whereby the NASD Dealer irrevocably commits upon
                          receipt of such Shares to forward the Exercise Price
                          directly to the Company; or

                   (2)    through a "margin" commitment from the Participant and
                          a NASD Dealer whereby the Participant irrevocably
                          elects to exercise the Option and to pledge the Shares
                          so purchased to the NASD Dealer in a margin account as
                          security for a loan from the NASD Dealer in the amount
                          of the Exercise Price, and whereby the NASD Dealer
                          irrevocably commits upon receipt of such Shares to
                          forward the Exercise Price directly to the Company; or

            (f)    by any combination of the foregoing.

            8.2 Loan Guarantees. The Committee may help the Participant pay for
Shares purchased under this Plan by authorizing a guarantee by the Company of a
third-party loan to the Participant.


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                                                      2000 Equity Incentive Plan

        9. AUTOMATIC GRANTS TO OUTSIDE DIRECTORS.

            9.1 Types of Options and Shares. Options granted under this Plan and
subject to this Section 9 shall be NQSOs.

            9.2 Eligibility. Options subject to this Section 9 shall be granted
only to Outside Directors.

            9.3 Initial Grant. Each Outside Director who first becomes a member
of the Board on or after the Effective Date will automatically be granted an
Option for 50,000 Shares (an "INITIAL GRANT") on the date such Outside Director
first becomes a member of the Board, unless such Outside Director received a
grant of Options before the Effective Date. Each Outside Director who became a
member of the Board prior to the Effective Date and who did not receive a prior
Option grant will receive an Initial Grant immediately following the Effective
Date.

            9.4 Succeeding Grant. Immediately following each Annual Meeting of
stockholders, each Outside Director will automatically be granted an Option for
25,000 Shares (a "SUCCEEDING GRANT"), provided the Outside Director is a member
of the Board on such date and has served continuously as a member of the Board
for a period of at least one year since the date of such Outside Director's
Initial Grant. Notwithstanding anything in this Section 9.4 to the contrary, the
Board may make discretionary supplemental grants to an Outside Director who has
served for less than one year from the date of such Outside Director's Initial
Grant, provided that no Outside Director may receive more than 75,000 Shares in
any calendar year pursuant to this Section 9.

            9.5 Vesting. The date an Outside Director receives an Initial Grant
or a Succeeding Grant is referred to in this Plan as the "START DATE" for such
Option.

            (a)    Initial Grants. Each Initial Grant will vest as to 2.778% of
                   the Shares on each monthly anniversary of the Start Date, so
                   long as the Outside Director continuously remains a director
                   or a consultant of the Company.

            (b)    Succeeding Grants. Each Succeeding Grant will vest as to
                   2.778% of the Shares on each monthly anniversary of the Start
                   Date, so long as the Outside Director continuously remains a
                   director or a consultant of the Company.

Notwithstanding any provision to the contrary, in the event of a Corporate
Transaction described in Section 18.1, the vesting of all options granted to
Outside Directors pursuant to this Section 9 will accelerate and such options
will become exercisable in full prior to the consummation of such event at such
times and on such conditions as the Committee determines, and must be exercised,
if at all, within three months of the consummation of said event. Any options
not exercised within such three-month period shall expire.

            9.6 Exercise Price. The exercise price of an Option pursuant to an
Initial Grant and Succeeding Grant shall be the Fair Market Value of the Shares,
at the time that the Option is granted.

        10. WITHHOLDING TAXES.

            10.1 Withholding Generally. Whenever Shares are to be issued in
satisfaction of Awards granted under this Plan, the Company may require the
Participant to remit to the Company an amount sufficient to satisfy federal,
state and local withholding tax requirements prior to the delivery of any
certificate or certificates for such Shares. Whenever, under this Plan, payments
in satisfaction of Awards are to be made in cash, such payment will be net of an
amount sufficient to satisfy federal, state, and local withholding tax
requirements.

