Comments on: Jason Calacanis On How To Get Into (and win) TechCrunch50 http://www.techcrunch.com/2009/04/20/jason-calacanis-on-how-to-get-into-techcrunch50/ Startup and Technology News Thu, 26 Nov 2009 22:07:26 -0800 hourly 1 By: Redbeacon – 5 Lessons Learned From TechCrunch50 http://www.techcrunch.com/2009/04/20/jason-calacanis-on-how-to-get-into-techcrunch50/comment-page-1/#comment-3046204 Redbeacon – 5 Lessons Learned From TechCrunch50 Mon, 19 Oct 2009 23:55:39 +0000 http://www.techcrunch.com/?p=58076#comment-3046204 [...] process of applying and getting ready for TechCrunch50 is an incredible forcing function. It forces you to plan your product development [...] [...] process of applying and getting ready for TechCrunch50 is an incredible forcing function. It forces you to plan your product development [...]

]]> By: Much Ado about Jason « Common Stock Not http://www.techcrunch.com/2009/04/20/jason-calacanis-on-how-to-get-into-techcrunch50/comment-page-1/#comment-3039317 Much Ado about Jason « Common Stock Not Thu, 15 Oct 2009 15:40:03 +0000 http://www.techcrunch.com/?p=58076#comment-3039317 [...] UPDATE: Seems as if there are rumors swirling that this is all a promotional stunt or “revenge” for one of the “targeted” angel groups calling on Jason’s TechCrunch 50 (startup)companies to present to their group/groups (in exchange for a fee). It seems as if there is some ”tit for tat” name calling because it looks as if Jason doesn’t charge for TechCrunch50 companies to present to his audience/sponsors–but he does wrap them in exclusivity. Looks like Jason also has some history of accusing other fee based groups/conferences of “payola”. [...] [...] UPDATE: Seems as if there are rumors swirling that this is all a promotional stunt or “revenge” for one of the “targeted” angel groups calling on Jason’s TechCrunch 50 (startup)companies to present to their group/groups (in exchange for a fee). It seems as if there is some ”tit for tat” name calling because it looks as if Jason doesn’t charge for TechCrunch50 companies to present to his audience/sponsors–but he does wrap them in exclusivity. Looks like Jason also has some history of accusing other fee based groups/conferences of “payola”. [...]

]]> By: <fb:name linked="false" useyou="false" uid="1083240020">Martin Shen</fb:name> http://www.techcrunch.com/2009/04/20/jason-calacanis-on-how-to-get-into-techcrunch50/comment-page-1/#comment-2763322 Martin Shen Sat, 23 May 2009 20:28:58 +0000 http://www.techcrunch.com/?p=58076#comment-2763322 Jason, you mentioned that a live demo isn't necessary but is it preferable? Moreover, will it have to be compatible with every browser by that point. Should the video be like the demo we anticipate to present? Furthermore, how many will be selected for the demopit this year? Regardless, get excited for our product (probably won't get submitted til deadline day) Cheers, MS Jason, you mentioned that a live demo isn’t necessary but is it preferable? Moreover, will it have to be compatible with every browser by that point. Should the video be like the demo we anticipate to present? Furthermore, how many will be selected for the demopit this year?

Regardless, get excited for our product (probably won’t get submitted til deadline day)

Cheers,
MS

]]> By: TechCrunch50 - Ready | RememberItNow! Blog http://www.techcrunch.com/2009/04/20/jason-calacanis-on-how-to-get-into-techcrunch50/comment-page-1/#comment-2752346 TechCrunch50 - Ready | RememberItNow! Blog Sun, 17 May 2009 02:32:52 +0000 http://www.techcrunch.com/?p=58076#comment-2752346 [...] is tough. Every Web startup would love to be given a chance on that stage.  And so would we. The application process doesn’t seem that hard. But combine the requirements with the challenge of building and testing software, hiring great [...] [...] is tough. Every Web startup would love to be given a chance on that stage.  And so would we. The application process doesn’t seem that hard. But combine the requirements with the challenge of building and testing software, hiring great [...]

