Ning’s Marc Andreessen, Sequoia Capital’s Roelof Botha and Google’s Marissa Mayer will return to our third-annual TechCrunch50 conference Panel of Experts September 14 – 15 in San Francisco. Our experts judge the fifty startups launching at the event and discuss each of the demos on stage as a group. Marc, Roelof and Marissa have been experts since our first conference, and we receive lots of positive feedback to have them return each year. We have an amazing line-up of new and returning experts, and additional judges will be announced over the coming weeks.
If you’re a new startup, and want a shot to launch at TechCrunch50 and pitch our expert advisors on stage, you have until June 30 to submit your application. No need to wait until the last day, we’re actively reviewing companies and extending offers now. We want to hear from you. The only rule at TechCrunch50 is that you have to launch your product for the first time on stage at our conference. We showcase a diversity of technology verticals (consumer, enterprise, mobile, hardware, etc), including funded and unfunded companies from all corners of the world.
All the details for the conference are here. TechCrunch50 is an action-packed conference where fifty new startups launch over two days. The event will be held at the San Francisco Design Center, a huge and beautiful venue where we packed nearly 2,000 participants last year.
Tickets for the event can be purchased here courtesy of Eventbrite (extra early-bird pricing is available until June 30).
More on the TechCrunch50 blog.
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Marc Andreessen
Marc Andreessen is the co-founder of Ning, the create-your-own social network platform company that has raised over $100 million in funding. He also serves on the board of Open Media Network. Marc is best known as a co-founder and chief technical mind behind Netscape Communications Corporation and co-author of Mosaic, the first widely- used web browser. |
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Roelof Botha
Roelof Botha is a partner at Sequoia Capital focused on services and software investments. Prior to joining Sequoia Capital in 2003, Roelof served as the Chief Financial Officer of PayPal (EBAY) and worked as a management consultant with McKinsey & Company. Roelof is a certified actuary (Fellow of the Faculty of Actuaries), has a BS in Actuarial Science, Economics, and Statistics from the University of Cape Town and an MBA from the Stanford Graduate School of Business. |
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Marissa Mayer
Marissa Mayer is VP, Search Products & User Experience at Google. She joined Google in 1999 as Google’s first female engineer. Her efforts have included designing and developing Google’s search interface, internationalizing the site to 100+ languages and launching numerous features and products. Several patents have been filed on her work in artificial intelligence and interface design. Before Google, she worked at UBS research lab (Ubilab) and SRI International. Marissa has been featured in various publications, including Newsweek (“10 Tech Leaders of the Future”), Red Herring (“15 Women to Watch”), Business 2.0, BusinessWeek and Fortune. |
We’re really lucky to have the corporate support of some of the best names in the business. Sequoia Capital, Charles River Ventures and Perkins Coie all returned quickly to support us for the third year in a row. Google, Founders Fund, MySpace and Microsoft are back for their second year of partnership. Additional partners will be named in the months leading up to the conference. Want to learn more? Partner and exhibitor details here.
TC50 was one of my favorite events last year.
one of?
I think he meant THE favorite event of the year. You know, the one thing he was anxiously waiting for all year long.
I know that was the case for me.
Better, Mike
?
Sorry, THE best. I did write the three longest blog posts about it in the history of ZDNet:
http://blogs.zd.../weblife/?p=180
http://blogs.zd.../weblife/?p=181
http://blogs.zd.../weblife/?p=184
i agree but i do not want to present to the likes of Marissa Mayer.
What’s wrong with Marissa?
Marissa Mayer is great, to say the very least.
I agree
I met Marc at a NY Start-Up Association I was involved with for several years.
Why bother meeting Marc, he only funds his circle of friends as do all the others.
Not to be coy. But, what we need is a VC company that “truly” funds Minority and African American Start-ups.
With the internet moving and changing so rapidly barrier to entry is falling through the floor, and have “funding” is taking its place. It reminds me of the quote by Thomas Friedman author of the book The World is Flat, ” the internet has leveled the playing field.” Has it???
At Peace
We’re submitting to demo http://OurBlock.TV
It’s going to be difficult to wait until September to demo the product but well worth it!
Wow, sounds like fun. Maybe we will submit our new web property called “ElTechCrunch”, a hispanic based technology news website. Just kidding Tech Crunch we love you. But where is the Latino content mis amigos.
This year we might have something in the oven
better hurry up and apply.
busy, busy, busy….
