<PAGE>

                                                                     EXHIBIT 4.8



                              PURCHASE AGREEMENT

                             DATED MARCH 31, 2000

                                    BETWEEN

                          DIVINE INTERVENTURES, INC.

                                      AND

                               MARCHFIRST, INC.
<PAGE>

                               TABLE OF CONTENTS

<TABLE>
<S>                                                                             <C>
Section 1.  Authorization, Purchase and Sale..................................  1

     1A.       Authorization of the Class C Common Stock......................  1
     1B.       Purchase and Sale of the Class C Common Stock..................  1

Section 2.  The Closing.......................................................  1

Section 3.  Representations and Warranties of the Company.....................  2

     3A.       Organization and Corporate Power...............................  2
     3B.       Authorization; No Breach.......................................  2
     3C.       Title to Shares................................................  3
     3D.       Governmental Consent, etc......................................  3
     3E.       Disclosure.....................................................  3

Section 4.  Representations, Warranties and Covenants of Purchaser............  3

     4A.       Organization and Corporate Power...............................  3
     4B.       Authorization; No Breach.......................................  3
     4C.       Governmental Consent, etc......................................  4
     4D.       Investment Representations.....................................  4
     4E.       Purchaser's Principal Place of Business........................  6
     4F.       Solicitation of Proxies........................................  6
     4G.       Notice.........................................................  6
     4H.       No Group.......................................................  6

Section 5.  HSR Filings.......................................................  6

Section 6.  Conditions of the Purchaser's Obligations at the Closing..........  7

     6A.       Representations and Warranties.................................  7
     6B.       Performance....................................................  7
     6C.       Officer's Certificate..........................................  7
     6D.       Opinion of Company Counsel.....................................  7
     6E.       Commercial Agreement...........................................  7
     6F.       Amended Certificate of Incorporation...........................  7

Section 7.  Conditions of the Company's Obligations at the Closing............  7

     7A.       Representations and Warranties.................................  7
     7B.       Performance....................................................  8
     7C.       Officer's Certificate..........................................  8
</TABLE>
<PAGE>

<TABLE>
<S>                                                                             <C>
      7D.      Commercial Agreement...........................................   8

Section 8.  Termination.......................................................   8

Section 9.  Indemnification...................................................   8

      9A.      Company Indemnification........................................   8
      9B.      Purchaser Indemnification......................................   9
      9C.      Survival of Representations and Warranties.....................   9

Section 10.  Definitions......................................................   9

Section 11.  Miscellaneous....................................................  10

      11A.     Expenses.......................................................  10
      11B.     Remedies.......................................................  10
      11C.     Legends........................................................  11
      11D.     Lock-up Agreements.............................................  12
      11E.     Successors and Assigns.........................................  12
      11F.     Severability...................................................  12
      11G.     Counterparts...................................................  12
      11H.     Descriptive Headings; Interpretation...........................  12
      11I.     Governing Law..................................................  12
      11J.     Notices........................................................  12
      11K.     No Strict Construction.........................................  13
</TABLE>

Exhibit A -  Form of Opinion of Katten Muchin Zavis
<PAGE>

                          DIVINE INTERVENTURES, INC.

                              PURCHASE AGREEMENT



          THIS PURCHASE AGREEMENT (this "Agreement") is made as of March 31,
                                         ---------
2000 between divine interVentures, inc., a Delaware corporation (the "Company"),
                                                                      -------
and marchFIRST, Inc., a Delaware corporation (the "Purchaser").  Except as
                                                   ---------
otherwise indicated herein, capitalized terms used herein are defined in Section
                                                                         -------
10 hereof.
--

     WHEREAS, the parties desire to enter into a long-term strategic
relationship as further described herein.

     WHEREAS, as part of such strategic relationship, Purchaser desires to make
an investment in the Company, on the terms and conditions described herein.

     WHEREAS, such strategic relationship and the agreement entered into by the
Company and the Purchaser in connection therewith, is a condition to the
execution and delivery of this Agreement and the issuance to the Purchaser of
the Company's equity securities.

