Startups! Enter the Web 2.0 Expo Launchpad by 9/25

launchpad

Startups provide the lifeblood (and R&D) for the web. Each year at the Web 2.0 Expo NYC (and SF) we celebrate their collective accomplishments by highlighting a few of their number during the Launchpad. This year’s Launchpad will occur the morning of 11/15. We are looking for five great startups to demo onstage and handle questions from our judges like Nate Westheimer. I’ll be hosting the event. I also spend time with each startup before the event reviewing and critiquing their demo. Past Expo Launchpad participants include 80Legs, Nitobi’s PhoneGap (SF 2009 winner), and Triggit. The details are below:

For 2009, we continue the tradition of showcasing innovative and promising new companies at Web 2.0 Expo. While the definition of a launch has gotten cloudy in this age of public betas, we’re looking for new companies or products that make us take notice. And while venture capital has been the focus in past years, the reality of the market is that companies must gain the attention of customers. So our judging panel and criteria this year focus more on what is essential and transformational in today’s market than on ability to get funded. Along the way, we’re sure the VCs in the crowd will find several startups they’d like to talk to!

The Approach

Entrants do not need to launch their company or a major product/service to qualify.

All proposals will be reviewed before Web 2.0 Expo by our panel.

The judging panel will be comprised of industry experts who will review Launch Pad companies for their value to their market (consumer, enterprise, etc.).

Judges will select about five finalists, each of whom will have five minutes to pitch on stage, in front of the Web 2.0 Expo audience (the largest gathering of the innovators in the Internet industry) and the panel.

Each company will receive feedback on its presentation from both the panel and the audience.

Launch Pad Finalists: The Chosen Five

Five companies will be chosen by a panel to present on stage at Web 2.0 Expo New York. Each will have five minutes to present their company or product and will receive real-time feedback from a panel of industry experts and the audience.

Submit Your Company for Launch Pad

To submit your company for participation in this year’s Launch pad, please complete the submission form. All Launch Pad submissions are due by September 25, 2009.

If you have questions you can leave a comment on this post or ping me on Twitter.

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