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24 Hour Countdown to Launch: Silicon Valley - The World Cup Tech ChallengeSAN JOSE, Calif. --(Business Wire)-- SVForum has begun the countdown to the kickoff of Launch: Silicon Valley 2014 - The World Cup Tech Challenge, which will be held Tuesday, May 20 at Microsoft's (News - Alert) campus in Mountain View, CA. Modeled after the famous global soccer tournament, countries from around the world applied to qualify - and 30 startups were selected - for six spots in each of five different Tech Groups to compete for the honor of taking home the Cup in Digital Media-Mobile, Enterprise Software, EdTech, Next Generation Technology, and HealthTech. Featured keynote speakers include Megan Smith, Vice President of Google (News - Alert)[x]; Peter Arvai, CEO and Co-Founder of Prezi; and James Maiocco, Director at Microsoft Ventures. The public may register to attend, and vote for their favorite startup, at the event by clicking on: http://www.launchsiliconvalley.org/. To connect with the event online, include @SVForum #WorldCupTech and the country hashtag provided after each company's info (#LSVCountry). Download the BizzaboTM app to continue to submit votes for your favorite startups on Launch Day. To see a live-streaming TweetWall of the event, visit http://www.tweetwallpro.com/go/world-cup-tech-challenge on May 20. This year, Launch: Silicon Valley has expanded its global reach with a special edition: The World Cup Tech Challenge. "SVForum is thrilled with the strong interest and response that we have received from startups around the world to participate in this rapidly growing global event," said CEO Adiba Barney. "In addition to the competition itself, the interactive sharing of ideas and connections made throughout the day with fellow entrepreneurs, potential partner and funders will be invaluable for the participating startups, audience." For the last eight years, SVForum's Launch: Silicon Valley, hosted and co-sponsored by Microsoft, has given startups from Silicon Valley and around the world a chance to meet, present to, and get feedback from some of the most renowned VCs, angels, corporate venture firms, potential partners and customers. This year, the 30 qualified startups come from 14 diverse countries, ranging from Kazakhstan to Finland to Thailand. (The full list is included below.) "Microsoft is proud to be hosting and sponsoring Launch: Silicon Valley," said Matt Thompson, General Manager of Developer and Platform Evangelism at Microsoft. "Launch is a great event for startups, and the 'World Cup Tech Challenge' theme adds an exciting new dimension." How it works: Venue, voting, and agenda The event takes place at Microsoft's Campus in Mountain View, California, and runs from 8 a.m. until 5:30 p.m. The qualifying startups will showcase their product in the World Cup Tech Hall, and pitch on stage to a distinguished panel of investors and other tech industry luminaries. Winners will be selected in each Group, as well as one overall winner, based on both online votes and points from judges. The winning startups will receive prizes provided by the group and event sponsors, as well as one-on-one meetings with top VCs and corporate executives. In keeping with the international theme, each startup will also be able to represent their country in style - country jerseys will be made for participating companies and attendees, and flags will be displayed; national anthems will be played as each country is introduced. The Launch audience will also be encouraged to participate in the process: in addition to voting for their favorite startups on each Group page, the audience can root for both companies and countries via dedicated hashtags. Launch: Silicon Valley - The World Cup Tech Challenge is sponsored by Microsoft, Cooley LLP, SAP, SugarCRM, and IBM (News - Alert). Panelist-Judges: Some of the panelists will include Marlon Nichols of Intel Capital, Michael Pachos of Samsung Ventures, Bill Reichert of Garage Technology Ventures, Mohanjit Jolly of Draper Fischer Jurvetson, John McIntyre of Citrix Startup Accelerator, Fadi Bishara of Blackbox, James Maiocco of Microsoft Ventures, Busy Burr of Citi Ventures, Lynne Chou of Kleiner Perkins and many more. About Launch In its 9th year, Launch: Silicon Valley is firmly established as the premier product launch platform for Technology startups. The event, organized by Silicon Valley not-for-profit SVForum, provides the next generation of emerging technology companies with the opportunity to pitch their products to, and network with, an audience of Silicon Valley's top VCs, Angels, corporate business development executives, prospective customers and partners, bloggers and media. About SVForum For over thirty years, SVForum has been the leading not-for-profit organization in the Bay Area, providing an unbiased source of information and insight to the technology community. Through the efforts of its dedicated staff and volunteers, SVForum's wealth of programs create networks and relationships, and provide education and access to resources both in person and digitally to a global audience. The organization reaches over 20,000 of the most important thought leaders, VCs, innovators and CEOs in technology. Its partners include global leaders IBM, Microsoft, Qualcomm, and SAP (News - Alert), as well as leading venture capital firms and service providers. For further information, visit the SVForum website at www.svforum.org.
