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                                 Exhibit 10.50
                                        

                                  May 9, 1997
 

Ted Venema
56 Shadeland Court
Cambridge, Ontario  N1T1V2

Dear  Ted:

I am delighted to extend our offer for you to join Seer Technologies, Inc. The
details of your offer are:


     Position:   Senior Vice President, Development


     Manager:    Reporting to Tom Wilson
                 President & CEO

     Salary

     You will be paid on the 15th and 30th of the month at a rate equivalent to
     US$6,250.00 per pay period (US$150,000.00 annualized).

     In addition, you will be eligible to participate in a discretionary program
     based upon the company's performance and attainment of your individual
     goals. During your first year of employment your bonus potential will be
     50% of base. For the fiscal year ending September 30, 1997, your minimum
     bonus will be US$18,750, so long as you are an employee in good standing on
     the date bonuses are paid, typically on December 15th. You have the
     opportunity to achieve additional bonus dollars according to your
     performance and the financial performance of the Company.


     Benefits

     As a full-time Seer employee, you will be eligible for all standard
     Canadian benefits, to include medical, dental, vision, life and long term
     disability insurance. Once we receive appropriate work authorization and
     you are employed in the US you will be eligible for all standard US
     benefits.

     Canadian Employment Contract

     In addition to the above mentioned documents, you will be required to sign
     a Canadian contract for employment which will be forwarded to you prior to
     your start.


     Vacation & Holiday

     As a Vice President, you are entitled to four weeks of paid vacation,
prorated in the first year until December 31. In addition, Seer observes nine
standard Canadian holidays and provides one "floating" personal choice holiday.
Seer US observes six standard holidays and provides for four "floating"
holidays, also prorated in the first year, the scheduling of which is arranged
between you and your manager.

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Offer of Employment
T. Venema
05/09/97
Page 2


     Stock

     Upon commencing employment with the company, you will receive options to
     purchase 100,000 shares of Seer Technologies, Inc. Stock. The exercise
     price will be the fair market value on the day you commence employment.
     These options will vest 25% per year over four years.

     Relocation

     To assist with your relocation to the Cary, North Carolina area, we will
     provide you with a furnished apartment through the end of July 1997. In
     addition, so long as you move within one year of commencement of your
     employment, we will pay for the movement of all reasonable household goods
     by a mutually selected vendor; and reimburse you up to $45,000 (grossed-up)
     for other receipted expenses associate with your relocation.

     It is a fundamental policy of Seer that it does not hire employees or
     consultants in order to obtain access to trade secrets or proprietary
     information of any of their former employers. By accepting this job offer,
     you represent that (i) you will not violate the terms of any non-
     competition, non--disclosure and non-solicitation agreements to which you
     may be bound by any prior employer and (ii) you will not use any files or
     materials in connection with your employment with Seer that are trade
     secrets of or proprietary information to another firm.

If there is anything I can do to facilitate your move to Seer, I hope you will
contact me. Please indicate your acceptance of our offer by signing one copy of
this letter and the returning it with your proposed start date, along with your
signed contract to Stephanie Price, Staffing Coordinator @ (919) 380-5017.


                                            Yours sincerely,
                                            Seer Technologies, Inc.

                                            /s/ Irene Y. Wong

                                            Irene Y. Wong
                                            Vice President, Human Resources

Accepted:    /s/ Ted Venema

Start Date:  5/12/97

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