Document:

<PAGE>

                                                                    EXHIBIT 10.3

                                                                   July 23, 2002

                        GUARANTEE AND SECURITY AGREEMENT

     This Guarantee and Security Agreement (this "Agreement") is entered into as
of July 23, 2002, by and among Nextera Enterprises, Inc. ("Borrower"), whose
address is 4 Cambridge Center, 3rd Floor, Cambridge, Massachusetts 02142, the
subsidiaries of the Company who are signatories hereto (individually, the
"Subsidiary", together, the "Subsidiaries") and Knowledge Universe Inc.
("Lender"), whose address is 844 Moraga Drive, Los Angeles, California 90049.

Recitals

     A.   Borrower has issued to Lender a debenture dated July 23, 2002
evidencing indebtedness in the principal amount of $21,292,550 (the
"Debenture").

     B.   As a condition precedent to the effectiveness of the Debenture, Lender
has required Borrower and its Subsidiaries to execute and deliver this
Agreement.

Agreement

     NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the above recitals and the mutual
covenants hereinafter set forth, the parties hereto agree as follows:

I.   Creation of Security Interest. Borrower and its Subsidiaries hereby assign,
pledge, and grant to Lender, a security interest in all of Borrower's and its
Subsidiaries' right, title, and interest in and to the following properties and
assets of Borrower and its Subsidiaries, (collectively, the "Collateral") in
each case whether now owned or hereafter acquired by Borrower and its
Subsidiaries:

All property and assets of Borrower or its Subsidiaries of every nature and kind
whatsoever, including, without limitation, all machinery, equipment and
supplies, appliances, computers and related equipment, tools, tooling,
furniture, furnishings, fixtures, goods, inventory, raw materials, work in
process, finished goods and materials owned by Borrower or its Subsidiaries,
accounts, accounts receivable, general intangibles, names, trademarks, service
marks, intellectual property, chattel paper, documents, instruments (whether
negotiable or non-negotiable), deposit accounts, investment property,
securities, securities entitlements, money, contract rights and rights to
payment of every kind; all of the foregoing, whether now owned or hereafter at
any time acquired by Borrower or its Subsidiaries and wherever located, and all
products, additions, accessions, replacements and substitutions for and of all
such Collateral; and all books and records of Borrower or its Subsidiaries with
respect to all such Collateral; and all proceeds, which includes: (i) whatever
is now or hereafter receivable or received by Borrower or its Subsidiaries upon
the sale, exchange, collection or other disposition of any item of Collateral,
whether voluntary or involuntary, whether such proceeds constitute accounts,
inventory, general intangibles, equipment, intellectual property or other
assets; (ii) any such items which are now or hereafter acquired by Borrower or
its Subsidiaries with any proceeds of Collateral hereunder; and (iii) any
insurance or payments under any indemnity, warranty or guaranty now or hereafter
payable by reason of damage or loss or otherwise with respect to any item of
Collateral or any proceeds thereof, in order to secure the payment and
performance of the Secured Obligations (as defined below) The definition of
Collateral shall not include more than 66% of the outstanding voting stock or
other voting equity in any foreign subsidiary of the Borrower to the extent that
the pledge of voting stock or other voting equity above such amount would result
in a repatriation of foreign earnings under the Internal Revenue Code (including
the "deemed dividend" provisions of section 956 of the Internal Revenue Code).

<PAGE>

II.   Secured Obligations. For purposes of this Agreement, "Secured Obligations"
      shall mean the Debenture.

III.  Representation and Warranties. Borrower and its Subsidiaries represent and
      warrant as follows:

      A. Location of Collateral. The Collateral will at all times be located
      within the jurisdiction in which it is located as of the date hereof.

      B. Existence and Power. Borrower and each of its Subsidiaries is a duly
      organized and validly existing corporation or limited liability company,
      as the case may be, in good standing under the laws of the jurisdiction of
      its incorporation or formation, as the case may be, and each has the
      corporate power and authority to own its property and assets and to
      execute and deliver, and perform its obligations under, this Agreement.

      C. Enforceability. This Agreement has been duly authorized, executed and
      delivered by Borrower and its Subsidiaries and constitutes the legal,
      valid and binding obligation of Borrower and its Subsidiaries enforceable
      against Borrower and its Subsidiaries in accordance with its terms.

      D. No Conflict. Except as set forth below, the execution, delivery and
      performance of this Agreement by Borrower and its Subsidiaries and the
      consummation of the transactions contemplated hereby will not (i) conflict
      with or result in a breach of any of the terms and provisions of, or
      constitute a default (or an event which with the giving of notice or the
      lapse of time or both would constitute a default) under, any agreement,
      indenture, mortgage, deed of trust, equipment lease, instrument or other
      document to which Borrower or a Subsidiary is a party; or (ii) conflict
      with any law, order, rule or regulation of any court or any federal or
      state government, regulatory body or administrative agency, or any other
      governmental body having jurisdiction over Borrower or its properties or a
      Subsidiary or its properties, as the case may be. The consent of the
      Lenders under the Credit Agreement dated December 30, 1999, as amended, is
      required for the Company to execute and deliver the Debenture and this
      Agreement.

IV.   Covenants. Borrower and its Subsidiaries covenant and agree as follows:

      A. Change in Address or Corporate Structure. Borrower and its Subsidiaries
      shall not change their names, identities, or corporate structures, move
      all or any portion of the Collateral or relocate their chief executive
      offices without the prior consent of Lender and, at the request of Lender,
      the prior filing of a financing statement with the proper office and in
      the proper form to perfect or continue the perfection of the security
      interests (without loss of priority) created herein which filing shall be
      satisfactory in form, substance and location to Lender prior to such
      filing.

      B. Payment of Taxes and Liens. Borrower and its Subsidiaries shall pay and
      discharge all taxes, assessments and charges or levies against the
      Collateral prior to delinquency thereof.

      C. Insurance. Borrower and its Subsidiaries, at their own expense, shall
      have and maintain insurance at all times with respect to all Collateral
      against such risks and liabilities, with such carrier and in such amounts
      as Lender may require. Such insurance shall be payable to Lender and to
      Borrower or its Subsidiaries as their interests may appear, shall include
      a mortgagee's loss payable endorsement, and shall not be subject to
      cancellation or reduction in coverage without thirty (30) days' prior
      written notice to Lender. Borrower and its Subsidiaries shall supply
      evidence of such insurance to Lender upon request.

