SVASE Announces 266 Presentation Submissions for 30 Coveted Demo Slots at 'Launch: Silicon Valley 2008'

MOUNTAIN VIEW, Calif., May 15 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- The Silicon Valley Association of Startup Entrepreneurs (SVASE) today announced it received 266 presentation submissions for the eagerly sought after 30 speaking slots identified for companies to demo new products at "Launch: Silicon Valley 2008." This year's submissions were up 50% over last year's event, resulting in an extremely rigorous and difficult selection process identifying the most outstanding companies to present.

"Launch: Silicon Valley 2008," co-hosted by Garage Technology Ventures, will be held June 10, 2008 at the Microsoft Campus in Mountain View, CA. This event is a venue for emerging technology companies to share their vision of the next big thing, while networking with an audience of Silicon Valley's top movers and shakers.

"This year's event is evolving into a 'must attend' conference given the exceptionally promising global representation of companies vying for demo slots -- many of whom are looking to make their Silicon Valley debut," said Chris Gill, President and CEO of SVASE. "The breadth of industries represented include: Web 2.0, Saas, Clean Tech, Life Sciences, Wireless/Telecom, Media & Entertainment, Healthcare and Semiconductors. Given the superb caliber of applicants, the Advisory Board choosing the most outstanding 30 companies to present has a challenging task ahead of itself."

The advisory board determining who is invited to present consists of Bill Reichert, Managing Director, Garage Technology Ventures; Warren Packard, Managing Director, Draper Fisher Jurvetson; Ian Sobieski, Managing Director, Band of Angels; John Occhipinti, Managing Director, Woodside Fund and Marc Burch, Principal Burch Ventures.

Those companies chosen to demo will present on stage for 10 minutes during "Launch: Silicon Valley 2008," with the opportunity to explain their products in more detail to the audience during networking breaks. Culminating the event will be the "Launch: Silicon Valley 2008" award for the "Most Promising New Company" in each of the six presenting categories.

Selected demonstrating companies for "Launch: Silicon Valley 2008" will be announced towards the end of May 2008.

For more information or to register for the event, go to http://launchsiliconvalley.org/agenda.html

The Early Bird Registration price for SVASE members is $145, for non-members the price is $195.

About SVASE

Founded in 1995 by entrepreneurs, for entrepreneurs, The Silicon Valley Association of Startup Entrepreneurs (SVASE) is the largest and fastest growing nonprofit in Northern California dedicated exclusively to helping technology and life science entrepreneurs start and grow successful businesses.

SVASE provides support and resources for entrepreneurs, from the idea through initial rounds of funding to product launch, delivered at 12 monthly events and a continually evolving web site. For more information about SVASE, please visit www.svase.org

About Garage Technology Ventures

Garage Technology Ventures is a seed-stage and early-stage venture capital fund headquartered in Palo Alto, California, with investors that include Thomas Weisel Partners and CalPERS, the California Public Employees Retirement System. Garage is focused on investing in emerging technology startups in the Western U.S. Garage is also the creator of the "Art of the Start," a renowned conference series for entrepreneur education. For more information about Garage, please visit www.garage.com.