     NOW THEREFORE, in consideration of the mutual promises contained in this
Agreement and other good and valuable consideration, the receipt and sufficiency
of which are hereby acknowledged, the parties to this Agreement hereby agree as
follows:

          Section 1.  Authorization, Purchase and Sale.
                      --------------------------------

          1A.  Authorization of the Class C Common Stock.  The Company shall
               -----------------------------------------
authorize the issuance and sale to the Purchaser of an aggregate number of
shares of its Class C Non-voting Common Stock, par value $0.001 per share (the
"Class C Common Stock") to meet the calculation set forth in Section 1B below.
 --------------------                                        ----------
The Class C Common Stock is convertible into shares of the Company's Class A
Common Stock on a one-for-one basis at the option of Purchaser at any time;
provided that the Purchaser complies with the requirements of Section 5 hereof.
                                                              ----------

          1B.  Purchase and Sale of the Class C Common Stock.  The Company shall
               ---------------------------------------------
sell to the Purchaser, and subject to the terms and conditions set forth herein,
the Purchaser shall purchase from the Company, upon the consummation of a
Qualified IPO, that number of shares of Class C Common Stock equal to the result
of $25,000,000 divided by the purchase price stated on the face of the final
prospectus in connection with the Qualified IPO as the price per share to the
public of the Company's Class A Common Stock in the Qualified IPO, which
purchase price shall be paid in immediately available funds.

          Section 2.  The Closing.  The closing of the purchase and sale of the
                      -----------
Class C Common Stock to the Purchaser (the "Closing") shall take place at the
                                            -------
offices of Katten Muchin Zavis, 525 West Monroe Street, Chicago, IL 60661,
immediately following the consummation of the Qualified IPO.  At the Closing,
the Company shall deliver a stock certificate or stock
<PAGE>

certificates evidencing all of the shares of the Class C Common Stock to be
purchased by Purchaser hereunder, registered in Purchaser's name, upon the
payment of the aggregate purchase price therefor, by wire transfer of
immediately available funds to an account designated by the Company to Purchaser
prior to the Closing.

          Section 3.  Representations and Warranties of the Company.  As a
                      ---------------------------------------------
material inducement to the Purchaser to enter into this Agreement and purchase
the Class C Common Stock, the Company hereby represents and warrants that:

          3A.  Organization and Corporate Power.  The Company is a corporation
               --------------------------------
duly organized, validly existing and in good standing under the laws of the
State of Delaware and is qualified to do business in every jurisdiction in which
the failure to so qualify would reasonably be expected to have a material
adverse effect on the financial condition, operating results or assets of the
Company.  The Company possesses all requisite corporate power and authority
necessary to carry out the transactions contemplated by this Agreement and each
of the Transaction Documents to which the Company is a party.

          3B.  Authorization; No Breach.
               ------------------------

               (i)  The execution, delivery and performance of this Agreement
     and each of the Transaction Documents to which the Company is a party will
     have been duly authorized by the Company as of the Closing upon the
     approval hereof by the Company, its Board of Directors and its
     stockholders. This Agreement and the Transaction Documents to which the
     Company is a party will each constitute a valid and binding obligation of
     the Company, enforceable in accordance with its terms as of the Closing.

               (ii) The execution and delivery by the Company of this Agreement
     and all Transaction Documents to which the Company is a party, the sale and
     issuance of the Class C Common Stock hereunder, the issuance of the Class A
     Common Stock upon conversion of Class C Common Stock (except, with respect
     thereto, any filings required under the HSR Act and the termination or
     expiration of any applicable waiting period under the HSR Act), and the
     fulfillment of and compliance with the respective terms hereof and thereof
     by the Company, do not and will not as of the Closing (i) conflict with or
     result in a breach of the terms, conditions or provisions of, (ii)
     constitute a default under, (iii) result in the creation of any lien,
     security interest, charge or encumbrance upon the Company's or any
     Subsidiary's capital stock or assets pursuant to, (iv) give any third party
     the right to modify, terminate or accelerate any obligation under, (v)
     result in a violation of, or (vi) require any authorization, consent,
     approval, exemption or other action by or notice or declaration to, or
     filing with, any court or administrative or governmental body or agency
     pursuant to the Certificate of Incorporation of the Company or the amended
     and restated bylaws of the Company, or any material law, statute, rule or
     regulation to which the Company is subject, or any agreement, instrument,
     order, judgment or decree to which the Company is subject, except for the
     filing of the Amended Certificate and any filings required after the date
     hereof under federal or state securities laws.

                                       2
<PAGE>

          3C.  Title to Shares.  Upon issuance in accordance with the terms
               ---------------
hereof,  the Class C Common Stock to be purchased hereunder, and the Class A
Common Stock issuable upon conversion of such shares of Class C Common Stock,
will be duly and validly issued, fully paid, nonassessable, and the Purchaser
will have good and marketable title to such shares, free and clear of all liens,
claims and encumbrances of any kind, other than (a) transfer restrictions
hereunder (including Sections 11C and 11D below) and under the other agreements
                     ------------     ---
contemplated hereby, (b) transfer restrictions under federal and state
securities laws and (c) liens, claims or encumbrances imposed due to the actions
of the Purchaser.