Maybe by some miracle you’ll feature my company. Just as a heads up there is no age limit? Like over 18 etc etc.?
There isn’t – already asked
I am in.
http://jamWee.com is on pace for a September public beta so I guess we should apply for this.
We’ve already spoken with some VC’s does this violate the entry eligibility?
just uploaded some jamWee overview/demonstration videos – http://vimeo.com/5193408
If you are looking to apply to TechCrunch50, you should take this down. Speaking to VC’s doesnt violate the entry eligibility but publicly available overview videos does.
I have a question and hope will get an answer among all the messages.
If a start-up is not complete in terms of development (lets say the development is 30% complete), however there is a pitch demo and business plan. Is that company eligible to join?
Yes, you are eligible to apply. Most demos we review are at various stages of development. You have until September 14-15 to refine your product for launch.
How does the demoing work? In other words, the form offers it via webEx or Acrobat Connect but also URL. Which method is preferable.
Last year, our experience was that Acrobat Connect worked best for both Mac and PC participants, but your choice.
Great blog Andrew Mager, I felt like i was there.
If you can’t launch until techcrunch50, meaning your product hasn’t been launch. How can we be assured of privacy until then? Are products kept stealth until the convention?
Also was twitter, facebook or myspace ever at the top techcrunch50? just want to know if its worth my time to attempt it. I live far from CA/San Fran.
Checkout what winning TC50 meant for Mint http://www.tech...id-for-mintcom/
Your company information isn’t shared with others. See the disclosure in the application for more details.
Thanks Asad Akbar for the reply.
Does a Beta Launch qualify?
Your company can be in private beta, but not public beta.
Hey Mike, can we apply if:
1) We are launching in September, but
2) My company is basically me as the only developer, and everyone else is helping me spread the word. (I’m like Marcus Frind from Plentyofffish) … that might not be very exciting, as I’ve seen teams from Japan, etc. the last time around.
3) We have mockups up on the site, but not screenshots of the real thing (you can sign in and experience the real thing though). And we have some limited description of what it does, but it’s generic and sounds like other sites that do similar things (until we eclipse them with our magic).
Thanks,
Greg
If your company is open to the public, then I’m afraid it doesnt qualify. If you are however open to the public only through private beta, then we would love to see you apply.
My idea is to build a barbie exactly like the barbies of today. Same look and feel and just change the hair color and call her Monica. When can I expect my ticket to techcrunch50? Also, do need to bring a prototype? if so, I need seed funding.
I will present to Michael Arrington first, in hopes that he will be humble enough to hear my pitch and become a partner.
What’s the word if the app being launched is an iPhone app? How do you suggest coinciding “launch” with app store availability?
No way to provide TC50 that Apple would approve at the right time (if at all)…
Me-too conferences attract me-too attract mee-too ventures.
No?
I just read if you are with VC demoing it does not break the rules? What if you get funded before September and still not public is that ok still to apply? Also any documentation sent over to you will stay confidential?
Demoing to VC’s does not break the rules. And yes all documention to us stays confidential, please see the disclosure in the application for more details.
Frankly…TC50 rocks!
i mean if VC’s like your idea you would have been funded already. Whats a silly conference gonna do?
You might have a great idea, but that doesn’t mean you have been able to get meetings with vc’s. Meetings aren’t an easy thing to get. At TechCrunch50, we put you right smack dab in the middle of the venture capital and media circus.
And why is Marissa Mayer even on the committee?
she knows “n o t h i n g”
You are so right, how come I didn’t realize that http://www.crun...n/marissa-mayer
The problem with conferences such as TC 50 is this: your idea can get easily stolen.
This is the same issue for all web companies, it has nothing to do with conferences. If google comes out with a product, the marginal cost for another company to replicate is generally very little. Its about staying ahead of the curve by out innovating everyone else, something many companies have been able to do because of the funding and partnerships they get at tc50.
How is the DemoPit going to work this year? Are you inviting applicants who don’t make the top 50 or can anyone who pays exhibit in the DemoPit?
@Asad Akbar, when will we know if we are chosen to attend or not?
We are accepting applications on a rolling basis.
So how long does it take to know if we are accepted ?
Can we submit if we are just starting off. We have a working product but needs effort to package and put in front of users.
We are 3 people who have left our full time jobs but still have to incorporate etc.
So we are not really a company but 3 guys working out of a garage.