The 30 Startups competing in the World Cup Tech
Challenge DIGITAL MEDIA-MOBILE GROUP - Powered by IBM
Plotagon
is a new social storytelling app focused on being fast, easy and fun
to use. Using Plotagon's unique user interface makes it easy to tell and
share your story by creating a 3D animated video ready for the world to
see. #LSVSweden -------------------
Sublime
Skinz has developed a unique technology that enables the easy
industrialization of rich media and interactive advertising formats. The
Network (+1500 websites worldwide) is available for Media Sales and RTB
sales through Mediamath, Appnexus, DBM, and Turn. #LSVFrance ------------------
AppGyver
makes it possible for anyone to build high-quality mobile
applications in an easy-to-use visual app builder. Apps can connect to
any APIs and cloud services, and can be released to iOS and Android app
stores. #LSVFinland ------------------
FoneSense
is aiming to become the world's largest audio billboard network. Brands
can place their advertising message on their target consumer's
smartphones targeting by age, gender, location, mobile network &
smartphone usage. #LSVIreland ------------------
PantomimeTM
turns any mobile device into a 3D paddle that lets users reach into
physically realistic, shared augmented reality and VR worlds. Any
computer, mobile device or game console can instantly join the scene.
Our initial ocus: the $13B mobile game market. #LSVUSA Based in: US ------------------
Sticky's cloud
platform and SEEN metric measure which online ads are actually seen,
using webcam eye tracking integrated into browsers (with permission). On
average less than 50% of all "viewable" online ads are looked at. Sticky
is the only company which measures this. #LSVSweden ENTERPRISE SOFTWARE GROUP - Powered by SugarCRM
Ohanae
delivers the mobile first, cloud first privacy grail through a
consistent application from desktop to mobile devices running Android,
iOS, MacOS, and Windows that generates unique strong passwords,
encryption for major cloud services and secure file sharing. #LSVUSA ------------------
Cupenya
provides operational insights solutions for individuals, teams and
businesses. Through its "Kioo" product line, Cupenya helps enterprise
businesses monitor and analyze personal, team and workflow performance.
With Kioo businesses stay on top of their daily performance. #LSVNetherlands ------------------
RelationDesk
has developed a platform for managing customer conversations and
relationships in social media. #LSVSweden ------------------
Contract
Live is a SaaS contract management platform allowing companies
to seamlessly manage all their contracts throughout all stages
(creation, negotiation, signature and management) in one safe place. #LSVFrance ------------------
SUMMICS
is a content analytic and moderations software for the world's
largest forums and mega-communities. Prosumer companies don't need
social tools crawling all of the web. They need a precise content
recognition tool for their own mega-communities - not Twitter (News - Alert) or FB. #LSVGermany ------------------
FormVerse
is a robust platform for building workflow applications inside of email.
We take a XML form, put it inside of the email message, route it
throughout the organization for approvals, then pull the data from the
form and integrate with other apps. #LSVCanada EDTECH GROUP
Taamkru
is looking to disrupt the preschool education industry by providing
a learning platform that makes it more fun for the children to learn.
The children's scores and improvement can be tracked by the parents and
teachers, and they can easily identify where improvement is needed. #LSVThailand ------------------
Actively
Learn is a digital reading platform that empowers educators to
transform reading and writing so students understand more, think
critically, and build lasting skills. #LSVUSA ------------------
Mustard
Seed is a management system developed to be the operating system
for schools. It provides a platform to encompass modern technology from
e-learning tools, online marketing, mobile device sales, and recruitment
and sponsorship opportunities for students and teachers. #LSVSouthAfrica ------------------
eKool
has created an online communication tool for schools, district
administrators, parents and students. It's a solution that has been
proven, as it today covers 95% of schools in Estonia. #LSVEstonia ------------------
Speecheo
creates an information channel within a presentation between speakers
and their audience. Attendees highlight slides, moments that matters to
them, and tweets synchronized with their notes. Speecheo analyzes that
data to provide a powerful audience reporting. #LSVFrance ------------------
BloomBoard
is an online growth development platform that allows schools and
districts to collect and analyze educator effectiveness, and educators
can access a rich marketplace of professional development resources to
support growth. #LSVUSA HEALTHTECH GROUP - Powered by SAP Startup Focus
VoiceItt
has a revolutionary voice technology application that allows people
with severe motor, speech, and language disorders to use their own voice
to express themselves. Their product TalkItt has the ability to
effectively improve the quality of life of millions of people. #LSVIsrael ------------------
Diagnotes
is a mobile and web-based software system that gives medical groups
the tools to improve physician communication with patients, care teams
and office staff, through automated routing of calls/texts, clinical
data delivery and encounter documentation. #LSVUSA ------------------
Life.beats
is mobile application and web-service that helps people with chronic
diseases to improve clinical outcomes through increasing medication
adherence. It reminds patients to take prescribed drugs, refill them in
time, and connects patients with local pharmacies. #LSVKazakhstan ------------------
Isentio
has created a SaaS tool that enables DNA technology for clinical
diagnostics. It features 90% faster and more accurate bacteria
identification, saving lives and reducing healthcare costs. With speedy
analysis and correct data, doctors can give patients a correct treatment
and medication the first day. #LSVNorway ------------------
STEMP
is an intelligent body thermometer system that will change the way we
think about, interact with, and benefit from thermometers. We've
combined cutting-edge but proven technologies (micro-sensors,
BluetoothLE) with an intuitive smartphone app that makes it easy and fun
for the whole family. #LSVUSA ------------------
TruTrainer
is an app for improving personal fitness that provides each
user with a real personal trainer to create quality customized fitness
guidance for a user via their mobile device. It also keeps track of user
progress so that personal trainers can review the data and keep their
clients on track. #LSVIsrael NEXT GEN TECHNOLOGY GROUP
Sedicii
proves a person knows a piece of data (e.g. password, credit card
details, SSN) to another party without either party exposing any of the
underlying information. It can be used in authentication systems,
payments systems and ID verification systems. #LSVIreland ------------------
Shortcut
Labs creates one-button remote controls to your phone in the
size of coins - they call them Shortcut Buttons. They can control
practically anything that your phone can do, so you only need to use
your imagination! What have you always wanted a button for? #LSVSweden ------------------
Vantage
Analytics have created a must-have tool for eCommerce sites.
