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Reposted from O’Reilly Radar. Author: Brady Forrest.

The Web 2.0 Expo is our annual West Coast gathering of web technologists. As always there a lot of ways to participate — many of which will not cost you a dime, all of them can be quite valuable to you.

Launch Pad: We are giving 5 companies 5 minutes on stage at the Expo Launchpad this year. 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. The judges this year are Matt Marshall (VentureBeat), Marshall Kirkpatrick (ReadWriteWeb), myself and our sponsor Microsoft Bizspark’s Anand Iyer.

We are extending the Launchpad’s submission deadline to 2/19. Put your hat in the ring!

Developer Discount: We’re offering a special discount to the full conference for developers. If you’re a developer you still need to learn from each other and share your stories. More than ever you’ll need to learn how to communicate with marketing. You’ll want to learn how to write faster code, be secure and, of course, be greener. You’ll want to find out how to get value from data, how to process that data on less servers than before, and how to respect your users by giving them control of their data.

To get 20% off admission to the Web 2.0 Expo use websf09dev at checkout. This offer is open until 2/20.

Ignite: On March 31st we are going to hold our annual Ignite Expo at the DNA Lounge. Each speaker gets 20 slides that auto-advance after 15 seconds. We’ll have ~16 speakers. The best Ignite talks are ideas, hacks, lessons, or war stories. Submissions are due by 3/9. If you’re not familiar with Ignite our community site has videos from previous events.

This year’s Web 2.0 Expo is strong. Our keynotes will feature Padmasree Warrior (Cisco), Will Wright (Maxis), and Vic Gundotra (Google). Our Developer, Marketing, Design, Mobile, Ops, Enterprise and Security tracks are packed with great speakers. I hope to see you there.

San Francisco

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Feb 5th, 2009 | Janetti Chon
Want to showcase your startup? Take a look at these options.

Calling all interested Startups!

Here are opportunities to showcase your company, mingle with your peers and learn from experts.

Submit your company for Launch Pad at Web 2.0 Expo San Francisco for a 5-min demo opportunity on the main stage. Launch Pad is like American Idol for startups - get real time feedback from expert judges and the audience. A ‘People’s Choice Winner’ will be announced using a real-time SMS system and winners get featured in our Launch Pad press release. All main stage programs are recorded and shared via our Blip.tv network.

Startups do not have to be looking for funding we do expect you to share a new and exciting product, service or company launch.

DEADLINE: Submissions via this form must be in before Tuesday, February 17.

Launch Pad will take place on Thursday, April 2 from 1:15 - 2:15pm in the Keynote room of Moscone West. Startups who are not selected to present will be eligible for a 30% discount on conference packages.

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PITCH 2009: Napkin startup competition for early stage ventures

Do you have the world’s next big idea? Here’s your chance to PITCH. Women 2.0’s third-annual Startup Competition will provide your alpha, beta, or prototype-stage startup with exposure to early stage investors. The judging panel includes investors and experienced startup executives who will provide valuable written feedback on your business.

HUNDREDS of submissions will receive valuable feedback from the judging panel of investors and experienced startup executives. FIVE startups will be chosen to pitch live on Pitch Night: May 7th, 2009. ONE winning startup gets a meeting with legendary investor Michael Moritz from Sequoia Capital in addition to free office space, legal services, marketing support, PR support, and more – everything you need to win with your new idea.

How to submit: See details on the PITCH 2009 web page for details on the 3-step submissions process.

Submissions deadline: April 10, 2009 (firm deadline)

At least ONE of the founding members needs to be female to qualify. Submissions are accepted GLOBALLY but if selected finalists must be present on May 7th in San Francisco.

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Showcase Your Company in Web 2.0 Expo’s Long Tail Pavilion

The Long Tail Pavilion at Web 2.0 Expo is a dedicated area on the Expo floor, providing an entry level, low-cost, high visibility option for startups to connect with customers and communities. If your marketing strategy relies heavily on word of mouth, this is your opportunity to meet with the entire Web 2.0 ecosystem, including press, analysts and VCs.

For more information and pricing details please see this link or reach out to Kelly Stewart via kstewart[at]techweb.com.

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Funding & Pitching Event (London)

Wednesday February 25, 2009 6.30pm - 9.30pm

In recent years, there has been an increase in the number of businesswomen setting up their own internet companies and obtaining prominent positions in the internet industry. This Funding & Pitching event will focus on the financial side of setting up and growing an online business, business models, and preparing and pitching your business for financing.

The event will offer an overview of the financial aspects of internet companies led, founded and funded by businesswomen. This will include presentations on:

financial data regarding female leadership in internet businesses, specifically internet entrepreneurs, executives and VCs

starting and growing a business, preparing for financing, and getting funding

what it takes for getting your story, business plan and presentation right before you go out to seeking finance

the various manners of financing for companies, including seed capital, VC capital, debt financing

pitching

And there will also be a wealth of opportunities for discussion, to put your questions to the speakers and to network and with like-minded individuals.

Click here for registration details. This event is presented by

Happenings , San Francisco , startups

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Sep 27th, 2008 | Janetti Chon
Web 2.0 Summit - Launch Pad: Web Meets World

Update from John Battelle’s searchblog: Launch Pad companies are reviewed and judged by leadings VCs (Khosla Ventures, Mohr Davidow Ventures, NEA, Omidyar Network, Panorama Capital, and Sequoia Capital), but there is no requirement of a “funding need.”

The goal is to honor six great private companies, not six great private companies who need funding.

~ ~ ~

For those who may not know, Web 2.0 Summit is our thought-leadership conference, focusing on industry challenges and opportunities, highlighting in particular the business models and leaders driving the Internet economy.

In this period of global environmental concern, economic chaos, and impactful political decision-making, it’s important to understand the value we as individuals, and as innovators, can add to the world today… and to all of our future tomorrows.

So this year, conference chairs Tim O’Reilly and John Battelle (and team) are making a point to take the conversation beyond the Web, to ask the questions: How can we tap the Webits technologies, its values, and its cultureto address the world’s most pressing limits? How do we use the Web to create opportunities for a better tomorrow?

Web 2.0 Summit is the host to the original Launch Pad startup competition that we replicated at Web 2.0 Expo San Francisco 2008. This year Web 2.0 Summit announced a revised theme for Launch Pad: Fourth Edition - Web Meets World.

What does that mean?

On November 6th, six startups will get the opportunity to pitch their company in front of the Web 2.0 Summit audiencethe top executives, financiers, press, and analysts in the Internet industry. This will take place on the Summit main stage alongside a panel of esteemed VC judges, with real-time VC and audience feedback.

The focus will be twofold:

First, on startups in the fields of alternative energies, social entreprenuerialism, microfinance, developing economies, political action, renewable technologies, and the like.

And secondly, we’re interested in companies addressing where the Web literally meets the world: mobility, mapping and geolocation, sensor networks - anything where the Web and the real world intersect.

Deadline for submissions is Wednesday, October 1st.

Note: Please do take time to consider if you truly fit the category before presenting your submission.

There is no fee for companies involved, instead, our VC panel will be sponsoring the program.

Summit

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