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Submissions Now Open for Web 2.0 Summit Launch Pad: Fourth Edition Launch Pad Addresses the World's Need for Change

Press release: July 16, 2008

SAN FRANCISCO - July 10, 2008 - TechWeb (formerly CMP) and O'Reilly Media, Inc., co-producers of the annual Web 2.0 Summit, today announce the Launch Pad program, a unique public forum designed to uncover the most promising Web startups, is open for submissions. The theme for this fourth edition Launch Pad, Web Meets World, spotlights the industry's best startups that use the Web's culture to change the world. For more information on submitting your company or product for this year's Launch Pad and to complete a submission form, visit: http://en.oreilly.com/web2008/public/content/launchpad. The Web 2.0 Summit takes place November 5-7, 2008 at the Palace Hotel in San Francisco.

Launch Pad's focus will be on startups in the fields of alternative energies, social entrepreneurialism, microfinance, developing economies, political action, renewable technologies, and other innovative areas. Web 2.0 Summit Launch Pad will provide Web 2.0 companies a chance to present in front of six leading venture capitalists from Internet and Green backgrounds, while receiving raw, real-time feedback from both judges and audience members.

"The conversation is no longer just about the Web, rather about the bigger social movements driving the Web's greatest solutions," said John Battelle, Web 2.0 Summit's Program Chair. "We've adjusted our Launch Pad to reflect the natural progression of the conversation and, most importantly, to present the Web's most promising innovations."

The Web 2.0 Launch Pad's judging panel of venture capitalists will sponsor the program, thus eliminating company participation fees. Any company in any stage of financing can compete for a slot on stage, whether or not they are launching a new company or product. Judges will select the finalists who will compete at the Web 2.0 Summit event and receive up to ten minutes on stage to present to the entire Web 2.0 Summit audience and the VC judging panel.

"We're honored to be a part of Web 2.0 Summit's Launch Pad: Web Meets World. It allows us the unique opportunity to learn about those Web companies working to improve the complex problems facing industries outside the Web- something invaluable for Panorama Capital,"said Chris Albinson of Panorama Capital. "Together with the Web 2.0 Summit's audience, we'll uncover those shining stars working to build a better future."

Submission deadline for Web 2.0 Summit Launch Pad is September 10, 2008. Final determination of the Launch Pad companies will be made by John Battelle, Web 2.0 Summit's Program Chair, in concert with VC judges including Chris Albinson of Panorama Capital, Vinod Khosla of Khosla Ventures, and Mike Goguen of Sequoia Capital.

Web 2.0 Summit is produced by partners O'Reilly Media, Inc. and TechWeb and is moderated by John Battelle, Program Chair, and O'Reilly CEO Tim O'Reilly. Attendance is limited to maintain an intimate setting and foster dialog among participants. General attendee registration is by invitation only; requests for invitations are being accepted through mid-September. Media credentials will also be extended by invitation only.

For more information on Web 2.0 Summit and to apply for an invitation, please visit: http://web2summit.com.

To read coverage from Summit 2007, please visit: http://conferences.oreillynet.com/pub/w/62/news.html.

To view select video from last year's Summit, please visit: http://web2summit.blip.tv

About TechWeb
TechWeb, the global leader in business technology media, is an innovative business focused on serving the needs of technology decision-makers and marketers worldwide. TechWeb produces the most respected and consumed media brands in the business technology market. Today, more than 13.3 million* business technology professionals actively engage in our communities created around our global face-to-face events Interop, Web 2.0, Black Hat and VoiceCon; online resources such as the TechWeb Network, Light Reading, Intelligent Enterprise, InformationWeek.com, bMighty.com, and The Financial Technology Network; and the market leading, award-winning InformationWeek, TechNet Magazine, MSDN Magazine, Wall Street & Technology magazines. TechWeb also provides end-to-end services ranging from next-generation performance marketing, integrated media, research, and analyst services. TechWeb is a division of United Business Media, a global provider of news distribution and specialist information services with a market capitalization of more than $2.5 billion.

*13.3 million business decision-makers: based on # of monthly connections

About O’Reilly

O’Reilly Media spreads the knowledge of innovators through its books, online services, magazines, and conferences. Since 1978, O’Reilly Media has been a chronicler and catalyst of cutting-edge development, homing in on the technology trends that really matter and spurring their adoption by amplifying “faint signals” from the alpha geeks who are creating the future. An active participant in the technology community, the company has a long history of advocacy, meme-making, and evangelism.

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