          3D.  Governmental Consent, etc.  Except for any filings required under
               -------------------------
the HSR Act with respect to the conversion of the Class C Common Stock into
Class A Common Stock and the termination or expiration of any applicable waiting
period under the HSR Act, no permit, consent, approval or authorization of, or
declaration to or filing with, any governmental authority is required in
connection with the execution, delivery and performance by the Company of this
Agreement or any of the Transaction Documents to which the Company is a party,
or the consummation by the Company of any other transactions contemplated hereby
or thereby.

          3E.  Disclosure.  (a) The Company has provided the Purchaser with a
               ----------
copy of Amendment No. 2 to the Company's Registration Statement on Form S-1
(Registration No. 333-92851) as filed with the Securities and Exchange
Commission on March 16, 2000 (the "Registration Statement"), and will provide
the Purchaser with a copy of any and all amendments to the Registration
Statement filed, by the Company with the Securities and Exchange Commission
prior to the Closing.  (b) To the best of the Company's knowledge as of the date
hereof, neither this Agreement, any Transaction Document to which the Company is
a party nor the Registration Statement, taken as a whole, contains any untrue
statement of a material fact or omits to state a material fact necessary to make
the statements herein or therein not misleading.

          Section 4.  Representations, Warranties and Covenants of Purchaser.
                      ------------------------------------------------------
As a material inducement to the Company to enter into this Agreement and issue
and sell Class C Common Stock to the Purchaser, the Purchaser hereby represents,
warrants and covenants to the Company (which representations, warranties and
covenants shall survive the Closing) that:

          4A.  Organization and Corporate Power.  The Purchaser is a corporation
               --------------------------------
duly organized, validly existing and in good standing under the laws of Delaware
and is qualified to do business in every jurisdiction in which the failure to so
qualify would reasonably be expected to have a material adverse effect in the
financial condition, operating results or assets of the company.  The Purchaser
possesses all requisite corporate power and authority necessary to carry out the
transactions contemplated by this Agreement.

          4B.  Authorization; No Breach.
               ------------------------

               (i) The execution, delivery and performance of this Agreement and
     each of the Transaction Documents to which Purchaser is a party have been
     duly authorized by Purchaser.  This Agreement and each of the Transaction
     Documents hereby

                                       3
<PAGE>

     to which Purchaser is a party each constitute a valid and binding
     obligation of Purchaser, enforceable in accordance with its terms as of the
     Closing.

               (ii) The execution and delivery by Purchaser of this Agreement
     and Transaction Documents to which Purchaser is a party and the fulfillment
     of and compliance with the respective terms hereof and thereof by
     Purchaser, do not and shall not as of the Closing (i) conflict with or
     result in a breach of the terms, conditions or provisions of, (ii)
     constitute a default under, (iii) result in the creation of any lien,
     security interest, charge or encumbrance upon the Purchaser's or any
     Subsidiary's capital stock or assets pursuant to, (iv) give any third party
     the right to modify, terminate or accelerate any obligation under, (v)
     result in a violation of, or (vi) require any authorization, consent,
     approval, exemption or other action by or notice or declaration to, or
     filing with, any court or administrative or governmental body or agency
     pursuant to, the charter or bylaws of Purchaser, or any law, statute, rule
     or regulation to which Purchaser is subject, or any agreement, instrument,
     order, judgment or decree to which Purchaser is subject, other than filings
     under the HSR Act in connection with the conversion of the Class C Common
     Stock into Class A Common Stock and the termination or expiration of any
     applicable waiting period under the HSR Act.

          4C.  Governmental Consent, etc.  Except for any filings required under
               --------------------------
the HSR Act with respect to the conversion of Class C Common Stock into Class A
Common Stock, no permit, consent, approval or authorization of, or declaration
to or filing with, any governmental authority is required in connection with the
execution, delivery and performance by Purchaser of this Agreement or any of the
other agreements contemplated hereunder, to which Purchaser is a party, or the
consummation by Purchaser of any other transactions contemplated hereby or
thereby.

          4D.  Investment Representations.
               --------------------------

               (i)   Investment Purpose.  Purchaser is acquiring the Class C
                     ------------------
     Common Stock and the Class A Common Stock issuable upon conversion of the
     Class C Common Stock (collectively, the "Securities") for its own account,
                                              ----------
     not as a nominee or agent, for investment only and not with a view towards,
     or for resale in connection with, the public sale or distribution thereof.

               (ii)  Accredited Investor Status.  Purchaser is an "accredited
                     --------------------------
     investor" as that term is defined in Rule 501(a)(3) of Regulation D.

               (iii) Qualified Institutional Buyer.  Purchaser is a "qualified
                     -----------------------------
     institutional buyer", as such term is defined in Rule 144A promulgated
     under the Securities Act.

