<PAGE>

                                                                   EXHIBIT 10.03


                                NIKU CORPORATION

                           2000 EQUITY INCENTIVE PLAN

                           As Adopted December 8, 1999

               As Amended and Restated Effective February 11, 2003


     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 and advisors of the
Company or any Parent or Subsidiary of the Company; provided such consultants
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.


<PAGE>

     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.


                                       2
<PAGE>
                                                                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; provided, however, if and to the extent required by applicable law
in that State at the time of grant, Options granted to individuals other than
officers, directors or consultants of the Company residing in the State of
California (the "CALIFORNIA OPTIONS") shall be exercisable at the rate of at
least 20% per year over five years from the date of grant.

          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, which period may not be less than thirty (30) days nor
               more than 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,
               which period may not be less than six (6) months nor more than
               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



                                       3
<PAGE>

               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.


          (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. Except with respect to California
Options, 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.


          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. To the
extent required at the time of grant by the California "Blue Sky" law,
Restricted Stock Awards shall be granted in accordance with Section 260.140.42
of Title 10 of the California Code of Regulations. 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,

                                       4
<PAGE>

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 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 subject to the
applicable requirements of California law. 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 subject to the applicable requirements of California law.

          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.



                                       5
<PAGE>

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 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.



                                       6
<PAGE>
                                                                NIKU Corporation
                                                      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 the Participant to satisfy the minimum withholding tax
obligation by electing to have the Company withhold from the



                                       7
<PAGE>
                                                                NIKU Corporation
                                                      2000 Equity Incentive Plan

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.
Additionally, to the extent required, pursuant to the provisions of Section
260.140.46 of Title 10 of the California Code of Regulations, the Company shall
provide to each Participant and to each individual who acquires Shares pursuant
to the Plan, not less frequently than annually during the period such
Participant or purchaser has one or more outstanding Awards, and, in the case of
an individual who acquires Shares pursuant to the Plan, during the period such
individual owns such Shares, copies of the Company's annual financial
statements. The Company shall not be required to provide such statements to key
employees of the Company whose duties in connection with the Company assure
their 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 (the "Repurchase Right") a portion of or all



                                       8
<PAGE>

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; provided, however, that the repurchase
price of any Repurchase Right reserved in an Award subject to California law at
the time of grant shall comply with the provisions of Section 260.140.41(k) of
Title 10 of the California Code of Regulations to the extent required.

     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.




                                       9
<PAGE>


     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
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
upon the first date on which grants are made of Shares reserved under the Plan
(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

                                       10
<PAGE>
                                                                NIKU Corporation
                                                      2000 Equity Incentive Plan

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 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 the value of a share of the Company's Common
Stock determined as follows:



                                       11
<PAGE>
                                                                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 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 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 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.

          "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;



                                       12
<PAGE>
                                                                NIKU Corporation
                                                      2000 Equity Incentive Plan


          (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 (5) 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 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 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").



                                       13
<PAGE>
                                                                NIKU Corporation
                                                      2000 Equity Incentive Plan



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

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

                                       14