Transforming data into insights and actions, they provide businesses
with key metrics and enable immediate action with tools for email,
social media and leading business apps. Once deployed, they monitor &
optimize campaigns in real time. #LSVCanada ------------------
Liquidity manufactures
revolutionary water purification cartridges, based on breakthrough
membrane technology, to solve the world's potable water needs. Pour any
non-salt water through our cartridge and drink it safely. It's that
simple. No chemicals, no power nor pressure. #LSVUSA ------------------
FilmMe
Group has created your personal cameraman - a video recording
system that films its target automatically following and zooming. It
consists of My Personal Cameraman, location system and My Personal
Wristband and together they form an automatic video recording service
for sports and performances. #LSVFinland ------------------
CoolClouds
has a revolutionary hybrid cooling technique that delivers high
performance cooling for electronics by "morphing" itself into a module
in the available space on a dense motherboard. This adopts a "Lego" like
technique to maximize cooling. #LSVUSA
Representing: US ABOUT THE SPEAKERS Megan Smith, VP, Google [X] Megan is an entrepreneur, tech evangelist, engineer, catalyst and connector. At Google[x], Megan works on a range of projects including co-creating/hosting SolveForX to encourage and amplify technology-based moonshot thinking and collaboration. For nine years prior she led Google's New Business Development team managing early-stage partnerships, pilot explorations, and technology licensing for Google's global engineering and product teams. She led the acquisitions of Keyhole (Google Earth), Where2Tech (Google Maps) and Picasa, and also led the Google.org team transition to add more engineering with Google Crisis Response, GoogleforNonprofits, and Earth Outreach. Prior to joining Google, Megan was CEO and earlier, COO of PlanetOut, the leading LGBT online community. Over the years, Megan has contributed to a wide range of engineering projects, including an award-winning bicycle lock, space station construction program, and solar cookstoves. She holds a bachelor's and master's degrees in mechanical engineering from MIT, where she now serves on the board. She completed her master's thesis work at the MIT Media Lab. Peter Arvai, CEO, Prezi Peter loves technologies that enable world-changing stories to be shared. In 2008, he joined forces with Adam Somlai-Fischer and Péter Halácsy, an architect and an innovator, to create a more memorable and engaging way for people to share stories. Today, their creation is known as "Prezi." Before co-founding Prezi, Peter was already active in the information-sharing realm. In Sweden, he founded omvard.se a company that aggregates data on treatment outcomes for hospital patients. Soon after, he developed the world's first mobile newsreader so people could follow TED Talks from their mobile devices. Peter is also the author of "Developing the Business Case for a New Mobile Service: An Exercise in Business Model Designing" Originally from Karlskoga, Sweden, Peter has lived and worked in Budapest, Tokyo, Stockholm, Singapore and San Francisco. His parents are Hungarian and he's the go-to translator at Prezi since he speaks Japanese, Swedish, Hungarian, and English. In his spare time, Peter enjoys prodding fellow colleagues to join him at Bikram Yoga classes. James Maiocco, Director, Microsoft Ventures James has been at Microsoft for 3+ years, and serves as Director of Microsoft Ventures, responsible for managing the Seed Fund, Global Partners and Marketing. Prior to Microsoft, he spent 8 years as an executive at venture-backed start-ups building high-volume SaaS businesses for the enterprise. Earlier in his career, James worked as an attorney at Orrick Herrington & Sutcliffe, handling venture capital financing, intellectual property and M&A transactions. He holds 3 patents, serves as an advisor on several boards, and is a member of the executive council of the Internet Marketing Association. James holds degrees in law, planning, and architecture from the University of Virginia and University of Washington. |
