I haven’t had a lot of time to jump into the big fracas this weekend emerging about TechCrunch50 because the team has been busy organizing the conference, working with the Expert Panelists on scheduling issues and spending hours and hours working with the 52 startups that will be launching at the event to make sure their demos properly reflect what they’ve worked so hard to create.
But I do have a few things to say.
First, thanks to Chris O’Brien at the San Jose Mercury News who wrote such a great article on TechCrunch and the conference. What a wonderful, positive way to kick things off as we go into the craziness on Monday. He really gets what we’re trying to accomplish and how honored we are that these startups have chosen to launch at our event.
Second, some of the press out there is starting to go a little crazy with the drama between TechCrunch50 and the competing DEMO conference. But there’s nothing new here. We’ve stated from the beginning, in early 2007, that we think the DEMO format is unethical. If you are going to parade out a bunch of startups on a stage that paid you $18,500 each, you simply can’t say they’re the most qualified companies to be at the event. It’s just a lie. Here’s what they are: Sponsors. And here’s what’s going on: Payola.
We’re approaching the market in a straightforward and honest way. We aren’t charging companies to get on stage. We are charging people to attend. And we also have sponsors (really kick ass sponsors who get what we are trying to do). All of the economics are transparent, there is nothing hidden.
That honesty is why 1,700 have chosen to attend the event. That honesty is why these great industry leaders are spending their time to judge and discuss the launches. And that honesty is why over 1,000 startups spent time applying to the event and going through endless rounds of interviews for the chance to get on stage (thank you to every one of you who applied).
Most of the press gets this, even though DEMO organizer Chris Shipley sounds like she’s about to blow a fuse over the fact that their business model is finally being questioned.
Third, CNET really needs to chill out about press coverage of the event. This $1.8 billion company has published at least four articles complaining about the fact that we are not disclosing the companies launching at the event until Monday morning, and/or about the fact that TechCrunch the blog has some sort of unfair advantage in covering these startups launching at TechCrunch50.
We aren’t disclosing the names of the startups because we want the press to actually attend the event, not cover it from their office. We want them to hear the ooh’s and ahh’s (and maybe boo’s) from the audience first hand as they write their stories. We want them to actually participate. And based on last year’s coverage, the model works very well. I’m sorry if it doesn’t suit CNET, but it suits us and it suits the startups launching there very well. And when it comes to TechCrunch’s coverage, we’ll be sure to link out to all the quality third party coverage out there. Also, we’ll have critical company information on each launching startup available on CrunchBase starting Monday morning. CNET and everyone else is free to grab that data and use it however they like, with no requirement of attribution (it’s not our data, it’s the startups’ data).
Finally, Can we please remember what’s important? There are 52 companies launching at TechCrunch50 this week, and they deserve their brief moments in the spotlight. These people have put their hearts and souls into creating whatever it is that their entrepreneurial spirit compelled them to create, and they only get to launch once. We’re putting on one hell of a show for them, and my sincere hope is that we can get all this political garbage out of the way today so that we can focus on what really matters at the event: the startups.
If you want to focus on the news at the event as it unfolds, complete coverage of the conference from start to finish will be at this link and on the TechCrunch50 blog.
As somebody who likes to follow startups and the always interesting stories that come with that world, TC is an obvious destination for people that fit my description. I’m not currently involved in any startup, I don’t live in SV, and I’m not part of the VC community.
I’m sure I’m in the minority here with this opinion, but I really think that the need for TC to publish a story like this is totally self-indulgent and egotistical. So you guys are in a pissing match with another event? Who cares. You have some negative coverage with fellow media? I don’t see why the average TC reader – that doesn’t fit any of the above description – should/would give a rats ass. That’s your guys’ problem, not ours.
Anyway, I know you are simply trying to use the TC as a vehicle to pimp your event, and again I’m probably in the minority and will get bashed here, but honestly guys, it’s quite weak.
who is Charles Stone? I am just very curious why someone will be so worked up? If anyone knows or if Mr. Stone is kind enough will you please introduce yourself..
I’m just a cynic bastard who don’t believe politically correct bullshit, even when served on golden plates. The whole “we’re doing this to help startups” is a joke. Mike is no mother Theresa. He’s a lawyer for god’s sake. Stop all being sheeps, you’re making yourselves look like fools following a guru.
Who knocked the chip into your shoulder though, really?
It is more than obvious, you are an irrelevant, very, very small minded cynic bastard. ‘Guru’ or not, MA and his team are making a hell of an effort to help start ups.