            10.2 Stock Withholding. When, under applicable tax laws, a
Participant incurs tax liability in connection with the exercise or vesting of
any Award that is subject to tax withholding and the Participant is obligated to
pay the Company the amount required to be withheld, the Committee may in its
sole discretion allow

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                                                                NIKU Corporation
                                                      2000 Equity Incentive Plan

the Participant to satisfy the minimum withholding tax obligation by electing to
have the Company withhold from the Shares to be issued that number of Shares
having a Fair Market Value equal to the minimum amount required to be withheld,
determined on the date that the amount of tax to be withheld is to be
determined. All elections by a Participant to have Shares withheld for this
purpose will be made in accordance with the requirements established by the
Committee and be in writing in a form acceptable to the Committee.

        11. TRANSFERABILITY.

            11.1 Except as otherwise provided in this Section 11, Awards granted
under this Plan, and any interest therein, will not be transferable or
assignable by Participant, and may not be made subject to execution, attachment
or similar process, otherwise than by will or by the laws of descent and
distribution or as determined by the Committee and set forth in the Award
Agreement with respect to Awards that are not ISOs.

            11.2 All Awards other than NQSO's. All Awards other than NQSO's
shall be exercisable: (i) during the Participant's lifetime, only by (A) the
Participant, or (B) the Participant's guardian or legal representative; and (ii)
after Participant's death, by the legal representative of the Participant's
heirs or legatees.

            11.3 NQSOs. Unless otherwise restricted by the Committee, an NQSO
shall be exercisable: (i) during the Participant's lifetime only by (A) the
Participant, (B) the Participant's guardian or legal representative, (C) a
Family Member of the Participant who has acquired the NQSO by "permitted
transfer;" and (ii) after Participant's death, by the legal representative of
the Participant's heirs or legatees. "Permitted transfer" means, as authorized
by this Plan and the Committee in an NQSO, any transfer effected by the
Participant during the Participant's lifetime of an interest in such NQSO but
only such transfers which are by gift or domestic relations order. A permitted
transfer does not include any transfer for value and neither of the following
are transfers for value: (a) a transfer of under a domestic relations order in
settlement of marital property rights or (b) a transfer to an entity in which
more than fifty percent of the voting interests are owned by Family Members or
the Participant in exchange for an interest in that entity.

        12. PRIVILEGES OF STOCK OWNERSHIP; RESTRICTIONS ON SHARES.

            12.1 Voting and Dividends. No Participant will have any of the
rights of a stockholder with respect to any Shares until the Shares are issued
to the Participant. After Shares are issued to the Participant, the Participant
will be a stockholder and have all the rights of a stockholder with respect to
such Shares, including the right to vote and receive all dividends or other
distributions made or paid with respect to such Shares; provided, that if such
Shares are Restricted Stock, then any new, additional or different securities
the Participant may become entitled to receive with respect to such Shares by
virtue of a stock dividend, stock split or any other change in the corporate or
capital structure of the Company will be subject to the same restrictions as the
Restricted Stock; provided, further, that the Participant will have no right to
retain such stock dividends or stock distributions with respect to Shares that
are repurchased at the Participant's Purchase Price or Exercise Price pursuant
to Section 12.

            12.2 Financial Statements. The Company will provide financial
statements to each Participant prior to such Participant's purchase of Shares
under this Plan, and to each Participant annually during the period such
Participant has Awards outstanding; provided, however, the Company will not be
required to provide such financial statements to Participants whose services in
connection with the Company assure them access to equivalent information.

            12.3 Restrictions on Shares. At the discretion of the Committee, the
Company may reserve to itself and/or its assignee(s) in the Award Agreement a
right to repurchase a portion of or all Unvested Shares held by a Participant
following such Participant's Termination at any time within ninety (90) days
after the later of Participant's Termination Date and the date Participant
purchases Shares under this Plan, for cash and/or cancellation of purchase money
indebtedness, at the Participant's Exercise Price or Purchase Price, as the case
may be.

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                                                                NIKU Corporation
                                                      2000 Equity Incentive Plan

        13. CERTIFICATES. All certificates for Shares or other securities
delivered under this Plan will be subject to such stock transfer orders, legends
and other restrictions as the Committee may deem necessary or advisable,
including restrictions under any applicable federal, state or foreign securities
law, or any rules, regulations and other requirements of the SEC or any stock
exchange or automated quotation system upon which the Shares may be listed or
quoted.