]]> By: <fb:name linked="false" useyou="false" uid="526405519">Alexander Tsoukias</fb:name> http://www.techcrunch.com/2009/04/20/jason-calacanis-on-how-to-get-into-techcrunch50/comment-page-1/#comment-2751285 Alexander Tsoukias Sat, 16 May 2009 02:53:03 +0000 http://www.techcrunch.com/?p=58076#comment-2751285 Its almost disturbing that there are so many negative comments. Not because they are negative, but because almost all are related to "winning" the competition. I bet if you remove the winning prize people will start seeing the real benefit of the event. I'm from Greece and there is currently a countdown to who was the Biggest Greek of all times - I'm glad you're not a part of voting cause you'll probably vote for the guy behind the Greek junta (and for those who will post anything negative related to Greece and why do you care - just pay some respect to the Math that makes you money or Health that keeps you alive). I wouldn't write this comment, but Calacanis sounds greek so its somewhat related ...or not. Its almost disturbing that there are so many negative comments. Not because they are negative, but because almost all are related to
“winning” the competition. I bet if you remove the winning prize people will start seeing the real benefit of the event. I’m from Greece and there is currently a countdown to who was the Biggest Greek of all times – I’m glad you’re not a part of voting cause you’ll probably vote for the guy behind the Greek junta (and for those who will post anything negative related to Greece and why do you care – just pay some respect to the Math that makes you money or Health that keeps you alive). I wouldn’t write this comment, but Calacanis sounds greek so its somewhat related …or not.

]]> By: Nicolas http://www.techcrunch.com/2009/04/20/jason-calacanis-on-how-to-get-into-techcrunch50/comment-page-1/#comment-2735627 Nicolas Thu, 07 May 2009 14:05:51 +0000 http://www.techcrunch.com/?p=58076#comment-2735627 Thank you for this engaging and useful article. I am amazed at the bloody-minded negativity in some of the comments here. Thank you for this engaging and useful article. I am amazed at the bloody-minded negativity in some of the comments here.

]]> By: Haha http://www.techcrunch.com/2009/04/20/jason-calacanis-on-how-to-get-into-techcrunch50/comment-page-1/#comment-2713524 Haha Fri, 24 Apr 2009 02:43:29 +0000 http://www.techcrunch.com/?p=58076#comment-2713524 "Well, we can’t hold it against someone that they have an investor who has advertiser on TechCrunch, been a judge at TechCrunch or has an investor in common with one of us can we?" Yes, you can. It's called "ethics". It's why legal judges recuse themselves from cases where there's the slightest hint of a conflict-of-interest and why Olympic judges can't rate their own countrymen. When did you find out that Yammer was funded by an advertiser on your site? After you gave them the grand prize, right? No? Hmm. “Well, we can’t hold it against someone that they have an investor who has advertiser on TechCrunch, been a judge at TechCrunch or has an investor in common with one of us can we?”

Yes, you can. It’s called “ethics”.

It’s why legal judges recuse themselves from cases where there’s the slightest hint of a conflict-of-interest and why Olympic judges can’t rate their own countrymen.

When did you find out that Yammer was funded by an advertiser on your site? After you gave them the grand prize, right? No? Hmm.

]]> By: Jason http://www.techcrunch.com/2009/04/20/jason-calacanis-on-how-to-get-into-techcrunch50/comment-page-1/#comment-2710359 Jason Wed, 22 Apr 2009 16:10:07 +0000 http://www.techcrunch.com/?p=58076#comment-2710359 well said. well said.