               (iv)  Reliance on Exemptions. Purchaser understands that the
                     ----------------------
     Securities are being offered and sold to it in reliance on specific
     exemptions from the registration requirements of United States federal and
     state securities laws and that the Company is relying in part upon the
     truth and accuracy of, and Purchaser's compliance with, the

                                       4
<PAGE>

     representations, warranties and agreements of Purchaser set forth herein in
     order to determine the availability of such exemptions and the eligibility
     of Purchaser to acquire such securities.

          (v)    No General Solicitation. The Purchaser initiated discussions
                 -----------------------
     with the Company relating to the purchase and sale of the Securities
     contemplated by this Agreement on an unsolicited basis prior to the date of
     this Agreement. The Purchaser did not initiate such discussions, nor did
     Purchaser decide to enter into this Agreement, as a result of any general
     solicitation or general advertising within the meaning of Rule 502(c) under
     the Securities Act, including the filing of the Registration Statement.


          (vi)   Information.  Purchaser has been furnished with all materials
                 -----------
     relating to the business, finances and operations of the Company and
     materials relating to the offer and sale of the Securities which have been
     requested by Purchaser. Purchaser has been afforded the opportunity to ask
     questions of the Company. Purchaser understands that its investment in the
     Securities involves a high degree of risk. Purchaser has sought such
     accounting, legal and tax advice as it has considered necessary to make an
     informed investment decision with respect to its acquisition of the
     Securities. The Purchaser has received and reviewed a copy of the Company's
     Registration Statement, including without limitation, the language therein
     under the caption "Risk Factors."

          (vii)  No Governmental Review.  Purchaser understands that no
                 ----------------------
     United States federal or state agency or any other government or
     governmental agency has passed on or made any recommendation or endorsement
     of the Securities or the fairness or suitability of the investment in the
     Securities nor have such authorities passed upon or endorsed the merits of
     the offering of the Securities.

          (viii) Transfer or Resale.  Purchaser understands that: (a) the
                 ------------------
     Securities have not been and are not being registered under the Securities
     Act or any state securities laws, and may not be offered for sale, sold,
     assigned or transferred unless (A) subsequently registered thereunder or
     (B) sold in reliance on an exemption therefrom; and (b) neither the Company
     nor any other person is under any obligation to register such securities
     under the Securities Act or any state securities laws or to comply with the
     terms and conditions of any exemption thereunder.  In this regard,
     Purchaser represents that it is familiar with SEC Rule 144, and understands
     the resale limitations imposed thereby and by the Securities Act.
     Purchaser is able to bear the economic risk of its investment in the
     Securities for an indefinite period of time.

          (ix)   Sophistication.  Purchaser is an investor in securities of
                 --------------
     companies in the development stage and acknowledges that it is able to fend
     for itself, has knowledge and experience in financial and business matters,
     knows of the high degree of risk associated with investments generally and
     particularly investments in the securities of companies in the development
     stage, is capable of evaluating the merits and risks of an investment in
     the Securities and is able to bear the economic risk of an investment in
     the Securities in the amount contemplated.  Purchaser has adequate means of
     providing for its current financial needs and contingencies and will have
     no current or anticipated

                                       5
<PAGE>

     future needs for liquidity which would be jeopardized by the investment in
     the Securities. Purchaser can afford a complete loss of its investment in
     the Securities.

               (x) Further Limitations of Disposition.  Without in any way
                   ----------------------------------
     limiting the representations set forth above, the Purchaser agrees not to
     make any disposition of all or any portion of the Securities unless and
     until:

                    (1) There is then in effect a registration statement under
          the Securities Act covering such proposed disposition and such
          disposition is made in accordance with such registration statement; or


                    (2)(i) The Purchaser shall have notified the Company of the
          proposed disposition and shall have furnished the Company with a
          detailed statement of the circumstances surrounding the proposed
          disposition, and (ii) if reasonably requested by the Company, the
          Purchaser shall have furnished the Company with an opinion of counsel,
          reasonably satisfactory to the Company, that such disposition will not
          require registration of such shares under the Securities Act.

          4E.  Purchaser's Principal Place of Business.  The Purchaser
               ---------------------------------------
represents that its principal place of business is Chicago, Illinois.

          4F.  Solicitation of Proxies.  Purchaser will not participate in any
               -----------------------
solicitation of proxies by anyone other than the Company with respect to the
voting of the Securities.

          4G.  Notice.  Purchaser shall notify the Company of Purchaser's
               ------
acquisition of any securities of the Company no later than 15 days prior to any
such acquisition, and all such acquisitions shall comply with federal and state
securities laws.