        14. ESCROW; PLEDGE OF SHARES. To enforce any restrictions on a
Participant's Shares, the Committee may require the Participant to deposit all
certificates representing Shares, together with stock powers or other
instruments of transfer approved by the Committee, appropriately endorsed in
blank, with the Company or an agent designated by the Company to hold in escrow
until such restrictions have lapsed or terminated, and the Committee may cause a
legend or legends referencing such restrictions to be placed on the
certificates. Any Participant who is permitted to execute a promissory note as
partial or full consideration for the purchase of Shares under this Plan will be
required to pledge and deposit with the Company all or part of the Shares so
purchased as collateral to secure the payment of Participant's obligation to the
Company under the promissory note; provided, however, that the Committee may
require or accept other or additional forms of collateral to secure the payment
of such obligation and, in any event, the Company will have full recourse
against the Participant under the promissory note notwithstanding any pledge of
the Participant's Shares or other collateral. In connection with any pledge of
the Shares, Participant will be required to execute and deliver a written pledge
agreement in such form as the Committee will from time to time approve. The
Shares purchased with the promissory note may be released from the pledge on a
pro rata basis as the promissory note is paid.

        15. EXCHANGE AND BUYOUT OF AWARDS. The Committee may, at any time or
from time to time, authorize the Company, with the consent of the respective
Participants, to issue new Awards in exchange for the surrender and cancellation
of any or all outstanding Awards. The Committee may at any time buy from a
Participant an Award previously granted with payment in cash, Shares (including
Restricted Stock) or other consideration, based on such terms and conditions as
the Committee and the Participant may agree.

        16. SECURITIES LAW AND OTHER REGULATORY COMPLIANCE. An Award will not be
effective unless such Award is in compliance with all applicable federal and
state securities laws, rules and regulations of any governmental body, and the
requirements of any stock exchange or automated quotation system upon which the
Shares may then be listed or quoted, as they are in effect on the date of grant
of the Award and also on the date of exercise or other issuance. Notwithstanding
any other provision in this Plan, the Company will have no obligation to issue
or deliver certificates for Shares under this Plan prior to: (a) obtaining any
approvals from governmental agencies that the Company determines are necessary
or advisable; and/or (b) completion of any registration or other qualification
of such Shares under any state or federal law or ruling of any governmental body
that the Company determines to be necessary or advisable. The Company will be
under no obligation to register the Shares with the SEC or to effect compliance
with the registration, qualification or listing requirements of any state
securities laws, stock exchange or automated quotation system, and the Company
will have no liability for any inability or failure to do so.

        17. NO OBLIGATION TO EMPLOY. Nothing in this Plan or any Award granted
under this Plan will confer or be deemed to confer on any Participant any right
to continue in the employ of, or to continue any other relationship with, the
Company or any Parent or Subsidiary of the Company or limit in any way the right
of the Company or any Parent or Subsidiary of the Company to terminate
Participant's employment or other relationship at any time, with or without
cause.

        18. CORPORATE TRANSACTIONS.

            18.1 Assumption or Replacement of Awards by Successor. Except for
automatic grants to Outside Directors pursuant to Section 9 hereof, in the event
of (a) a dissolution or liquidation of the Company, (b) a merger or
consolidation in which the Company is not the surviving corporation (other than
a merger or consolidation with a wholly-owned subsidiary, a reincorporation of
the Company in a different jurisdiction, or other transaction in which there is
no substantial change in the stockholders of the Company or their relative stock

                                       9
<PAGE>   10

                                                                NIKU Corporation
                                                      2000 Equity Incentive Plan