      D. No Transfer. Except for sales of inventory in the ordinary course of
      Borrower's or a Subsidiaries business, as the case may be, Borrower and
      its Subsidiaries shall not sell, assign (by operation of law or
      otherwise), exchange or otherwise voluntarily or involuntarily transfer or
      dispose of all or any portion of the Collateral or encumber, or
      hypothecate, or create or permit to exist any lien, security interest,
      charge or encumbrance or adverse claim upon or other interest in all or
      any portion of the Collateral without the prior written consent of Lender.

      E. Reports. Borrower and its Subsidiaries shall promptly deliver to Lender
      all financial statements, reports and information concerning Borrower, its
      Subsidiaries and/or the Collateral as may be requested by Lender from time
      to time.

V.    Guarantee.

<PAGE>

      A. Guarantee of Secured Obligations. Borrower and each Subsidiary
      unconditionally guarantee that the Secured Obligations will be performed
      and paid in full in cash when due and payable, whether at the stated or
      accelerated maturity thereof or otherwise, this guarantee being a
      guarantee of payment and not of collectability and being absolute and in
      no way conditional or contingent. In the event any part of the Secured
      Obligations shall not have been so paid in full when due and payable,
      Borrower and each Subsidiary will, immediately upon notice by the Lender
      or, without notice, immediately upon the occurrence of a default due to
      bankruptcy, pay or cause to be paid to the Lender the amount of such
      Secured Obligations which are then due and payable and unpaid. The
      obligations of Borrower and each Subsidiary hereunder shall not be
      affected by the invalidity, unenforceability or irrecoverability of any
      other guarantor thereof. For purposes hereof, the Secured Obligations
      shall be due and payable when and as the same shall be due and payable
      under the terms of the Debenture notwithstanding the fact that the
      collection or enforcement thereof may be stayed or enjoined under the
      Bankruptcy Code or other applicable law. If, notwithstanding any other
      provision of this Agreement, including the obligations incurred by it
      under this Agreement and the rights granted to it by Section 5.10,
      enforcement of the obligations of Borrower and each Subsidiary under this
      Agreement for the full amount of the Secured Obligations to which Borrower
      and each Subsidiary is liable would constitute an unlawful transfer under
      any applicable fraudulent conveyance or fraudulent transfer law or any
      comparable law, then the obligations of Borrower and each Subsidiary
      hereunder shall be reduced to the highest amount for which such
      obligations may then be enforced without resulting in an unlawful transfer
      under any such law.

      B. Continuing Obligation. Borrower and each Subsidiary acknowledges that
      the Lender has entered into the Debenture in reliance on this Section 5
      being a continuing irrevocable agreement, and Borrower and each
      Subsidiary agrees that its guarantee may not be revoked in whole or in
      part. The obligations of the Borrowers and each Subsidiary hereunder shall
      terminate when the Secured Obligations have been indefeasibly paid in full
      in cash and discharged; provided, however, that:

                              (1) if a claim is made upon the Lender at any time
      for repayment or recovery of any amounts or any property received by the
      Lender from any source on account of any of the Secured Obligations and
      the Lender repays or returns any amounts or property so received
      (including interest thereon to the extent required to be paid by the
      Lender) or

                              (2) if the Lender becomes liable for any part of
      such claim by reason of (i) any judgment or order of any court or
      administrative authority having competent jurisdiction, or (ii) any
      settlement or compromise of any such claim (provided that, except after
      the occurrence and during the continuance of an Event of Default, the
      Borrower shall have consented to such settlement or compromise, such
      consent not to be unreasonably withheld),

then the Borrower and each Subsidiary shall remain liable under this Agreement
for the amounts so repaid or property so returned or the amounts for which the
Lender becomes liable (such amounts being deemed part of the Secured
Obligations) to the same extent as if such amounts or property had never been
received by the Lender, notwithstanding any termination hereof or the
cancellation of any instrument or agreement evidencing any of the Secured
Obligations. Not later than five days after receipt of notice from the Lender,
the Borrower and each Subsidiary shall pay to the Lender an amount equal to the
amount of such repayment or return for which the Lender has so become liable.
Payments hereunder by the Borrower and each Subsidiary may be required by the
Lender on any number of occasions.

      C. Waivers with Respect to Secured Obligations. Except to the extent
      expressly required by the Debenture, Borrower and each Subsidiary waives,
      to the fullest extent permitted by the provisions of applicable law, all
      of the following (including all defenses, counterclaims and other rights
      of any nature based upon any of the following):

                             (1) presentment, demand for payment and protest of
      nonpayment of any of the Secured Obligations, and notice of protest,
      dishonor or nonperformance;

                             (2) notice of acceptance of this guarantee and
      notice that credit has been extended in reliance on Borrower's and each
      Subsidiary's guarantee of the Secured Obligations;

                             (3) notice of any Event of Default or of any
      inability to enforce performance of the obligations of the Borrower or its
      Subsidiaries under the Debenture;

<PAGE>

                             (4) demand for performance or observance of, and
      any enforcement of any provision of the Debenture or any pursuit or
      exhaustion of rights or remedies with respect to the Debenture or against
      the Borrower or its Subsidiaries in respect of the Debenture or any
      requirement of diligence or promptness on the part of the Lender in
      connection with any of the foregoing;

                             (5) any act or omission on the part of the Lender
      which may impair or prejudice the rights of Borrower and its Subsidiaries,
      including rights to obtain subrogation, exoneration, contribution,
      indemnification or any other reimbursement from Borrower or its
      Subsidiaries, or otherwise operate as a deemed release or discharge;

                             (6) failure or delay to perfect or continue the
      perfection of any security interest in Secured Obligations or any other
      action which harms or impairs the value of, or any failure to preserve or
      protect the value of, the Secured Obligations;

                             (7) any statute of limitations or any statute or
      rule of law which provides that the obligation of a surety must be neither
      larger in amount nor in other respects more burdensome than the obligation
      of the principal;

                             (8) any "single action" or "anti-deficiency" law
      which would otherwise prevent the Lender from bringing any action,
      including any claim for a deficiency, against Borrower or its Subsidiaries
      before or after the Lender's commencement or completion of any foreclosure
      action, whether judicially, by exercise of power of sale or otherwise, or
      any other law which would otherwise require any election of remedies by
      the Lender; and

                             (9) all demands and notices of every kind with
      respect to the foregoing.

Borrower and each Subsidiary represents that each has obtained the advice
of counsel as to the extent to which suretyship and other defenses may be
available to it with respect to its obligations hereunder in the absence of
the waivers contained in this Section 5.3.

