TechCrunch50: Like TechCrunch40, but better!
TechCrunch40, 2007
We started our first conference last year with a simple goal: find the best start-ups and launch them in front of our industry’s most influential VCs, corporations, fellow entrepreneurs and press.
We created a platform where early-stage, and frequently unfunded, companies could take center stage based purely on merit, without regard to their own financial resources.
Start-ups responded: we expanded our lineup from TechCrunch “20″ to “40″ launch companies. We created a DemoPit to expose another 100 early-stage companies to the public. We hosted over 900 attendees and, though admittedly rough around the edges in planning, we nailed the start-up content and energy that filled the hallways for two, jam-packed days.
TechCrunch50, 2008
This year, we’re reinventing ourselves again as TechCrunch50. We’ll launch 50 companies over three days, September 8-10. We have a great new venue, the San Francisco Design Center Concourse, with 125,000 square feet of space for us to create even more energy and activities. We’re really excited.
In addition to 50 great new products, we’re assembling an amazing line up of speakers and a panel of expert advisors to spark lively discussion and debate during the conference.
There will be an action-packed DemoPit full of other early-stage start-up ideas, as well as working breakfasts and lunches with topics aimed at helping start-ups succeed.
In typical TechCrunch style, we’ll save room for socializing too.
Great partners make great conferences
We’re really lucky to have the corporate support of some of the best businesses in the industry. Sequoia Capital, Mayfield Fund, Clearstone Venture Partners, Charles River Ventures and Fenwick & West all returned quickly to support us for the second year in a row. Google and Microsoft reached out as well, and we’re very grateful for their new commitment to our merit-based conference format.
TechCrunch50. Start-ups deserve a full-contact conference.
Come be part of the energy,
– Jason, Heather, Michael & the TechCrunch team
