<TABLE> <S> <C>

<PAGE>


<ARTICLE> 5
<LEGEND>
THIS SCHEDULE CONTAINS SUMMARY FINANCIAL INFORMATION EXTRACTED FROM THE AUDITED
FINANCIAL STATEMENTS OF THE COMPANY FOR THE YEARS ENDED DECEMBER 31, 1996 AND
1997, RESPECTIVELY, AND IS QUALIFIED IN ITS ENTIRETY BY REFERENCE TO SUCH
FINANCIAL STATEMENTS. AS MORE FULLY DESCRIBED IN NOTE 2 TO THE AUDITED FINANCIAL
STATEMENTS, THE COMPANY ADOPTED SFAS 128 "EARNINGS PER SHARE" IN 1997. THE
ADOPTION OF SFAS 128 DID NOT IMPACT THE EARNINGS PER SHARE CALCULATIONS FOR 1996
AND 1995.
</LEGEND>

<S>                             <C>                     <C>
<PERIOD-TYPE>                   YEAR                   YEAR
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                          DEC-31-1996             DEC-31-1997
<PERIOD-START>                             JAN-01-1996             JAN-01-1997
<PERIOD-END>                               DEC-31-1996             DEC-31-1997
<CASH>                                         136,926               8,782,019
<SECURITIES>                                         0                       0
<RECEIVABLES>                                        0                       0
<ALLOWANCES>                                         0                       0
<INVENTORY>                                          0                       0
<CURRENT-ASSETS>                             1,915,769              14,606,483
<PP&E>                                         271,782               1,548,068
<DEPRECIATION>                                  57,774                 220,208
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                              34,789,573              73,410,583
<CURRENT-LIABILITIES>                        2,775,808               2,113,337
<BONDS>                                        271,552                       0
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                       31,851,473              54,473,947
<PREFERRED>                                          0                       0
<COMMON>                                       112,360                 207,975
<OTHER-SE>                                   (470,812)              15,869,262
<TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY>                34,789,573              73,410,583
<SALES>                                      6,026,452              46,037,234
<TOTAL-REVENUES>                             6,117,556              46,535,329
<CGS>                                                0                       0
<TOTAL-COSTS>                               10,779,966              51,675,017
<OTHER-EXPENSES>                                     0                  98,269
<LOSS-PROVISION>                               214,404               1,105,616
<INTEREST-EXPENSE>                             104,255                 161,938
<INCOME-PRETAX>                            (4,981,069)             (6,505,511)
<INCOME-TAX>                                    78,128               (795,281)
<INCOME-CONTINUING>                        (5,059,197)             (5,710,230)
<DISCONTINUED>                                       0                       0
<EXTRAORDINARY>                                      0                       0
<CHANGES>                                            0                       0
<NET-INCOME>                               (5,059,197)             (5,710,230)
<EPS-PRIMARY>                                   (1.81)                  (0.41)
<EPS-DILUTED>                                        0                       0



</TABLE>