            No delay or omission on the part of the Lender in exercising any
      right under Debenture or under any other guarantee of the Secured
      Obligations shall operate as a waiver or relinquishment of such right. No
      action which the Lender or the Borrower and its Subsidiaries may take or
      refrain from taking with respect to the Secured Obligations shall affect
      the provisions of this Agreement or the obligations of Borrower and its
      Subsidiaries hereunder. None of the Lender's rights shall at any time in
      any way be prejudiced or impaired by any act or failure to act on the part
      of Borrower or its Subsidiaries, or by any noncompliance by Borrower or
      its Subsidiaries under the Debenture, regardless of any knowledge thereof
      which the Lender may have or otherwise be charged with.

      D. Lender's Power to Waive, etc. Borrower and each Subsidiary grants to
      the Lender full power in its discretion, without notice to or consent of
      Borrower and each Subsidiary, such notice and consent being expressly
      waived to the fullest extent permitted by applicable law, and without in
      any way affecting the liability of Borrower and its Subsidiaries under its
      guarantee hereunder:

                             (1) To waive compliance with, and any Event of
      Default under, and to consent to any amendment to or modification or
      termination of any provision of, or to give any waiver in respect of, the
      Secured Obligations or any guarantee thereof (as from time to time in
      effect);

                             (2) To grant any extensions of the Secured
      Obligations (for any duration), and any other indulgence with respect
      thereto, and to effect any total or partial release (by operation of law
      or otherwise), discharge, compromise or settlement with respect to the
      obligations of Borrower and its Subsidiaries in respect of the Secured
      Obligations, whether or not rights against Borrower and its Subsidiaries
      under this Agreement are reserved in connection therewith;

                             (3) To take security in any form for the Secured
      Obligations, and to consent to the addition to or the substitution,
      exchange, release or other disposition of, or to deal in any other manner
      with, any part of any property or asset contained in the Collateral
      whether or not the property, if any, received upon the exercise of such
      power shall be of a character or value the same as or different from the
      character or value of any property disposed of, and to obtain, modify or
      release any present or

<PAGE>

      future guarantees of the Secured Obligations and to proceed against any of
      the Collateral or such guarantees in any order;

                             (4) To collect or liquidate or realize upon any of
      the Secured Obligations or the Collateral in any manner or to refrain from
      collecting or liquidating or realizing upon any of the Secured Obligations
      or the Collateral; and

                             (5) To extend credit under the Debenture or
      otherwise in such amount as the Lender may determine, including increasing
      the amount of credit and the interest rate and fees with respect thereto,
      even though the condition of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries (financial
      or otherwise, on an individual or consolidated basis) may have
      deteriorated since the date hereof.

      E. Certain Representations by Borrower and each Subsidiary. Borrower and
      each Subsidiary represents that:

                             (1) it is in its best interest and in pursuit of
      the purposes for which it was organized as an integral part of the
      business conducted and proposed to be conducted by Borrower and each
      Subsidiary, and reasonably necessary and convenient in connection with the
      conduct of the business conducted and proposed to be conducted by them, to
      induce the Lender to enter into the Debenture and by making the Guarantee
      contemplated by this Section 5;

                             (2) the amount of cash available under the
      Debenture will directly or indirectly inure to its benefit;

                             (3) after giving effect to the foregoing
      considerations, the assets and liabilities of Borrower and each Subsidiary
      and rights of contribution among Borrower and each Subsidiary, including
      the rights provided in Section 5.10:

                                 (i)   it will not be rendered insolvent as a
            result of entering into this Agreement;

                                 (ii)  after giving effect to the transactions
            contemplated by this Agreement, it will have assets having a fair
            saleable value in excess of the amount required to pay its probable
            liability on its existing debts as such debts become absolute and
            matured;

                                 (iii) it has, and will have, access to adequate
            capital for the conduct of its business; and

                                 (iv)  it has the ability to pay its debts from
            time to time incurred in connection therewith as such debts mature;

                             (4) it has been advised by the Lender that the
      Lender is unwilling to enter into the Debenture unless the Guarantee
      contemplated by this Section 5 is given by it; and

                             (5) except as otherwise permitted pursuant to the
      Debenture, in the case of each Subsidiary, all of its equity or ownership
      interests are owned, directly or indirectly, by the Borrower.

      F. Subrogation. Borrower and each Subsidiary agrees that, until the
      Secured Obligations are paid in full, they will not exercise any right of
      reimbursement, subrogation, contribution, offset or other claims against
      the Borrower or the other Subsidiaries, as the case may be, arising by
      contract or operation of law in connection with any payment made or
      required to be made by Borrower or each Subsidiary under this Agreement.
      After the payment in full of the Secured Obligations, Borrower and each
      Subsidiary shall be entitled to exercise against the Borrower and the
      other Subsidiaries, as the case may be, all such rights of reimbursement,
      subrogation, contribution and offset, and all such other claims, to the
      fullest extent permitted by law.

<PAGE>

      G. Subordination. Borrower and each Subsidiary covenants and agrees that
      all indebtedness, claims and liabilities then or thereafter owing by the
      Borrower and each Subsidiary whether arising hereunder or otherwise are
      subordinated to the prior payment in full of the Secured Obligations and
      are so subordinated as a claim against Borrower and each Subsidiary or any
      of their assets, whether such claim be in the ordinary course of business
      or in the event of voluntary or involuntary liquidation, dissolution,
      insolvency or bankruptcy, so that no payment with respect to any such
      indebtedness, claim or liability will be made or received while any Event
      of Default exists; provided, however, that the foregoing provisions shall
      not limit the right of Borrower or each Subsidiary to receive payments in
      respect of such indebtedness, claims or liabilities so long as no Event of
      Default exists.

<PAGE>

      H. Future Subsidiaries; Further Assurances. The Borrower will from time to
      time cause (a) any present wholly owned subsidiary that is not a
      Subsidiary within 30 days after notice from the Lender or (b) any future
      wholly owned subsidiary within 30 days after any such person becomes a
      wholly owned subsidiary, to join this Agreement pursuant to a joinder
      agreement in form and substance satisfactory to the Lender; provided,
      however, that in the event such a wholly owned subsidiary is prohibited by
      any valid law, statute, rule or regulation from guaranteeing the Secured
      Obligations, or if such a guarantee by any foreign subsidiary would result
      in a repatriation of foreign earnings under the Internal Revenue Code
      (including the "deemed dividend" provisions of section 956 of the Internal
      Revenue Code), (i) such guarantee will be limited to the extent necessary
      to comply with such prohibition or to prevent such repatriation of foreign
      earnings or (ii) if such limitation on the guaranteed amount is not
      sufficient to avoid such prohibition or repatriation, the Borrower and its
      other Subsidiaries will pledge the stock of such wholly owned subsidiary
      (or as much of such stock as may be pledged without resulting in such a
      repatriation) to the Lender to secure the Secured Obligations pursuant to
      a pledge agreement in form and substance satisfactory to the Lender.
      Borrower and each Subsidiary will, promptly upon the request of the Lender
      from time to time, execute, acknowledge and deliver, and file and record,
      all such instruments, and take all such action, as the Lender deems
      necessary or advisable to carry out the intent and purpose of this Section
      5.