holdings and the Awards granted under this Plan are assumed, converted or
replaced by the successor corporation, which assumption will be binding on all
Participants), (c) a merger in which the Company is the surviving corporation
but after which the stockholders of the Company immediately prior to such merger
(other than any stockholder that merges, or which owns or controls another
corporation that merges, with the Company in such merger) cease to own their
shares or other equity interest in the Company, (d) the sale of substantially
all of the assets of the Company, or (e) the acquisition, sale, or transfer of
more than 50% of the outstanding shares of the Company by tender offer or
similar transaction (each, a "CORPORATE TRANSACTION"), (i) the vesting of all
outstanding Awards will accelerate as to an additional 25% of the Shares that
are unvested on the date of the Corporate Transaction and, (ii) thereafter,
unless otherwise set forth below, all unvested shares subject to outstanding
Awards will continue to vest in equal monthly installments over the remaining
original vesting term as set forth in the Award Agreement. Upon a Corporate
Transaction, all outstanding Awards shall be assumed by the successor or
acquiring corporation (if any), which assumption will be binding on all
Participants. In the alternative, the successor or acquiring corporation may
substitute equivalent Awards or provide substantially similar consideration to
Participants as was provided to shareholders (after taking into account the
existing provisions of the Awards). The successor corporation may also issue, in
place of outstanding unvested Shares of the Company held by the Participants,
substantially similar shares or other property subject to repurchase
restrictions no less favorable to the Participant. In the event such successor
corporation (if any) refuses to assume or substitute Awards, as provided above,
pursuant to a Corporate Transaction described in this Subsection 18.1, such
Awards will expire on such Corporate Transaction at such time and on such
conditions as the Committee will determine. Notwithstanding anything in this
Plan to the contrary, the Committee may, in its sole discretion, provide that
the vesting of any or all Awards granted pursuant to this Plan will accelerate
upon a Corporate Transaction described in this Section 18. If the Committee
exercises such discretion with respect to Options, such Options will become
exercisable in full prior to the consummation of such event at such time and on
such conditions as the Committee determines, and if such Options are not
exercised prior to the consummation of the Corporate Transaction, they shall
terminate at such time as determined by the Committee.

            18.2 Other Treatment of Awards. Subject to any greater rights
granted to Participants under the foregoing provisions of this Section 18, in
the event of the occurrence of any Corporate Transaction described in Section
18.1, any outstanding Awards will be treated as provided in the applicable
agreement or plan of merger, consolidation, dissolution, liquidation, or sale of
assets.

            18.3 Assumption of Awards by the Company. The Company, from time to
time, also may substitute or assume outstanding awards granted by another
company, whether in connection with an acquisition of such other company or
otherwise, by either; (a) granting an Award under this Plan in substitution of
such other company's award; or (b) assuming such award as if it had been granted
under this Plan if the terms of such assumed award could be applied to an Award
granted under this Plan. Such substitution or assumption will be permissible if
the holder of the substituted or assumed award would have been eligible to be
granted an Award under this Plan if the other company had applied the rules of
this Plan to such grant. In the event the Company assumes an award granted by
another company, the terms and conditions of such award will remain unchanged
(except that the exercise price and the number and nature of Shares issuable
upon exercise of any such option will be adjusted appropriately pursuant to
Section 424(a) of the Code). In the event the Company elects to grant a new
Option rather than assuming an existing option, such new Option may be granted
with a similarly adjusted Exercise Price.

        19. ADOPTION AND STOCKHOLDER APPROVAL. This Plan will become effective
on the date on which the registration statement filed by the Company with the
SEC under the Securities Act registering the initial public offering of the
Company's Common Stock is declared effective by the SEC (the "EFFECTIVE DATE").
This Plan shall be approved by the stockholders of the Company (excluding Shares
issued pursuant to this Plan), consistent with applicable laws, within twelve
(12) months before or after the date this Plan is adopted by the Board. Upon the
Effective Date, the Committee may grant Awards pursuant to this Plan; provided,
however, that: (a) no Option may be exercised prior to initial stockholder
approval of this Plan; (b) no Option granted pursuant to an increase in the
number of Shares subject to this Plan approved by the Board will be exercised
prior to the time such increase has been approved by the stockholders of the
Company; (c) in the event that initial stockholder approval is not obtained
within the time period provided herein, all Awards granted hereunder shall be
cancelled, any Shares

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<PAGE>   11

                                                                NIKU Corporation
                                                      2000 Equity Incentive Plan

issued pursuant to any Awards shall be cancelled and any purchase of Shares
issued hereunder shall be rescinded; and (d) in the event that stockholder
approval of such increase is not obtained within the time period provided
herein, all Awards granted pursuant to such increase will be cancelled, any
Shares issued pursuant to any Award granted pursuant to such increase will be
cancelled, and any purchase of Shares pursuant to such increase will be
rescinded.

