Tech Innovation at DEMO 2009

Twice a year, the DEMO conference showcases promising new startup technology companies to press luminaries, venture capitalists and industry influencers. Many companies that are now big and well-known were launched at past DEMO events.

I asked someone who was at the conference this week to summarize the  trends and highlight cool companies. Aly Saxe of Ubiquity Public relations is one of the best startup tech PR consultants I know. Ubiquity regularly launches startups at DEMO. Here are her thoughts on the this week’s event:

Update from DEMO 2009 from Aly Saxe
At DEMO 2009, innovation is alive and well, but it’s coming more in a trickle than steady stream. Usually a theme emerges from each DEMO event. Last year, it was “freemium apps,” before that picture sharing technology, before that enterprise security. This year it’s a little cloudier – literally.

The big theme is that all of these new applications designed to make our lives/work easier now live in “the cloud,” not on our desktops. For those who are a little “foggy” on cloud computing, it simply means that the software that resides on a vast server farm somewhere, not on your computer, and is accessed via the Internet.

While this year’s roster of presenting companies feels considerably lighter than previous years (only 39 companies compared to 68 last year), there are still some noteworthy startups to mention. Here are the companies/products I thought were the coolest and have the most potential to be successful:

Always Innovating – This company’s small Touch Book tablet computer lets you email, browse sites, play games, and watch videos from anywhere – just like with your iPhone or netbook (tiny laptop). The cool differences are that the Touch Book is extremely light (less than 2 lbs), the touch screen can be taken off completely, and the technology is based on open source software and hardware. You can even mount it on your refrigerator as a magnet.

Asourion Mobile Address Book – This is a very cool app for iPhone users. You can link contacts in your address book directly to Flickr photo sets, Facebook pages and Twitter feeds of those listed in your contacts. The company will also release an API that allows developers to link additional social networks to the contact lists. See your friends and colleagues social pages instantly, anywhere, anytime, right from your address book.

Skout – The last time I went to a bar and experienced a cheesy pick up, Clinton was president and “ladies night” meant $1 beers. I’m not in their target market, but Skout Out got my attention. They have developed a fun way to use technology to make money off of drunk singles. (There are worse business models.)

Here’s Skout’s self-described product description: “Skout Out is a dating tool that helps singles find and flirt with others in their immediate vicinity. Leveraging LBS and 42″ touch-screen plasma displays, people looking for love only need their fingers to flirt, send virtual gifts and even music to the people that dazzle them. Skout Out currently interacts with hundreds of thousands of Skout users via their iPhones, cell phones and laptops to find love on Skout’s mobile dating service.”

Not surprisingly, VCs say investing is still happening but they’re being more cautious. Also, Chris Shipley, the long time executive director of DEMO, is exiting this year. For those of us who have been attending DEMO for years and gotten to know this incredibly kind, dedicated and insightful person, it’s a sad departure.

The overall tone of DEMO this year is reflective of a lackluster time. Everyone is trying to keep it going – we’re staying optimistic and we’re going for it. But compared to shows in earlier years, DEMO 2009 has the gusto of a light breeze on a mid-July day in Phoenix.

Aly Saxe
Ubiquity Public Relations
aly@ubiquitypublicrelations.com
(602) 268-6849