          4H.  No Group.  Purchaser shall not form or participate in a "group"
               --------
(as defined in Rule 13d-5 of the Exchange Act) with respect to any securities of
the Company.

          Section 5.  HSR Filings.  As promptly as practicable after the date of
                      -----------
this Agreement, each of the parties hereto will make any filings required by the
HSR Act to be made by it in order to consummate the transactions contemplated
hereby and required in connection with the conversion of Class C Common Stock to
Class A Common Stock, and each party hereto will cooperate with the other party
hereto in connection with any such filings required by the HSR Act.
Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained herein, nothing in this
Agreement will require any Person, whether pursuant to an order of the Federal
Trade Commission or the United States Department of Justice or otherwise, to
dispose of any assets, lines of business or equity interests, or otherwise take
any action that would materially affect its business, in order to obtain the
consent of the Federal Trade Commission or the United States Department of
Justice to the transactions contemplated by this Agreement.  Each of the parties
hereto shall promptly provide the other party (or its counsel) copies of all
filings made and any materials submitted in connection with the HSR Act.  The
Class C Common Stock issued to Purchaser (i) may be converted by Purchaser into
Class A Common Stock only if all consents, approvals or

                                       6
<PAGE>

authorizations of, or declarations to or filings with, any governmental
authority, including, without limitation, filings required under the HSR Act and
the termination or expiration of any applicable waiting period under the HSR
Act, as may be required for such conversion have been obtained or made, as the
case may be, to the reasonable satisfaction of the Company and (ii) shall be
converted at such time.

          Section 6.  Conditions of the Purchaser's Obligations at the Closing.
                      --------------------------------------------------------
The obligation of the Purchaser to purchase and pay for the Class C Common Stock
is subject to the fulfillment, at or before the Closing, of each of the
following conditions:

          6A.  Representations and Warranties.  The representations and
               ------------------------------
warranties of the Company contained in Section 3, except for those stated to be
                                       ---------
made as of the date hereof, shall be true and correct in all material respects
at and as of the Closing as though then made, except to the extent of changes
caused by the transactions expressly contemplated herein or in the Transaction
Documents.

          6B.  Performance.  The Company shall have performed and complied with
               -----------
all agreements, obligations and conditions contained in this Agreement that are
required to be performed or complied with by it on or before the Closing.

          6C.  Officer's Certificate.  The Company shall deliver to the
               ---------------------
Purchaser an Officer's Certificate, stating that (i) the conditions described in
Sections 6A, 6B, 6D and 6E have been satisfied; (ii) the Company has made all
-----------  --  --     --
filings under all applicable federal and state securities laws necessary to
consummate the transactions contemplated by this Agreement in compliance with
such laws; and (iii) all corporate and other proceedings required to be taken by
such party in connection with the transactions contemplated hereby to be
consummated at or prior to the Closing have been taken.

          6D.  Opinion of Company Counsel.  Purchaser shall have received from
               --------------------------
Katten Muchin Zavis, counsel for the Company, an opinion, dated as of the
Closing, in the form of Exhibit A attached hereto.
                        ---------

          6E.  Amended Certificate of Incorporation.  The Company shall deliver
               ------------------------------------
evidence that its Certificate of Incorporation, as amended to reflect the terms
of the Class C Common Stock (the "Amended Certificate"), has been filed with the
                                  -------------------
Secretary of State of Delaware and is in full force and effect under the laws of
the State of Delaware as of the Closing.

          Section 7.  Conditions of the Company's Obligations at the Closing.
                      ------------------------------------------------------
The obligations of the Company to Purchaser under this Agreement are subject to
the fulfillment on or before the Closing of each of the following conditions:

          7A.  Representations and Warranties.  The representations and
               ------------------------------
warranties of Purchaser contained in Section 4 shall be true at and as of the
                                     ---------
Closing as though then made.

                                       7
<PAGE>

          7B.  Performance.  Purchaser shall have performed and complied with
               -----------
all agreements, obligations and conditions contained in this Agreement that are
required to be performed or complied with by it on or before the Closing.

          7C.  Officer's Certificate.  The Purchaser shall deliver to the
               ---------------------
Company an Officer's Certificate, stating that (i) the conditions described in
Sections 7A, 7B and 7D have been satisfied; (ii) the Purchaser has made all
------------ --     --
filings under all applicable federal and state securities laws necessary to
consummate the transactions contemplated by this Agreement in compliance with
such laws; and (iii) all corporate and other proceedings required to be taken by
such party in connection with the transactions contemplated hereby to be
consummated at or prior to the Closing have been taken.

          7D.  Corporate Consents.  The Company shall have obtained the consent
               ------------------
of its Board of Directors and its stockholders authorizing the execution,
delivery and performance of this Agreement and the Transaction Documents to
which the Company is a party, the filing of the Amended Certificate and the
issuance and sale of the Class C Common Stock hereunder.