        20. TERM OF PLAN/GOVERNING LAW. Unless earlier terminated as provided
herein, this Plan will terminate ten (10) years from the date this Plan is
adopted by the Board or, if earlier, the date of stockholder approval. This Plan
and all agreements thereunder shall be governed by and construed in accordance
with the laws of the State of California.

        21. AMENDMENT OR TERMINATION OF PLAN. The Board may at any time
terminate or amend this Plan in any respect, including without limitation
amendment of any form of Award Agreement or instrument to be executed pursuant
to this Plan; provided, however, that the Board will not, without the approval
of the stockholders of the Company, amend this Plan in any manner that requires
such stockholder approval.

        22. NONEXCLUSIVITY OF THE PLAN. Neither the adoption of this Plan by the
Board, the submission of this Plan to the stockholders of the Company for
approval, nor any provision of this Plan will be construed as creating any
limitations on the power of the Board to adopt such additional compensation
arrangements as it may deem desirable, including, without limitation, the
granting of stock options and bonuses otherwise than under this Plan, and such
arrangements may be either generally applicable or applicable only in specific
cases.

        23. DEFINITIONS. As used in this Plan, the following terms will have the
following meanings:

            "AWARD" means any award under this Plan, including any Option,
Restricted Stock or Stock Bonus.

            "AWARD AGREEMENT" means, with respect to each Award, the signed
written agreement between the Company and the Participant setting forth the
terms and conditions of the Award.

            "BOARD" means the Board of Directors of the Company.

            "CAUSE" means the commission of an act of theft, embezzlement,
fraud, dishonesty or a breach of fiduciary duty to the Company or a Parent or
Subsidiary of the Company.

            "CODE" means the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended.

            "COMMITTEE" means the Compensation Committee of the Board.

            "COMPANY" means NIKU Corporation or any successor corporation.

            "DISABILITY" means a disability, whether temporary or permanent,
partial or total, as determined by the Committee.

            "EXCHANGE ACT" means the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as
amended.

            "EXERCISE PRICE" means the price at which a holder of an Option may
purchase the Shares issuable upon exercise of the Option.

            "FAIR MARKET VALUE" means, as of any date, the value of a share of
the Company's Common Stock determined as follows:


                                       11
<PAGE>   12
                                                                NIKU Corporation
                                                      2000 Equity Incentive Plan

            (a)    if such Common Stock is then quoted on the Nasdaq National
                   Market, its closing price on the Nasdaq National Market on
                   the date of determination as reported in The Wall Street
                   Journal;

            (b)    if such Common Stock is publicly traded and is then listed on
                   a national securities exchange, its closing price on the date
                   of determination on the principal national securities
                   exchange on which the Common Stock is listed or admitted to
                   trading as reported in The Wall Street Journal;

            (c)    if such Common Stock is publicly traded but is not quoted on
                   the Nasdaq National Market nor listed or admitted to trading
                   on a national securities exchange, the average of the closing
                   bid and asked prices on the date of determination as reported
                   in The Wall Street Journal;

            (d)    in the case of an Award made on the Effective Date, the price
                   per share at which shares of the Company's Common Stock are
                   initially offered for sale to the public by the Company's
                   underwriters in the initial public offering of the Company's
                   Common Stock pursuant to a registration statement filed with
                   the SEC under the Securities Act; or

            (e)    if none of the foregoing is applicable, by the Committee in
                   good faith.

            "FAMILY MEMBER" includes any of the following:

            (a)    child, stepchild, grandchild, parent, stepparent,
                   grandparent, spouse, former spouse, sibling, niece, nephew,
                   mother-in-law, father-in-law, son-in-law, daughter-in-law,
                   brother-in-law, or sister-in-law of the Participant,
                   including any such person with such relationship to the
                   Participant by adoption;

            (b)    any person (other than a tenant or employee) sharing the
                   Participant's household;

            (c)    a trust in which the persons in (a) and (b) have more than
                   fifty percent of the beneficial interest;

            (d)    a foundation in which the persons in (a) and (b) or the
                   Participant control the management of assets; or

            (e)    any other entity in which the persons in (a) and (b) or the
                   Participant own more than fifty percent of the voting
                   interest.

