Countdown Begins for High Visibility Competition "Launch: Silicon Valley 2009"

SVASE Extends Submission Date for Emerging Tech Companies to Demonstrate New
Products and Services to Silicon Valley`s Most Influential
SAN JOSE, Calif.--(Business Wire)--
The Silicon Valley Association of Startup Entrepreneurs (SVASE) today officially
kicked off the "countdown" to Launch: Silicon Valley, Silicon Valley`s high
visibility competition for early stage startups, extending the deadline for
submissions for presenting companies to May 15, 2009 due to a high level of
interest in the event. Up to 30 exciting young companies will be selected as
finalists to present their products before an audience of several hundred of the
most influential people in the Valley at the June 9, 2009 event to be held in Mt
View, CA.

Selected companies will be invited to present on stage for 6-minutes during
Launch: Silicon Valley 2009. The "most promising new company" will be selected
by a panel of Silicon Valley`s most prominent Venture Capitalists and Angel
Investors in each of the six designated presenting categories, including
information technology, mobility, security, digital media, next generation
internet, life sciences and clean tech. In addition, entrepreneurs will have the
opportunity to meet with members of the audience one-on-one between general
sessions and during the June 8 pre-conference networking party.

The following VC Partners have already signed on as panelists for Launch:
Silicon Valley 2009:

* Matt Horton, @Ventures
* Dan Rubin, Alloy Ventures
* Corey Reese, Alsop Louie
* Evgeny Zaytsev, Asset Management
* Howard Hartenbaum, August Capital
* Ted Driscoll, Claremont Creek Ventures
* Rich Ferrari, DeNovo Ventures
* Warren Packard, Draper Fisher Jurvetson
* Bill Reichert, Garage Technology Ventures
* Barry Eggers, Lightspeed Venture Partners
* Todd Kimmell, Mayfield Fund
* Ken Gullicksen, Morgenthaller Ventures
* David Aslin, Nexit
* Ken Elefant, Opus Capital
* Neil Weintraut, Palo Alto Venture Partners
* Jeff Clavier, SofTech VC

Further panelists will be announced during the coming weeks.

"We`ve received more submissions to present at this year`s event than ever
before and we`re impressed with the caliber of companies ready to launch their
products and services," said SVASE President & CEO Chris Gill. "In the current
economic environment, young companies are looking for a highly effective and
cost-efficient way to introduce themselves in the marketplace and we`re pleased
Launch: Silicon Valley can provide them with that opportunity."

Each year, the event draws several hundred venture capitalists, angel investors,
corporate business development executives, prospective customers and partners,
media and bloggers. As one measure of the event`s impact, SVASE estimates that
demonstrating companies in the 2008 class of Launch: Silicon Valley went on to
raise a combined $80-plus million by the end of 2008.

"Launch: Silicon Valley was a great experience for us. It brought us great
press, new investors, and connections with a lot of great people," said Zach
Coelius, co-founder of Triggit.

Launch: Silicon Valley provides companies with the opportunity to present
themselves to investors and other influencers who can help shape their success.
In addition to the presentations, participants also have the opportunity to
network with the audience at the Pre-Launch: Silicon Valley Event Party on the
evening of June 8, as well as at the event itself.

Launch: Silicon Valley is Presented by SVASE and co-sponsored by the early stage
venture capital firm Garage Technology Ventures and Microsoft, which will host
the event at the Microsoft Silicon Valley campus in Mountain View. Additional
sponsors include Draper Fisher Jurvetson, the Band of Angels, Sand Hill Angels,
the Angels Forum and Cooley Godward Kronish among others.

For further information and detailed agenda please go to
http://www.launchsiliconvalley.org

Submissions & Selections Process

Companies interested in presenting at Launch: Silicon Valley 2009 should send an
Executive Summary of no more than two pages to Launchsv@svase.org by May 15,
2009. Companies must have a product or service available as of June 9, 2009, but
cannot be introduced in the marketplace for more than a few months prior to the
event. Executive Summaries will be evaluated by at least two members of the
Launch: Silicon Valley Advisory Board and up to 30 companies will be chosen to
demonstrate on Stage at the event. The advisory board is composed of leading
members of the Silicon Valley investment community, including Bill Reichert,
Managing Director of Garage Technology Ventures, and Warren Packard, Managing
Director of Draper Fisher Jurvetson.

The registration fee for companies invited to present is $595 for SVASE Members,
and $750 for non-Members. (Note: SVASE annual individual membership is $99.)

Audience members may register at the Discounted Early Bird rates
at:http://www.acteva.com/booking.cfm?bevaid=172468.

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. For more information about Garage, visit http://www.garage.com

Krause Taylor Associates (For Launch: Silicon Valley)
Jonelle Hester, 408-918-9083
jonelle @krause-taylor.com
or
SVASE
Jeff Lettes, 408-406-1161
Director of Communications
jlettes at globalmediastrategy.com

Copyright Business Wire 2009