      I. Contribution Among Guarantors. Borrower and each Subsidiary agree that,
      as among themselves in their capacity as guarantors of the Secured
      Obligations, the ultimate responsibility for repayment of the Secured
      Obligations, in the event that the Borrower fails to pay when due its
      Secured Obligations, shall be equitably apportioned among the Borrower and
      each Subsidiary (a) in the proportion that each, in its capacity as a
      guarantor, has benefited from the extensions of credit to the Borrower by
      the Lender under the Debenture, or (b) if such equitable apportionment
      cannot reasonably be determined or agreed upon among Borrower and each
      Subsidiary, in proportion to their respective net worths determined on or
      about the date hereof (or such later date as such party becomes party
      hereto). In the event that Borrower or a Subsidiary, in its capacity as a
      guarantor, pays an amount with respect to the Secured Obligations in
      excess of its proportionate share as set forth in this Section 5.10,
      Borrower or each other Subsidiary, as the case may be, shall, to the
      extent consistent with the Debenture, make a contribution payment to such
      party in an amount such that the aggregate amount paid by Borrower and
      each Subsidiary reflects its proportionate share of the Secured
      Obligations. In the event of any default by any Borrower or Subsidiary
      under this Section 5.10, Borrower and each other Subsidiary, as the case
      may be, will bear, to the extent consistent with the Debenture, its
      proportionate share of the defaulting party's obligation under this
      Section 5.10. This Section 5.10 is intended to set forth only the rights
      and obligations of the Borrower and each Subsidiary among themselves and
      shall not in any way affect the obligations of Borrower and each
      Subsidiary to the Lender under the Debenture or this Agreement (which
      obligations shall at all times constitute the joint and several
      obligations of Borrower and each Subsidiary).

VI.   Right to Enter. Lender shall have, at all times, with or without notice,
the right to enter into and upon any premises where any of the Collateral or
records with respect thereto are located for the purpose of inspecting the same,
performing an audit, making copies of records, observing the use of any part of
the Collateral, protecting Lender's security interest in the Collateral, or
otherwise determining whether Borrower and its Subsidiaries are in compliance
with the terms of this Agreement.

VII.  Further Assurances. Borrower and its Subsidiaries shall execute and file
any financing or continuation statement, or amendments thereto, and such other
instruments or notices as may be necessary or desirable, which Lender may
reasonably request in order to perfect and preserve the perfection and the
priority of the security interests granted or purported to be granted under this
Agreement. Borrower and its Subsidiaries agree that, at Lender's option, this
Agreement, or a photocopy hereof, may be filed by Lender as a financing
statement, and that Borrower's and its Subsidiaries execution hereof shall
constitute the execution by Borrower and its Subsidiaries of a financing
statement. Borrower and its Subsidiaries hereby irrevocably make, constitutes,
and appoints Lender (and any of Lender's officers, employees, or agents
designated by Lender) as Borrower's and its Subsidiaries' true and lawful
attorney, with power to: (a) sign the name of Borrower and its Subsidiaries on
any and all documents to be executed, recorded, or filed in order to perfect or
continue perfected Lender's security interest in the Collateral including,
without limitation, any UCC financing statements; (b) endorse Borrower's and its
Subsidiaries' names on any checks, notices, acceptances, money orders, drafts,
or other item of payment or security that may come into Lender's possession; (c)
at any time after a default has occurred make, settle, and adjust all claims
under Borrower's or its Subsidiaries' policies of insurance in respect of the
Collateral and make all determinations and decisions with respect to such
policies of insurance. The appointment of Lender as Borrower's and its
Subsidiaries' attorney, and each and every one of Lender's rights and powers,
being coupled with an interest, is irrevocable until all of the Secured
Obligations have been fully repaid and performed.

<PAGE>

VIII. Defaults. Borrower and its Subsidiaries shall be in default under this
Agreement upon the happening of any one or more of the following events:

      A. Payments. Except as prohibited or restricted by the Subordination
      Agreement dated July 23, 2002, with respect to the Debenture, Borrower or
      a Subsidiary shall fail to make any payment;

      B. Representations and Warranties. Any representation or warranty made by
      Borrower or a Subsidiary in this Agreement or the Debenture or which is
      contained in any certificate, document, financial or other written
      statement furnished at any time pursuant hereto or thereto shall prove to
      have been untrue, incorrect or misleading in any material respect when
      made;

      C. Other Covenants. Borrower or a Subsidiary shall fail duly to observe or
      perform any covenant or agreement contained in any agreement to which
      Borrower or a Subsidiary, as the case may be, and Lender are parties;

      D. Collateral. Borrower or a Subsidiary shall fail to pay and discharge
      any judgment or levy of any attachment, execution or other process against
      any all or any portion of the Collateral and such judgment shall not be
      satisfied, or such levy or other process shall not be removed within
      twenty (20) calendar days after the entry or levy thereof, or at least
      five (5) calendar days prior to the time of any proposed sale under any
      such judgment levy; or

      E. Insolvency. Borrower or a Subsidiary commences or proposes to commence
      any bankruptcy, reorganization or insolvency proceeding, or other
      proceeding under any federal, state or other law for the relief of
      debtors; Borrower or a Subsidiary fails to obtain the dismissal, within
      thirty (30) days after the commencement thereof, of any bankruptcy,
      reorganization or insolvency proceeding, or other proceeding under any law
      for the relief of debtors, instituted by one or more third parties, fails
      actively to oppose any such proceeding, or, in any such proceeding,
      defaults or files an answer admitting the material allegations upon which
      the proceeding was based or alleges its willingness to have an order for
      relief entered or its desire to seek liquidation, reorganization or
      adjustment of its debts; or any receiver, trustee or custodian is
      appointed to take possession of all or any substantial portion of the
      assets of Borrower or a Subsidiary, as the case may be, or any committee
      of Borrower's or a Subsidiary, as the case may be, creditors, or any class
      thereof, is formed for the purpose of monitoring or investigating the
      financial affairs of Borrower or a Subsidiary, as the case may be, or
      enforcing such creditors' rights.