          Section 8.  Termination.  This Agreement may or will be terminated at
                      -----------
any time prior to the consummation of the Closing under the following described
circumstances:

                    (i)   automatically upon the mutual written consent of the
                          Company and the Purchaser;

                    (ii)  by either of the Company or the Purchaser by delivery
                          of written notice thereof, if the Qualified IPO shall
                          not have been consummated prior to the twelve-month
                          anniversary of the date of this Agreement; or

                    (iii) automatically upon the consummation of the Qualified
                          IPO, if the Closing is not occurring immediately
                          following the Qualified IPO.

          Section 9.  Indemnification.
                      ---------------

          9A.  Company Indemnification.  In consideration of Purchaser's
               -----------------------
execution and delivery of this Agreement and acquiring the Securities hereunder
and in addition to all of the Company's other obligations under this Agreement,
the Company shall defend, protect, indemnify and hold harmless Purchaser and all
of its officers, directors, employees and agents (including, without limitation,
those retained in connection with the transactions contemplated by this
Agreement) (collectively, the "Indemnitees") from and against any and all
                               -----------
actions, causes of action, suits, claims, losses, costs, penalties, fees,
liabilities and damages, and expenses in connection therewith (irrespective of
whether any such Indemnitee is a party to the action for which indemnification
hereunder is sought), and including reasonable attorneys' fees and disbursements
(the "Indemnified Liabilities"), incurred by the Indemnitees or any of them as a
      -----------------------
result of, or arising out of, or relating to any misrepresentation in or breach
of any of the representations and warranties or any nonfulfillment or breach of
any covenant or agreement on the part of the Company under this Agreement,
provided that the Company shall not be liable to

                                       8
<PAGE>

an Indemnitee under this Section 9A for any liability if such liability is
                         ----------
caused solely by such Indemnitee's fraud, willful misconduct or gross negligence
or default or breach under this Agreement. To the extent that the foregoing
undertaking by the Company may be unenforceable for any reason, the Company
shall make the maximum contribution to the payment and satisfaction of each of
the Indemnified Liabilities which is permissible under applicable law.

          9B.  Purchaser Indemnification.  In consideration of the Company's
               -------------------------
execution and delivery of this Agreement and all of Purchaser's obligations
under this Agreement, Purchaser shall defend, protect, indemnify and hold
harmless the Company and all of its officers, directors, employees and agents
(including, without limitation, those retained in connection with the
transactions contemplated by this Agreement) (collectively, the "Company
                                                                 -------
Indemnitees") from and against any and all actions, causes of action, suits,
-----------
claims, losses, costs, penalties, fees, liabilities and damages, and expenses in
connection therewith (irrespective of whether any such Company Indemnitee is a
party to the action for which indemnification hereunder is sought), and
including reasonable attorneys' fees and disbursements (the "Company Indemnified
                                                             -------------------
Liabilities"), incurred by the Company Indemnitees or any of them as a result
-----------
of, or arising out of, or relating to any misrepresentation in or breach of any
of the representations and warranties or any nonfulfillment or breach of any
covenant or agreement on the part of the Purchaser under this Agreement,
provided that the Purchaser shall not be liable to an Company Indemnitee under
this Section 9B for any liability if such liability is caused solely by such
     ----------
Company Indemnitee's fraud, willful misconduct or gross negligence or default or
breach under this Agreement.  To the extent that the foregoing undertaking by
the Purchaser may be unenforceable for any reason, the Purchaser shall make the
maximum contribution to the payment and satisfaction of each of the Company
Indemnified Liabilities which is permissible under applicable law.

          9C.  Survival of Representations and Warranties.  All of the
               ------------------------------------------
representations and warranties contained herein shall survive the Closing for a
period of six (6) months.

          Section 10.  Definitions.  For the purposes of this Agreement, the
                       -----------
following terms have the meanings set forth:

          "Affiliate" of any particular Person means any other Person
           ---------
controlling, controlled by or under common control with such particular Person,
where "control" means the possession, directly or indirectly, of the power to
direct the management and policies of a Person whether through the ownership of
voting securities, contract or otherwise.

          "Class A Common Stock" means the Company's Class A Common Stock, par
           --------------------
value $.001 per share.

          "HSR Act" means the Hart-Scott-Rodino Antitrust Improvements Act of
           -------
1976, as amended, and the Premerger Notification Rules promulgated thereunder.

          "Person" means any individual, partnership, corporation, limited
           ------
liability company, association, joint stock company, trust, joint venture,
unincorporated organization or governmental entity or any department, agency or
political subdivision thereof.