            "INSIDER" means an officer or director of the Company or any other
person whose transactions in the Company's Common Stock are subject to Section
16 of the Exchange Act.

            "OPTION" means an award of an option to purchase Shares pursuant to
Section 5.

            "OUTSIDE DIRECTOR" means a member of the Board who is not an
employee of the Company or any Parent, Subsidiary or Affiliate of the Company.

            "PARENT" means any corporation (other than the Company) in an
unbroken chain of corporations ending with the Company if each of such
corporations other than the Company owns stock possessing 50% or more of the
total combined voting power of all classes of stock in one of the other
corporations in such chain.

            "PARTICIPANT" means a person who receives an Award under this Plan.


                                       12
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                                                                NIKU Corporation
                                                      2000 Equity Incentive Plan


            "PERFORMANCE FACTORS" means the factors selected by the Committee
from among the following measures to determine whether the performance goals
established by the Committee and applicable to Awards have been satisfied:


            (a)    Net revenue and/or net revenue growth;

            (b)    Earnings before income taxes and amortization and/or earnings
                   before income taxes and amortization growth;

            (c)    Operating income and/or operating income growth;

            (d)    Net income and/or net income growth;

            (e)    Earnings per share and/or earnings per share growth;

            (f)    Total stockholder return and/or total stockholder return
                   growth;

            (g)    Return on equity;

            (h)    Operating cash flow return on income;

            (i)    Adjusted operating cash flow return on income;

            (j)    Economic value added; and

            (k)    Individual confidential business objectives.

            "PERFORMANCE PERIOD" means the period of service determined by the
Committee, not to exceed five years, during which years of service or
performance is to be measured for Restricted Stock Awards or Stock Bonuses.

            "PLAN" means this NIKU Corporation 2000 Equity Incentive Plan, as
amended from time to time.

            "RESTRICTED STOCK AWARD" means an award of Shares pursuant to
Section 6.

            "SEC" means the Securities and Exchange Commission.

            "SECURITIES ACT" means the Securities Act of 1933, as amended.

            "SHARES" means shares of the Company's Common Stock reserved for
issuance under this Plan, as adjusted pursuant to Sections 2 and 18, and any
successor security.

            "STOCK BONUS" means an award of Shares, or cash in lieu of Shares,
pursuant to Section 7.

            "SUBSIDIARY" means any corporation (other than the Company) in an
unbroken chain of corporations beginning with the Company if each of the
corporations other than the last corporation in the unbroken chain owns stock
possessing 50% or more of the total combined voting power of all classes of
stock in one of the other corporations in such chain.

            "TERMINATION" or "TERMINATED" means, for purposes of this Plan with
respect to a Participant, that the Participant has for any reason ceased to
provide services as an employee, officer, director, consultant, independent
contractor, or advisor to the Company or a Parent or Subsidiary of the Company.
An employee will not be deemed to have ceased to provide services in the case of
(i) sick leave, (ii) military leave, or (iii) any other

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                                                                NIKU Corporation
                                                      2000 Equity Incentive Plan

leave of absence approved by the Committee, provided, that such leave is for a
period of not more than 90 days, unless reemployment upon the expiration of such
leave is guaranteed by contract or statute or unless provided otherwise pursuant
to formal policy adopted from time to time by the Company and issued and
promulgated to employees in writing. In the case of any employee on an approved
leave of absence, the Committee may make such provisions respecting suspension
of vesting of the Award while on leave from the employ of the Company or a
Subsidiary as it may deem appropriate, except that in no event may an Option be
exercised after the expiration of the term set forth in the Option agreement.
The Committee will have sole discretion to determine whether a Participant has
ceased to provide services and the effective date on which the Participant
ceased to provide services (the "TERMINATION DATE").

            "UNVESTED SHARES" means "Unvested Shares" as defined in the Award
Agreement.

            "VESTED SHARES" means "Vested Shares" as defined in the Award
Agreement.


                                       14