Upon such default, Lender may declare all Secured Obligations to be immediately
due and payable. Lender shall have the remedies of a secured party under the
California Uniform Commercial Code and may require Borrower and its Subsidiaries
to assemble the Collateral and turn it over to Lender at a place designated by
Lender. Borrower and its Subsidiaries hereby expressly waive and release all
rights to have any of the Collateral marshalled upon the exercise of any
remedies under this Agreement.

<PAGE>

IX.    Costs and Expenses. Borrower and its Subsidiaries agree to pay on demand
all costs and expenses, including legal fees, incurred or paid by Lender in
preparing, executing or amending this Agreement, and in exercising its rights
and remedies or protecting its interests hereunder.

X.     Right of Set Off. In addition to and not in limitation of any other right
or remedy hereunder, Lender shall have, at any time, the right to set off any
indebtedness or obligation of Borrower or its Subsidiaries against any
indebtedness or obligation of Lender to Borrower or its Subsidiaries, without
notice to or demand upon Borrower or its Subsidiaries, any guarantor of any such
indebtedness or obligation or any other person, whether or not such Obligation
or indebtedness is liquidated, contingent or mature at the time of such offset
and however such indebtedness or obligations were created or incurred.

XI.    Notices. All notices, requests and other communications required or
permitted to be made hereunder shall, except as otherwise provided, be in
writing and may be delivered personally or sent by telegram, telecopy, telex,
overnight courier or certified mail, postage prepaid, to the parties addressed
as set forth in the first paragraph hereof. Such notices, requests and other
communications sent shall be effective upon receipt, unless sent by (i)
overnight courier, in which case they shall be effective exactly one (1)
business day after deposit with such overnight courier, or (ii) mail, in which
case they shall be effective exactly three (3) business days after deposit in
the United States mail. Either party may change its address or other information
by giving notice thereof to the other party hereto in conformity with this
section.

XII.   Termination of Security Agreement. This Security Agreement and the
security interest hereunder shall terminate upon the full and final payment in
cash and performance of all the Secured Obligations. Notwithstanding anything to
the contrary herein, this Security Agreement (including all representations,
warranties and covenants contained herein) shall continue to be effective or be
reinstated, as the case may be, if at any time any amount received by Lender in
respect of the Secured Obligations is rescinded or must otherwise be restored or
returned by Lender upon or in connection with the insolvency, bankruptcy,
dissolution, liquidation or reorganization of Borrower or a Subsidiary or
otherwise, all as though such payment had not been made.

XIII.  Headings. The various headings in this Agreement are inserted for
convenience only and shall not affect the meaning or interpretation of this
Agreement or any provision hereof.

XIV.   Amendments. This Agreement or any provision hereof may be changed,
waived, or terminated only by a statement in writing signed by the party against
which such change, waiver or termination is sought to be enforced, and then any
such waiver or consent shall be effective only in the specific instance and for
the specific purpose for which given.

XV.    Entire Agreement. This Agreement and the Debenture are intended by the
parties as a final expression of their agreement and is intended as a complete
and exclusive statement of the terms and conditions thereof. Acceptance of or
acquiescence in a course of performance rendered under this Agreement shall not
be relevant to determine the meaning of this Agreement even though the accepting
or acquiescing party had knowledge of the nature of the performance and
opportunity for objection.

XVI.   Severability. If any provision or obligation of this Agreement should be
found to be invalid, illegal or unenforceable in any jurisdiction, the validity,
legality and enforceability of the remaining provisions and obligations or any
other agreement executed in connection herewith, or of such provision or
obligation in any other jurisdiction, shall not in any way be affected or
impaired thereby and shall nonetheless remain in full force and effect to the
maximum extent permitted by law.

XVII.  Successors and Assigns. All rights of Lender hereunder shall inure to the
benefit of its successor and assigns. Borrower and its Subsidiaries shall not
assign any of their interest under this Agreement without the prior written
consent of Lender. Any purported assignment inconsistent with this provision
shall, at the option of Lender, be null and void.

XVIII. Governing Law. This Agreement shall be governed by and construed in
accordance with the laws of the State of California, without giving effect to
the principles thereof relating to conflicts of law.

XIX.   Delay; Waiver. No delay in enforcing or failing to enforce any right
under this Agreement by Lender shall constitute a waiver by Lender of such
right. No waiver by Lender of any default hereunder shall be effective unless in
writing, nor shall any waiver operate as a waiver of any other default or of the
same default on a future occasion.

<PAGE>

XX.    Time of Essence. Time is of the essence of each provision of this
Agreement of which time is an element.

XXI.   Survival of Representations and Warranties. All representations,
warranties and covenants of Borrower and its Subsidiaries contained herein shall
survive the execution and delivery of this Agreement, and shall terminate only
upon the full payment and performance by Borrower of the Secured Obligations.

<PAGE>

XXII.  Counterparts. This Agreement may be executed in any number of
counterparts, each of which when so executed and delivered shall be deemed an
original, but all of which shall together constitute one and the same agreement.

               IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have caused this Security
Agreement to be duly executed and delivered by their respective officers as of
the date first above written.

                                        NEXTERA ENTERPRISES, INC.

                                        By:    /s/ Michael P. Muldowney
                                               ---------------------------------
                                        Name:   Michael P. Muldowney
                                               ---------------------------------
                                        Title: Chief Financial Officer
                                               ---------------------------------

                                        CE ACQUISITION CORP.
                                        ERG ACQUISITION CORP.
                                        LEXECON INC.
                                        NETNEXT, INC.
                                        NEXTERA BUSINESS PERFORMANCE
                                          SOLUTIONS GROUP, INC.
                                        NEXTERA INTERACTIVE, INC.
                                        SCANADA, INC.
                                        NEXTERA & COMPANY, LLC
                                        NEXTERA INTERNATIONAL, LLC

                                        By:    /s/ Michael P. Muldowney
                                               ---------------------------------
                                               As an authorized officer of each
                                               of the foregoing corporations and
                                               limited liability companies

                                        KNOWLEDGE UNIVERSE INC.,
                                        a Delaware corporation

                                        By:     /s/ Stanley E. Maron
                                                -------------------------------
                                        Name:   Stanley E. Maron
                                                --------------------------------
                                        Title:  Secretary
                                                --------------------------------<PAGE>

                                                                    EXHIBIT 10.4

                           NEXTERA ENTERPRISES, INC.