]]> By: Jason http://www.techcrunch.com/2009/04/20/jason-calacanis-on-how-to-get-into-techcrunch50/comment-page-1/#comment-2710358 Jason Wed, 22 Apr 2009 16:09:39 +0000 http://www.techcrunch.com/?p=58076#comment-2710358 I've heard mixed things about the name Mahalo. Obviously 10% of the folks in the US know what it means and that it's from hawaii. We've added another 10% from our traffic over the past year (50m+ unique folks have visited the site). So, like Yahoo, Hulu and Google it will take time for the name to stick and it will sound funny and be odd to spell for a couple of years.... but if we lock into 10-20m monthly uniques (we're well over 5m now) we'll be just fine. thanks for the feedback and kind words... the mahalo answers product is really taking off, and Mahalo 2.0 is amazing. you'll love it when you see it! best j I’ve heard mixed things about the name Mahalo. Obviously 10% of the folks in the US know what it means and that it’s from hawaii. We’ve added another 10% from our traffic over the past year (50m+ unique folks have visited the site).

So, like Yahoo, Hulu and Google it will take time for the name to stick and it will sound funny and be odd to spell for a couple of years…. but if we lock into 10-20m monthly uniques (we’re well over 5m now) we’ll be just fine.

thanks for the feedback and kind words… the mahalo answers product is really taking off, and Mahalo 2.0 is amazing. you’ll love it when you see it!

best j

]]> By: Jason http://www.techcrunch.com/2009/04/20/jason-calacanis-on-how-to-get-into-techcrunch50/comment-page-1/#comment-2710352 Jason Wed, 22 Apr 2009 16:06:24 +0000 http://www.techcrunch.com/?p=58076#comment-2710352 I'm the first guy to admit I got lucky.... four times in a row. :-p I’m the first guy to admit I got lucky…. four times in a row. :-p

]]> By: DeathToSpammers http://www.techcrunch.com/2009/04/20/jason-calacanis-on-how-to-get-into-techcrunch50/comment-page-1/#comment-2710091 DeathToSpammers Wed, 22 Apr 2009 12:41:02 +0000 http://www.techcrunch.com/?p=58076#comment-2710091 "Team Jason"? Oh dear. When are you going to realize you are a pompous ass who got lucky, Jason? Just curious. “Team Jason”? Oh dear. When are you going to realize you are a pompous ass who got lucky, Jason? Just curious.

]]> By: Stan Oleynik http://www.techcrunch.com/2009/04/20/jason-calacanis-on-how-to-get-into-techcrunch50/comment-page-1/#comment-2709764 Stan Oleynik Wed, 22 Apr 2009 06:49:12 +0000 http://www.techcrunch.com/?p=58076#comment-2709764 Superb advice!! Thanks Jason!! Superb advice!! Thanks Jason!!

]]> By: Jason http://www.techcrunch.com/2009/04/20/jason-calacanis-on-how-to-get-into-techcrunch50/comment-page-1/#comment-2708998 Jason Tue, 21 Apr 2009 21:20:54 +0000 http://www.techcrunch.com/?p=58076#comment-2708998 We can't pay to fly folks in for the event... however, if there was the most amazing company ever and they needed $2,000 for a ticket and hotel I might personally loan them the money to come to TC50! So apply! We can’t pay to fly folks in for the event… however, if there was the most amazing company ever and they needed $2,000 for a ticket and hotel I might personally loan them the money to come to TC50!

So apply!

]]> By: Jason http://www.techcrunch.com/2009/04/20/jason-calacanis-on-how-to-get-into-techcrunch50/comment-page-1/#comment-2708995 Jason Tue, 21 Apr 2009 21:18:17 +0000 http://www.techcrunch.com/?p=58076#comment-2708995 I don't think this is a problem unless the product is in the market and has been covered. Our main concern is that the companies get shown for the first time at the event... that's part of the magic. People come to the event and have NO IDEA what they will see. I don’t think this is a problem unless the product is in the market and has been covered. Our main concern is that the companies get shown for the first time at the event… that’s part of the magic. People come to the event and have NO IDEA what they will see.