Who cares if he is a lawyer and is going to make some money in the process. The bottom line is that several new companies will get funding and [hopefully] provide valuable services to all of us…
Have you ever done anything valuable to help others, whether in the IT community or not???
Now, go quietly and push those hemorrhoids back in…
joe
1) God needs to create more hours in the day so we can read all the posts and comments on TechCrunch. Does he/she have a twitter account. Someone said her alias is Alanis something ette, but I think that was a joke.
2) Jealousy needs to stop fueling the debate, and clouding logic. This conference is clearly a disruptive business model that devolves some power back to the people. Brilliant. Watch what happens over the next few years… and how this impacts the quality and rate of innovation in startups.
Shame we won’t be able to wait until next September. Keep disrupting things Jason and Mike, it’s got to be the only way. Love the celebrity in the mix also, genius. Come on Kutcher.
Hope us paupers over in the UK, building offices in our spare rooms also have as much of a chance as charming, massively loved (we think Ashton is a dude) toy boys (good thing), or those that can afford a plane ride to the Valley… Mr Butcher?
as i stated.
mike, selling bullshit to the cow!!!
and you guys are buying this “they’re against” us argument, and rush to mike’s defense! this is like mccain yelling, saying the “big bad media” is out to get us!!
this is marketing 101, and it’s driving his views up!!!
waay to go mike, might not be able to learn anything from you regarding tech issues, but we can certainly learn how to get views, and kick up the site stats.
just use linkbait baby!!
peace
It is more than obvious, you are an irrelevant, very, very small minded cynic bastard. ‘Guru’ or not, MA and his team are making a hell of an effort to help start ups.
Who cares if he is a lawyer and is going to make some money in the process. The bottom line is that several new companies will get funding and [hopefully] provide valuable services to all of us…
Have you ever done anything valuable to help others, whether in the IT community or not???
Now, go quietly and push those hemorrhoids back in…
joe
joe…
now is that anyway to talk to someone who might be your father!!!
Considering how passionately you comment, you took the bait, and it sounds like it hurt.
So much for Sabbath
Charles, register to Digg. It will help you vent.
We look forward to your monthly event that charges startups, that streams live down Mogulus, or uses Seesmic for the public average joe to judge… Oh and that changes the definition of Democratically selected startups, having engaged voters through the genius API you drafted, for which your functional requirements seem complete and flawless.
We will move over to your blog from TechCrunch with immediate effect.
Only 1700 want to attend? That’s pretty sad.
Well, it depends: this figure may also represent the number of guys who have boinked your girlfriend, just this year…
Mike,
We’re a company launching at TC50, but just in the demopit – don’t we count towards the 52? We’re even following the non-disclosure guidelines too.
Give us some love, man…
i like the demo conference and it is where tivo and java were debuted… what have you debuted mike and tc? whogivesafukwidget.com?
also, how many of the 50 companies you selected does anyone at tc (including mike) own a piece of, warrants for, option in, etc.?
WOW, I can’t believe I read all these posts here. I really don’t have any business posting here but I can’t help myself on this one. I think that TechCrunch50 is a great idea and should be ran how ever Michael Arrington feels it should be ran! How all of you can make comments like this and try to tell him how to run his show cracks me up. And CNet, this is making me laugh even more. WHO reads CNet anymore? God I have not been to that site in 2 years.
Here is a Media company helping startups at no cost, and giving some competition to Demo and the $18.5K fee and people here want to tell Michael Arrington what to do. To funny…..
My 2 cents, Michael, GREAT JOB just like all your other wonderful services you offer and I use. Hope to see more on TC50 on the Amazon Kindle when I get up tomorrow morning for my TechCruch update.
(Please note, I am not a TechCrunch employee and am not in anyway affiliated with it. Just a user of a great service)
Steve
This is getting out of hand, and TC content is waning. Hollywood here we come. So we are at the end of cycle. Lets start a real news feed to cover the industry not just the beepin valley. C’mon this is like a high school popularity contest. I am out of here for readership moving forward. All the startups except for 6-8 look pretty mediocre (having done 3) why not just select 5 and be done with it. what a waste of time, the proof being my reply here.
“We aren’t disclosing the names of the startups because we want the press to actually attend the event, not cover it from their office.” — except, everyone is at the Starbucks next door, because they can blog from there and watch the stream since the Internet access was down all day. Not MA’s fault by any means, obviously, but some folks at the hotel are probably headless right about now. Totally unfortunate.
how much does the demo-pit cost?