                             SUBORDINATION AGREEMENT

        This Agreement, dated as of July 23, 2002, is among Nextera Enterprises,
Inc., a Delaware corporation (the "Company"), Knowledge Universe Inc., a
Delaware corporation ("Knowledge Universe"), and Knowledge Universe Capital Co.
LLC, a Delaware limited liability company ("KU Cap Co"). The parties agree as
follows:

        1.      Definitions. Certain capitalized terms are used in this
Agreement as specifically defined in this Section 1 as follows:

        "Exchange Debenture" means the debenture in the original principal
amount of $21,292,550 dated July 23, 2002, executed by the Company in favor of
Knowledge Universe.

        "Junior Creditor" means Knowledge Universe and each other Person
becoming a party to this Agreement (or to a subordination agreement in
substantially the form of this Agreement) pursuant to Section 9.1.

        "KU Cap Co Debentures" means that certain debenture owed to KU Cap Co by
the Company, dated January 5, 1998, evidencing indebtedness in the original
principal amount of $24,970,000 (with a current balance of approximately
$12,809,094) and that certain debenture owed to KU Cap Co by the Company, dated
December 15, 2000, evidencing indebtedness in the original principal amount of
$10,000,000 (with a current balance of approximately $11,601,200).

        "Reorganization" means any voluntary or involuntary dissolution,
winding-up, liquidation, reorganization by judicial proceedings, bankruptcy,
insolvency, receivership, or other statutory or common law proceedings,
including any proceeding under the federal Bankruptcy Code or any similar law of
any other jurisdiction, involving the Company or any guarantor of the Senior
Indebtedness or any of their present or future domestic subsidiaries or any of
their respective properties or the readjustment of the respective liabilities of
the Company or any such other Person or any assignment for the benefit of
creditors or any marshaling of the assets or liabilities of the Company or any
such other Person.

        "Senior Indebtedness" means:

               (i) The obligation to pay the KU Cap Co Debentures;

               (ii)  Obligations to pay interest owing under the KU Cap Co
               Debentures, whether such obligations arise before or after the
               institution of any Reorganization and whether or not such
               obligations are allowed claims in such Reorganization; and

               (iii) All renewals, extensions, and refinancings of the items
               described in clauses (i) and (ii) above.

        "Subordinated Indebtedness" means:

               (a)   The principal of and interest on the Exchange Debenture and
               all other indebtedness of the Company and its subsidiaries to the
               Junior Creditor; and

               (b)   All other obligations of the Company and its subsidiaries
               to the Junior Creditor with respect to the items in clause (a),
               whether now existing or hereafter arising, including intercompany
               advances and any claim against the Company and its subsidiaries
               in respect of rescission, indemnification, expenses, damages, or
               otherwise.

        2.     Subordination Covenants. Each of the Company and the Junior
Creditor covenants that, so long as any part of the Senior Indebtedness is
outstanding, each of them will comply with the following provisions:

        3.     Subordination. To the extent and in the manner provided in this
Agreement, the payment of any Subordinated Indebtedness is and shall be
expressly subordinated and junior in right of payment to the prior payment in
full of all Senior Indebtedness, and the Subordinated Indebtedness is
subordinated as a claim against the Company, any of its subsidiaries, any
guarantor of the Senior Indebtedness or any of their

<PAGE>

respective assets to the prior payment in full of the Senior Indebtedness, in
each case whether such claim is (a) in the ordinary course of business or (b) in
the event of any Reorganization.

        4.     Restricted Payments. Without the written consent of KU Cap Co,
the Company and its subsidiaries will not make, and the Junior Creditor will not
accept or receive, any payment of any Subordinated Indebtedness, whether in
cash, securities, or other property or by way of conversion, exchange or set-off
or otherwise, and no such payment shall become due.

        5.     Reorganization. In the event of any Reorganization, all Senior
Indebtedness shall first be paid in full before any payment is made on account
of any Subordinated Indebtedness. In any proceedings seeking to effect a
Reorganization any payment or distribution of any kind or character, whether in
cash, property, or securities, which may be payable or deliverable in respect of
any such Subordinated Indebtedness shall be paid or delivered directly to KU Cap
Co for application to payment of the Senior Indebtedness, unless and until all
Senior Indebtedness shall have been paid in full.

        6.     Specific Powers in Reorganization. In any proceedings with
respect to any Reorganization, the Junior Creditor irrevocably authorizes KU
Cap Co:

        7.     To prove and enforce any claims on the Subordinated Indebtedness
owed by the Company and its subsidiaries to the Junior Creditor;

        8.     To vote claims comprising any such Subordinated Indebtedness and
to accept or reject on behalf of the Junior Creditor any plan proposed in
connection with any such Reorganization;

        9.     To accept and execute receipts for any payment or distribution
made with respect to any such Subordinated Indebtedness and to apply such
payment or distribution to the payment of the Senior Indebtedness; and

        10.    To take any action and to execute any instruments necessary to
effectuate the foregoing.

        11.    Payments Held in Trust. If, notwithstanding the foregoing, any
payment or distribution of the assets of the Company or any of its present or
future subsidiaries of any kind or character (other than payments permitted by
Section 2.2) shall be received, by way of set-off or otherwise, by the Junior
Creditor before all Senior Indebtedness is paid in full, such payment or
distribution and the amount of any such set-off shall be held in trust by the
Junior Creditor and promptly paid over to KU Cap Co (who shall have the right to
convert any such assets into cash) for application to the payment of Senior
Indebtedness until all such Senior Indebtedness shall have been paid in full,
after giving effect to any concurrent payment or distribution to the holders of
Senior Indebtedness.

        12.    Restrictions on Acceleration. Notwithstanding any contrary
provision of any Subordinated Indebtedness or of any agreement or instrument
relating thereto, (a) no Subordinated Indebtedness (other than payments
permitted by Section 2.2) shall become or be declared to be due and payable
prior to the date on which the Senior Indebtedness becomes or is declared to be
due and payable and (b) if any Senior Indebtedness shall have become or been
declared to be due and payable prior to its stated maturity, the Subordinated
Indebtedness shall become immediately due and payable.

        13.    Effect of Provisions; Subrogation.

        14.    Effect of Provisions; Relative Rights. The provisions hereof as
to subordination are solely for the purpose of defining the relative rights of
the holders of Senior Indebtedness on one hand and the Junior Creditor on the
other hand, and such provisions shall not impair as between the Company and the
Junior Creditor the obligation of the Company, which is unconditional and
absolute, to pay to the Junior Creditor the principal of any Subordinated
Indebtedness owed by the Company to the Junior Creditor and interest thereon,
and all other amounts in respect thereof, nor shall any such provisions prevent
the Junior Creditor from exercising all remedies otherwise permitted by
applicable law or under the terms of such Subordinated Indebtedness upon the
occurrence and during the continuance of a default thereunder, except to the
extent prohibited by this Agreement.