]]> By: Jason http://www.techcrunch.com/2009/04/20/jason-calacanis-on-how-to-get-into-techcrunch50/comment-page-1/#comment-2708992 Jason Tue, 21 Apr 2009 21:17:00 +0000 http://www.techcrunch.com/?p=58076#comment-2708992 Well, we can't hold it against someone that they have an investor who has advertiser on TechCrunch, been a judge at TechCrunch or has an investor in common with one of us can we? Yammer is an amazing product that is very well produced and they won because the two people who put the money up for the prize (Mike and I) both picked them. It's important to note here that Mike and I put up the money for the $50,000 prize.... so, we get to pick the winner. Nothing stops someone else from creating another event, or even a prize for our event, and giving it. In fact, nothing would please me more than another firm, blog, etc. coming out and putting up a prize for their "best in show." If someone does a "best in show" as determined by Mashable, GigaOm, Wired, Engadget, CNET, etc. I would be the first to praise that and twitter it! Also, if we were giving prizes based on this you would have to look at say why did we give it to MINT year one and not the company backed by another venture firm/angel investor. Just because you can find one example of an overlap doesn't mean it's a trend... there are countless more cases of no overlap which you don't mention. best j Well, we can’t hold it against someone that they have an investor who has advertiser on TechCrunch, been a judge at TechCrunch or has an investor in common with one of us can we?

Yammer is an amazing product that is very well produced and they won because the two people who put the money up for the prize (Mike and I) both picked them.

It’s important to note here that Mike and I put up the money for the $50,000 prize…. so, we get to pick the winner.

Nothing stops someone else from creating another event, or even a prize for our event, and giving it.

In fact, nothing would please me more than another firm, blog, etc. coming out and putting up a prize for their “best in show.” If someone does a “best in show” as determined by Mashable, GigaOm, Wired, Engadget, CNET, etc. I would be the first to praise that and twitter it!

Also, if we were giving prizes based on this you would have to look at say why did we give it to MINT year one and not the company backed by another venture firm/angel investor. Just because you can find one example of an overlap doesn’t mean it’s a trend… there are countless more cases of no overlap which you don’t mention.

best j

]]> By: david http://www.techcrunch.com/2009/04/20/jason-calacanis-on-how-to-get-into-techcrunch50/comment-page-1/#comment-2708981 david Tue, 21 Apr 2009 21:12:31 +0000 http://www.techcrunch.com/?p=58076#comment-2708981 Jason, I think Mahalo is coming into itself nicely but I really think you are at a huge disadvantage with that name--It's not easy to repeat nor is it intuitive in any manner. Jason,

I think Mahalo is coming into itself nicely but I really think you are at a huge disadvantage with that name–It’s not easy to repeat nor is it intuitive in any manner.

]]> By: Jason http://www.techcrunch.com/2009/04/20/jason-calacanis-on-how-to-get-into-techcrunch50/comment-page-1/#comment-2708979 Jason Tue, 21 Apr 2009 21:12:14 +0000 http://www.techcrunch.com/?p=58076#comment-2708979 Actually, I've always seen pundits as *reflections* of the industry. Folks like Mike, Scoble, Saul Hansell, John Markoff, Peter Roajs, etc. look at the world and reflect back what they see through their perspective. If you look at the 90 companies who have presented I think I've known *maybe* three of them prior to them being accepted. In fact, I give my friends and contacts a MUCH harder time in terms of getting into the event. Mike and I also abstain from voting when we have a conflict. Then again, Mike and I are two super connected dudes... so, it's going to look from the outside like this is some insider thing. That is, of course, the furthest thing from the truth... 50%+ of the folks picked for this are from outside the valley system. Actually, I’ve always seen pundits as *reflections* of the industry. Folks like Mike, Scoble, Saul Hansell, John Markoff, Peter Roajs, etc. look at the world and reflect back what they see through their perspective.

If you look at the 90 companies who have presented I think I’ve known *maybe* three of them prior to them being accepted.

In fact, I give my friends and contacts a MUCH harder time in terms of getting into the event. Mike and I also abstain from voting when we have a conflict.

Then again, Mike and I are two super connected dudes… so, it’s going to look from the outside like this is some insider thing.

That is, of course, the furthest thing from the truth… 50%+ of the folks picked for this are from outside the valley system.