                                       9
<PAGE>

          "Qualified IPO" shall mean an underwritten public offering of Class A
           -------------
Common Stock with gross proceeds of not less than $120,000,000.

          "Securities Act" means the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, or any
           --------------
similar federal law then in force.

          "Securities and Exchange Commission" includes any governmental body or
           ----------------------------------
agency succeeding to the functions thereof.

          "Securities Exchange Act" means the Securities Exchange Act of 1934,
           -----------------------
as amended, or any similar federal law then in force.

          "Transaction Documents" means all documents, instruments, certificates
           ---------------------
or other agreements being delivered in connection with or pursuant to this
Agreement.

          Section 11.  Miscellaneous.
                       -------------

          11A. Expenses.  The Company shall pay, and hold the Purchaser and all
               --------
holders of Securities harmless against liability for the payment of the fees and
expenses incurred with respect to the enforcement of the rights (in connection
with a breach or threatened breach by the Company) granted under this Agreement,
the other agreements contemplated hereby to which the Company is a party or the
Amended Certificate.

          11B. Remedies.  Each holder of Securities shall have all rights and
               --------
remedies set forth in this Agreement and all rights and remedies which such
holders have been granted at any time under any other agreement or contract and
all of the rights which such holders have under any law.  Any Person having any
rights under any provision of this Agreement shall be entitled to enforce such
rights specifically (without posting a bond or other security), to recover
damages by reason of any breach of any provision of this Agreement and to
exercise all other rights granted by law.

                                      10
<PAGE>

          11C. Legends.
               -------

               (i)   The certificates evidencing the Securities will include the
     legend set forth below, which the Purchaser has read and understands:


          THE SECURITIES REPRESENTED HEREBY HAVE NOT BEEN REGISTERED UNDER THE
          SECURITIES ACT OF 1933, AS AMENDED, OR ANY STATE SECURITIES LAW, AND
          MAY NOT BE OFFERED, SOLD, TRANSFERRED OR OTHERWISE DISPOSED OF UNLESS
          REGISTERED UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933, AS AMENDED, AND ANY
          APPLICABLE STATE SECURITIES LAWS OR AN EXEMPTION FROM SUCH
          REGISTRATION IS AVAILABLE. THESE SECURITIES ARE ALSO SUBJECT TO
          INVESTMENT REPRESENTATIONS AND A LOCKUP AGREEMENT WITH THE CORPORATION
          PURSUANT TO A PURCHASE AGREEMENT DATED MARCH 31, 2000 WHICH RESTRICTS
          THE TRANSFER THEREOF UNTIL [insert one year anniversary of closing], A
          COPY OF WHICH CAN BE OBTAINED FROM THE CORPORATION AT ITS EXECUTIVE
          OFFICES.

               (ii)  By accepting the certificates bearing the aforesaid legend,
     Purchaser agrees, prior to any transfer of the Securities represented by
     the certificates and subject to the restrictions in Section 11D, to give
                                                         ------------
     written notice to the Company expressing its desire to effect such transfer
     and describing briefly the proposed transfer.  Upon receiving such notice,
     the Company shall present copies thereof to its counsel and the following
     provisions shall apply:

                     (a)  subject to Section 11D, if, in the reasonable opinion
                                     -----------
     of counsel to the Company, the proposed transfer of such Securities may be
     effected without registration under the Securities Act and applicable state
     securities acts, the Company shall promptly thereafter notify Purchaser,
     whereupon Purchaser shall be entitled to transfer such Securities, all in
     accordance with the terms of the notice delivered by Purchaser and upon
     such further terms and conditions as shall be required to ensure compliance
     with the Securities Act and the applicable state securities acts, and, upon
     surrender of the certificate evidencing such Securities, in exchange
     therefor, a new certificate not bearing a legend of the character set forth
     above if such counsel reasonably believes that such legend is no longer
     required under the Securities Act and the applicable state securities acts;
     and

                     (b)  subject to Section 11D, if, in the reasonable opinion
                                     -----------
     of counsel to the Company, the proposed transfer of such Securities may not
     be effected without registration under the Securities Act or the applicable
     state securities acts, a copy of such opinion shall be promptly delivered
     to Purchaser, and such proposed transfer shall not be made unless such
     registration is then in effect.

               (iii) The Company may, from time to time, make stop transfer
     notations in its records and deliver stop transfer instructions to its
     transfer agent to the extent its

                                      11
<PAGE>

     counsel considers it necessary to ensure compliance with the Securities Act
     and the applicable state securities acts.