<PAGE>

            15. Subrogation. When all Senior Indebtedness then outstanding has
      been paid in full, the Junior Creditor shall be subrogated to the rights
      of the holders of Senior Indebtedness to receive payments or distributions
      of assets of the Company or any of its subsidiaries that would be deemed
      payable on the Senior Indebtedness until the Subordinated Indebtedness
      shall be paid in full. For the purposes of such subrogation, no payments
      or distributions to the holders of Senior Indebtedness of any cash,
      property, or securities to which the Junior Creditor would be entitled
      except for the provisions of this Agreement, and no payment over pursuant
      to the provisions of this Agreement to the holders of Senior Indebtedness
      by the Junior Creditor, shall, as between the Company or any of its
      subsidiaries and their creditors other than the holders of Senior
      Indebtedness, on one hand, and the Junior Creditor, on the other hand, be
      deemed to be a payment by the Company or any of its subsidiaries to or on
      account of Senior Indebtedness.

      16. Legend, etc. Each of the Company and the Junior Creditor covenants to
cause each instrument or certificate representing or evidencing any of the
Subordinated Indebtedness to have affixed upon it a legend substantially as
follows:

               "This instrument is subject to the Subordination Agreement dated
               as of July 23, 2002, as from time to time in effect, among the
               maker, the payee, and Knowledge Universe Capital Co. LLC, which,
               among other things, subordinates the obligations of the obligor
               hereunder to the prior payment of certain obligations of the
               obligor to the holders of Senior Indebtedness as defined
               therein."

The Company shall cause any financial statement describing or listing or
otherwise reflecting the existence of any Indebtedness included in the
Subordinated Indebtedness to indicate clearly the subordinated character
thereof.

      17. Further Assurances. Each of the Company and the Junior Creditor
covenants to execute and deliver to KU Cap Co such further instruments and to
take such further action as KU Cap Co may at any time or times reasonably
request in order to carry out the provisions and intent of this Agreement.

      18. Representations and Warranties. In order to induce KU Cap Co to enter
into this Agreement, the Company represents and warrants that:

            19. Organization and Business. The Company is a duly organized and
      validly existing entity, in good standing under the laws of the
      jurisdiction of its organization, with all power and authority necessary
      (a) to enter into and perform this Agreement and (b) to own its properties
      and carry on the business now conducted or proposed to be conducted by it.
      Certified copies of the Charter and By-laws of the Company have been
      previously delivered to KU Cap Co and are correct and complete.

            20. Authorization and Enforceability. The Company has taken all
      corporate action required to execute, deliver and perform this Agreement.
      This Agreement constitutes the legal, valid, and binding obligation of the
      Company, enforceable against the Company in accordance with its terms.

            21. No Legal Obstacle to Agreements. Neither the execution and
      delivery of this Agreement, nor the consummation of any transaction
      referred to in or contemplated by this Agreement, nor the fulfillment of
      the terms hereof or thereof or of any other agreement, instrument, deed,
      or lease referred to in this Agreement, has constituted or resulted, or
      will constitute or result, in:

                22. Any breach or termination of the provisions of any
            agreement, instrument, deed or lease to which the Company is a party
            or by which it is bound, or of the Charter or By-laws of the
            Company; or

                23. The violation of any law, statute, judgment, decree, or
            governmental order, rule, or regulation applicable to the Company.

      No approval, authorization, or other action by, or declaration to or
      filing with, any governmental or administrative authority or any other
      Person is required to be obtained or made by the Company in connection
      with the execution, delivery, and performance of this Agreement or the
      transactions contemplated hereby.

            24. Litigation. No litigation, at law or in equity, or any
      proceeding before any court, board, or other governmental or
      administrative agency or any arbitrator is pending or, to the knowledge of
      the

<PAGE>

      Company, threatened which may involve any material risk of any final
      judgment, order, or liability which, after giving effect to any applicable
      insurance, has resulted, or creates a material risk of resulting, in any
      material adverse change in the Company's business, assets, financial
      condition, income, or prospects or which seeks to enjoin the consummation,
      or which questions the validity, of any of the transactions contemplated
      by this Agreement. No judgment, decree, or order of any court, board, or
      other governmental or administrative agency or any arbitrator has been
      issued against or binds the Company which has resulted, or creates a
      material risk of resulting, in any material adverse change in the
      Company's business, assets, financial condition, income, or prospects.

      25.   Information Regarding the Company. The Junior Creditor expressly
acknowledges and agrees that it has made such investigation as it deems
desirable of the risks undertaken by it in entering into this Agreement and is
fully satisfied that it understands all such risks. The Junior Creditor waives
any obligation which may now or hereafter exist on the part of KU Cap Co or any
holder of any Senior Indebtedness to inform the Junior Creditor of the risks
being undertaken by entering into this Agreement or of any changes in such risks
and the Junior Creditor undertakes to keep itself informed of such risks and any
changes therein. The Junior Creditor expressly waives (except to the extent
prohibited by applicable law which cannot be waived) any duty which may now or
hereafter exist on the part of KU Cap Co or any holder of any Senior
Indebtedness to disclose to the Junior Creditor any matter related to the
business, operations, character, collateral, credit, condition (financial or
otherwise), income, or prospects of the Company or its affiliates, properties,
or management, whether now or hereafter known by any KU Cap Co. The Junior
Creditor represents, warrants, and agrees that it assumes sole responsibility
for obtaining from the Company and its affiliates all information concerning and
other information as to the Company and its subsidiaries and their respective
affiliates, properties, or management or anything relating to any of the above
as it deems necessary or desirable.

      26.   Continuing Agreement; Lender Powers; etc.

            27. Continuing Agreement, etc. This Agreement shall be a continuing
      agreement, shall be irrevocable by the Junior Creditor, and shall remain
      in full force and effect until the payment in full of the Senior
      Indebtedness.

            28. No Impairment by Company, KU Cap Co, etc. No right of KU Cap Co
      or any present or future holder of any Senior Indebtedness shall at any
      time be prejudiced or impaired by any conduct on the part of the Company,
      including any noncompliance by the Company with the terms of this
      Agreement, or by any conduct, in good faith, by KU Cap Co or any such
      holder, regardless of any knowledge thereof which KU Cap Co or any such
      holder may have or otherwise be charged with.

            29. Specific Performance. KU Cap Co is authorized to demand specific
      performance of this Agreement at any time when the Company or the Junior
      Creditor shall have failed to comply with any provision hereof applicable
      to it, and each of them irrevocably waives any defense based on the
      adequacy of a remedy at law which might be asserted as a bar to the remedy
      of specific performance hereof in any action brought therefor by KU Cap
      Co.