]]> By: Joe DiLeo http://www.techcrunch.com/2009/04/20/jason-calacanis-on-how-to-get-into-techcrunch50/comment-page-1/#comment-2708911 Joe DiLeo Tue, 21 Apr 2009 20:28:42 +0000 http://www.techcrunch.com/?p=58076#comment-2708911 Mike, I have been an active TC reader for years. I learned early on to avoid reading comments on most post because of the large percentage of your readership that insists on negative, ignorant banter. In the last six months I've begun reading HN each day, it is amazing how different the community is over there. Almost all comments are useful and intended to help or stimulate. How do you import HN positive community to TC? Mike,
I have been an active TC reader for years. I learned early on to avoid reading comments on most post because of the large percentage of your readership that insists on negative, ignorant banter.

In the last six months I’ve begun reading HN each day, it is amazing how different the community is over there. Almost all comments are useful and intended to help or stimulate.

How do you import HN positive community to TC?

]]> By: itsbiscuits http://www.techcrunch.com/2009/04/20/jason-calacanis-on-how-to-get-into-techcrunch50/comment-page-1/#comment-2708720 itsbiscuits Tue, 21 Apr 2009 18:22:21 +0000 http://www.techcrunch.com/?p=58076#comment-2708720 "If you wanna shoot, shoot, don't talk... http://tinyurl.com/bgtag2" “If you wanna shoot, shoot, don’t talk… http://tinyurl.com/bgtag2“

]]> By: Hula http://www.techcrunch.com/2009/04/20/jason-calacanis-on-how-to-get-into-techcrunch50/comment-page-1/#comment-2708695 Hula Tue, 21 Apr 2009 18:08:47 +0000 http://www.techcrunch.com/?p=58076#comment-2708695 your site has 10M pageviews/mo with google ads on it - that might pay for a couple servers but that's about it your site has 10M pageviews/mo with google ads on it – that might pay for a couple servers but that’s about it

]]> By: Hula http://www.techcrunch.com/2009/04/20/jason-calacanis-on-how-to-get-into-techcrunch50/comment-page-1/#comment-2708687 Hula Tue, 21 Apr 2009 18:00:41 +0000 http://www.techcrunch.com/?p=58076#comment-2708687 perfect perfect

]]> By: Rupy http://www.techcrunch.com/2009/04/20/jason-calacanis-on-how-to-get-into-techcrunch50/comment-page-1/#comment-2708663 Rupy Tue, 21 Apr 2009 17:46:27 +0000 http://www.techcrunch.com/?p=58076#comment-2708663 Finally, best line on the whole page ! Finally, best line on the whole page !

]]> By: Tom http://www.techcrunch.com/2009/04/20/jason-calacanis-on-how-to-get-into-techcrunch50/comment-page-1/#comment-2708569 Tom Tue, 21 Apr 2009 16:44:57 +0000 http://www.techcrunch.com/?p=58076#comment-2708569 Why are there always so many negative comments? Whats so bad about a conference like this? Techcrunch commenters are always so bi*chy! Why are there always so many negative comments?

Whats so bad about a conference like this? Techcrunch commenters are always so bi*chy!

]]> By: Pat http://www.techcrunch.com/2009/04/20/jason-calacanis-on-how-to-get-into-techcrunch50/comment-page-1/#comment-2708566 Pat Tue, 21 Apr 2009 16:41:51 +0000 http://www.techcrunch.com/?p=58076#comment-2708566 I'm confused too. How can you evaluate "execution" when you're only looking for companies that are "NOT already launched"? I’m confused too. How can you evaluate “execution” when you’re only looking for companies that are “NOT already launched”?

]]> By: Niyi http://www.techcrunch.com/2009/04/20/jason-calacanis-on-how-to-get-into-techcrunch50/comment-page-1/#comment-2708495 Niyi Tue, 21 Apr 2009 15:53:19 +0000 http://www.techcrunch.com/?p=58076#comment-2708495 Define "NOT launched". I keep hearing different interpretations. Define “NOT launched”.

I keep hearing different interpretations.

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