          11D. Lock-up Agreements.  In order to induce the Company to enter into
               ------------------
this Agreement, until the 12-month anniversary of the Closing, Purchaser shall
not, directly or indirectly, sell, offer to sell, contract to sell, assign,
transfer or otherwise dispose of, or engage in any other transaction (including,
without limitation, any pledge, put, call, collar, hedge or short sale) which
reduces the risk of ownership of, any of such securities. Purchaser agrees and
consents to the entry of stop transfer instructions with the Company's transfer
agent against the transfer of the Securities held by the Purchaser except in
compliance with the foregoing restrictions.

          11E. Successors and Assigns.  Except as otherwise expressly provided
               ----------------------
herein, all covenants and agreements contained in this Agreement by or on behalf
of any of the parties hereto shall bind and inure to the benefit of the
respective successors and assigns of the parties hereto whether so expressed or
not.  Notwithstanding the foregoing or anything to the contrary herein, the
parties may not assign this Agreement.

          11F. Severability.  Whenever possible, each provision of this
               ------------
Agreement shall be interpreted in such manner as to be effective and valid under
applicable law, but if any provision of this Agreement is held to be prohibited
by or invalid under applicable law, such provision shall be ineffective only to
the extent of such prohibition or invalidity, without invalidating the remainder
of this Agreement.

          11G. Counterparts.  This Agreement may be executed simultaneously in
               ------------
two or more counterparts, any one of which need not contain the signatures of
more than one party, but all such counterparts taken together shall constitute
one and the same Agreement.

          11H. Descriptive Headings; Interpretation.  The descriptive headings
               ------------------------------------
of this Agreement are inserted for convenience only and do not constitute a
substantive part of this Agreement.  The use of the word "including" in this
Agreement shall be by way of example rather than by limitation.

          11I. Governing Law.  The general corporation law of the State of
               -------------
Delaware shall govern all issues and questions concerning the relative rights
and obligations of the Company and its stockholders.  All other issues and
questions concerning the construction, validity, enforcement and interpretation
of this Agreement and the schedules and exhibits hereto shall be governed by,
and construed in accordance with, the laws of the State of Illinois, without
giving effect to any choice of law or conflict of law rules or provisions
(whether of the State of Illinois or any other jurisdiction) that would cause
the application of the laws of any jurisdiction other than the State of
Illinois.  In furtherance of the foregoing, the internal law of the State of
Illinois shall control the interpretation and construction of this Agreement
(and all schedules and exhibits hereto), even though under that jurisdiction's
choice of law or conflict of law analysis, the substantive law of some other
jurisdiction would ordinarily apply.

          11J. Notices.  All notices, demands or other communications to be
               -------
given or

                                      12
<PAGE>

delivered under or by reason of the provisions of this Agreement shall be in
writing and shall be deemed to have been given when delivered personally to the
recipient, sent to the recipient by reputable overnight courier service (charges
prepaid) or mailed to the recipient by certified or registered mail, return
receipt requested and postage prepaid. Such notices, demands and other
communications shall be sent to Purchaser at the address indicated for Purchaser
at the address set forth below or as otherwise indicated on the stock records of
the Company, and to the Company at the address indicated below:

     If to the Company:    divine interVentures, inc.
                           4225 Naperville Road, Suite 400
                           Lisle, Illinois 60532
                           Attention: General Counsel

     With a copy to:       Katten Muchin Zavis
                           525 W. Monroe Street
                           Suite 1600
                           Chicago, Illinois 60661-3693
                           Attention: Matthew S. Brown, Esq.

     If to the Purchaser:  marchFIRST, Inc.
                           311 S. Wacker Drive
                           Suite 3500
                           Chicago, Illinois 60606
                           Attention: General Counsel

or to such other address or to the attention of such other person as the
recipient party has specified by prior written notice to the sending party.

          11K. No Strict Construction.  The parties hereto have participated
               ----------------------
jointly in the negotiation and drafting of this Agreement.  In the event an
ambiguity or question of intent or interpretation arises, this Agreement shall
be construed as if drafted jointly by the parties hereto, and no presumption or
burden of proof shall arise favoring or disfavoring any party by virtue of the
authorship of any of the provisions of this Agreement.

                 [Remainder of page intentionally left blank.
                           Signature page follows.]

                                      13
<PAGE>

          IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have executed this Purchase
Agreement on the date first written above.


                                    DIVINE INTERVENTURES, INC.


                                    By: /s/ Michael P. Cullinane
                                        ----------------------------
                                            Michael P. Cullinane
                                            Executive Vice President


                                    MARCHFIRST, INC.


                                    By: /s/ Edward Szofer
                                        ----------------------------
                                    Its: Chief Development Officer
                                         ---------------------------



                    (SIGNATURE PAGE TO PURCHASE AGREEMENT)