      30.   Transfers; Successors and Assigns.

            31. Transfers. The Junior Creditor will not sell, assign, transfer,
      or otherwise dispose of any Subordinated Indebtedness except to another
      Person which shall have entered into this Agreement or another agreement
      with KU Cap Co, in a form satisfactory to KU Cap Co, providing for
      subordination of such Subordinated Indebtedness to the prior payment of
      the Senior Indebtedness on the terms provided in this Agreement.

            32. Successors and Assigns. The provisions of this Agreement shall
      inure to the benefit of KU Cap Co and its successors and assigns and shall
      be binding upon each of the Company and the Junior Creditor and their
      respective successors and assigns. The Company and the Junior Creditor may
      not assign their rights or obligations under this Agreement except to the
      extent provided in Section 9.1.

      33.   Notices. Any notice or other communication in connection with this
Agreement shall be deemed to be given if given in writing (including facsimile)
addressed as provided below (or to the addressee at such other address as the
addressee shall have specified by notice actually received by the addressor),
and if either (a) actually delivered in fully legible form to such address
(evidenced in the case of a facsimile by receipt of a confirmation thereof) or
(b) in the case of a letter, five business days shall have elapsed after the
same shall have been deposited in the United States mails, with first-class
postage prepaid and registered or certified.

<PAGE>

      If to the Company, to it at 4 Cambridge Center, 3rd Floor, Cambridge,
Massachusetts 02142, to the attention of its chief financial officer.

      If to Knowledge Universe, to it at 844 Moraga Drive, Los Angeles,
California 90049, to the attention of Stanley Maron.

      If to Knowledge Universe Capital Co. LLC, to it at 844 Moraga Drive, Los
Angeles, California 90049, to the attention of Ralph Finerman.

      34.   Venue; Service of Process. Each of the Company, the Junior Creditor,
and KU Cap Co:

            35. Irrevocably submits to the nonexclusive jurisdiction of the
      state courts of The Commonwealth of Massachusetts and to the nonexclusive
      jurisdiction of the United States District Court for the District of
      Massachusetts for the purpose of any suit, action or other proceeding
      arising out of or based upon this Agreement or the subject matter hereof
      or thereof;

            36. Waives to the extent not prohibited by applicable law, and
      agrees not to assert, by way of motion, as a defense or otherwise, in any
      such proceeding brought in any of the above-named courts, any claim that
      it is not subject personally to the jurisdiction of such court, that its
      property is exempt or immune from attachment or execution, that such
      proceeding is brought in an inconvenient forum, that the venue of any such
      proceeding is improper, or that this Agreement, or the subject matter
      hereof or thereof, may not be enforced in or by such court; and

            37. Consents to service of process in any such proceeding in any
      manner permitted by Chapter 223A of the General Laws of The Commonwealth
      of Massachusetts and agrees that service of process by registered or
      certified mail, return receipt requested, at its address specified in or
      pursuant to Section 10 is reasonably calculated to give actual notice.

      38. WAIVER OF JURY TRIAL. TO THE EXTENT NOT PROHIBITED BY APPLICABLE LAW
WHICH CANNOT BE WAIVED, EACH OF KU CAP CO, THE COMPANY, AND THE JUNIOR CREDITOR
WAIVES, AND COVENANTS THAT IT WILL NOT ASSERT (WHETHER AS PLAINTIFF, DEFENDANT,
OR OTHERWISE), ANY RIGHT TO TRIAL BY JURY IN ANY FORUM IN RESPECT OF ANY ISSUE,
CLAIM, DEMAND, OR ACTION ARISING OUT OF OR BASED UPON THIS AGREEMENT, OR THE
SUBJECT MATTER HEREOF OR IN ANY WAY CONNECTED WITH THE DEALINGS OF KU CAP CO,
THE COMPANY, OR THE JUNIOR CREDITOR IN CONNECTION WITH ANY OF THE ABOVE, IN EACH
CASE WHETHER NOW EXISTING OR HEREAFTER ARISING AND WHETHER IN CONTRACT OR TORT
OR OTHERWISE. Each of the Company and the Junior Creditor acknowledges that it
has been informed by KU Cap Co that the provisions of this Section 12 constitute
a material inducement upon which KU Cap Co has relied, is relying, and will rely
in entering into this Agreement, and that it has reviewed the provisions of this
Section 12 with its counsel. KU Cap Co, the Company, or the Junior Creditor may
file an original counterpart or a copy of this Section 12 with any court as
written evidence of the consent of KU Cap Co, the Company, and the Junior
Creditor to the waiver of the right to trial by jury.

      39. General. All covenants, agreements, representations, and warranties
made in this Agreement shall be deemed to have been relied on by KU Cap Co,
notwithstanding any investigation made by KU Cap Co on its behalf, and shall
survive the execution and delivery to KU Cap Co. The invalidity or
unenforceability of any provision hereof shall not affect the validity or
enforceability of any other provision hereof, and any invalid or unenforceable
provision shall be modified so as to be enforced to the maximum extent of its
validity or enforceability. The headings in this Agreement are for convenience
of reference only and shall not limit, alter, or otherwise affect the meaning
hereof. This Agreement constitutes the entire understanding of the parties with
respect to the subject matter hereof and thereof and supersede all prior and
current understandings and agreements, whether written or oral. This Agreement
may be executed in any number of counterparts, which together shall constitute
one instrument.

<PAGE>

This Agreement shall be governed by and construed in accordance with the laws
(other than the conflict of laws rules) of The Commonwealth of Massachusetts.

        Each of the undersigned has caused this Agreement to be executed and
delivered by its duly authorized officer as of the date first written above.

                                        NEXTERA ENTERPRISES, INC.

                                        By:    /s/ Michael P. Muldowney
                                               ---------------------------------
                                        Title: Chief Financial Officer

                                        KNOWLEDGE UNIVERSE CAPITAL CO. LLC

                                        By:    /s/ Stanley E. Maron
                                               ---------------------------------
                                        Title: Secretary

                                        KNOWLEDGE UNIVERSE INC.

                                        By:    /s/ Stanley E. Maron
                                               ---------------------------------
                                        Title: Secretary

Source: [{"source": "alea-institute/alea-institute/kl3m-data-edgar-agreements/train-00044-of-00352.parquet"}, [{"source": "alea-institute/alea-institute/kl3m-data-edgar-agreements/train-00044-of-00352.parquet"}]]