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                                                                   EXHIBIT 10.01


                              [EXCITE LETTERHEAD]



August 3, 1998


Mr. John Polumbo
(HOME ADDRESS REDACTED)

Dear John:

Though this letter is an offer of employment, if I launched into the 
particulars immediately they would not tell the story of the enormous 
enthusiasm that all of us in management, and on the board, have developed for 
you during the course of the interview process. I have a strong sense that you 
and I will work very well together, that we can lift Excite to new levels, and 
that you will be an accepted leader in our culture. These have been important 
issues for me to probe with you and I hold great promise for our partnership.

In this spirit, I'm pleased to offer you the job of President and Chief 
Operating Officer, reporting to me. Upon your acceptance of this offer, I will 
convert your current consulting role as appropriate and continue your observer 
status on the board at our next board meeting on June 26, 1998 and hope to 
recommend you as a full board member after your first year of employment.

Your starting annual salary will be $200,000, payable semi-monthly. You will 
have a bonus target of $175,000 annually, based on company and individual goals 
to be agreed upon shortly after your start date. In your first two years of 
employment, this bonus target will be guaranteed. It will be prorated for the 
relevant portions of the next 24 months which fall within the current and 2 
subsequent calendar years. At that time, you will then participate in the then 
current bonus program. You will be reimbursed for all reasonable business 
expenses associated with your duties at Excite.

In addition to your salary and annual bonus, I have recommended that the 
Compensation Committee of Excite's Board of Directors approve an employee stock 
option grant of 275,000 shares (on a pre-split basis) of Excite's Common Stock. 
The exercise price of the options will be fair market value, as determined by 
the Compensation Committee at the time of the grant, which I have previously 
communicated to you. The options will vest at a rate of one-forth-eighths 
(1/48) each full succeeding month over a period of four years. However, the 
option granted by Excite is subject to the Compensation Committee's approval, 
it is not a promise of compensation, and is not intended to create any 
obligation on the part of Excite. These restrictions will be set forth in a 
legend on your option grant agreement.
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The Compensation Committee will provide further details on Excite's Option Plan 
and any specific grant to you upon approval of such grant. You will be eligible 
to participate in future grants that are recommended by the Compensation 
Committee consistent with other executive officers.

As long as you remain a full-time employee of the company, and only in your 
first four years of employment, at your discretion, you may elect once annually 
to exercise a "put-back" option. The option will annually allow you to "put 
back" to the company options in accordance with the following schedule:

          Year One:   68,750 options (which vest in months 1-12)  = $800K
          Year Two:   68,750 options (which vest in months 13-24) = $900K
          Year Three: 68,750 options (which vest in months 25-36) = $1.0M
          Year Four:  68,750 options (which vest in months 27-48) = $1.2M

The amount shown is the net cash to be received, after any exercise price, but 
before any applicable income and employment withholding taxes imposed. The 
payment shall be made not later than 14 days after the anniversary date for the 
applicable option.

The election must be made in writing no later than 60 days prior to each of 
your anniversary dates. The payment is due on the applicable anniversary dates. 
The election option is not cumulative; once your annual election has been made, 
it retires the company's obligation for the "put-back" options or cash in that 
particular year. If there is any "lock up" during the put back period, the 
election will "suspend" until it can be exercised with a corresponding interest 
factor paid for the delay in payment. Nothing shall be construed as extending 
the "put-back" election period in the event of a "lock up".

In addition, as long as you remain a full-time employee of the company, Excite 
will provide you with a $750K loan option, at the lowest prevailing applicable 
federal rate provided by the Internal Revenue Service at the time of the loan, 
which you can exercise at your discretion during your first two years of 
employment with Excite. If you choose to exercise your loan option, you must 
give Excite 30 days written notice. Your stock options will serve as collateral 
for the loan. Excite will call the loan due at the earlier of: A "the end of 
your 3rd year of employment"; B "when the value of your stock collateral falls 
below $750K"; C "the  date your employment with Excite ends for any reason." 
Interest will be due and payable to Excite at the end of each calendar quarter 
for any loans outstanding during the applicable quarter.
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To the extent in the future (and you are clear that no such corporate authority
currently exists) that I have the authority to accelerate any of the above
option vesting under such situations as corporate reorganizations, a change in
control (however broadly defined), or other related business changes including a
material diminishment or your corporate responsibilities, you will be treated no
less favorably than any of the current or future executive officers of Excite,
effective as a part of the consideration for the execution employment agreement.

You will be eligible to participate in Excite's group medical, dental, vision,
life insurance, 401(k) plan and employee stock purchase plan during next
enrollment period offered to all full time employees. If you accept this offer
of employment, you will be given benefit plan documents, which will describe
more fully these and other benefits of your employment with Excite.

If you accept this offer, your employment with Excite shall be "at will" which
means that it is not for any specified period of time and can be terminated by
yourself or Excite for any or no particular reason or cause and at any time with
or without advance notice. Even though your job duties, title, compensation and
benefits, as well as Excite's human resources policies and procedures, may
change from time to time during your tenure with Excite, the "at will" nature of
your employment is one aspect which may not be changed, except in writing signed
by the Chief Executive Officer of Excite.

If you are terminated for reasons other than cause during your first two years
of employment with the company, you will receive severance equal to: six months
of your then current base salary, pro rated bonus and six months stock vesting,
and six months of benefits payments on your behalf. However, if you are employed
during the six month period immediately after your severance, Excite will pay
only the differential between your total cash compensation in your new job
during the period in question and your total cash compensation at Excite, if you
had remained employed by Excite during that six month period.

If you become disabled during the term of your employment, it is our current
intention to continue your option vesting during the period of your disability.
We will make reasonable efforts to adopt a written policy which will confirm
this intention.

Any representations contrary to those contained in this letter which may have
been made to your are superseded by this offer. If you accept this offer, the
terms described in this letter constitute the terms of your employment with
Excite.
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This offer of employment is contingent upon receipt of satisfactory proof of 
identification and work authorization as required by the Immigration Reform and 
Control Act, the return of a signed copy of this letter indicating your 
acceptance of our offer, and receipt of a signed copy of Excite's Employee 
Invention Agreement and Confidentiality Agreement on the first day of your 
employment. I would appreciate your confirming the acceptance of this offer by 
signing on the space provided. This offer will expire if not signed and 
received by August 7, 1998.

Let me close by reaffirming my belief that you and I will be a winning team, 
and that you will be a great addition to Excite. I look forward to our future 
success together.

Sincerely,

/s/ GEORGE BELL
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George Bell
President and CEO
Excite Inc.




I accept the offer of employment with Excite.


Signed: /s/ JOHN POLUMBO                       Date: August 3, 1998
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       John Polumbo