450 Angel investors, VC’s, entrepreneurs, and business people attended today’s fourth annual “Launch Silicon Valley” in the conference center on Microsoft’s Mountain View, CA campus. As was the case last year, 30 tech startup companies were selected from almost 500 that applied to present.
Here is a 29-photo gallery from the event, along with a bit of commentary: [slideshow id=1 w=575 h=300]
Each of the 30 startups delivered a 6-minute “elevator speech”. There were two parallel tracks, with two groups of five startups presenting in three sessions throughout the morning in the respective tracks. So roughly, 10 startups presented every 90 minutes; or the “event throughput” was 1 startup every nine minutes (plus break time).
Launch Silicon Valley (also known as “LaunchSV”) debuted in 2006, so this was the fourth “Launch Silicon Valley”. The event is organized by the Silicon Valley Association of Startup Entrepreneurs (SVASE), with sponsorship from Guy Kawasaki at Garage Technology Ventures, Microsoft’s “BizSpark”, and other sponsors (see photo for full list of sponsors). Thanks to Chris Gill and Laura Weigant of SVASE for organizing another first-class annual event.
The 30 selected startups are grouped into six sessions of five startups, with each allocated six minutes to present their products and/or services the best possible light. Timing of presentations is kept on track by providing countdown 3-2-1 minute warnings for presenters. The focus of their presentations is supposed to be on their’ solution(s) – that is, on their products and services – versus a complete venture-style pitch of the strategy, team, go-to-market plans, financing plans, and other aspects that are typically covered in longer-format fund raising presentations.
Summary of presenting startup companies
The 30 presenting companies, along with links to their websites and our commentary are listed in the table below. We were impressed by the diversity of locations of origin!
[TABLE=2]
Six winners per attendee voting
Attendees voted the following six companies winners of their respective sessions. The winners were: CellWand, eCitySky, HearPlanet, InDxLogic, Lumiette, and Replay.
Here is a link to additional coverage from The San Jose Mercury News.