Web 2.0 Conference to Feature 'Birth' of New Companies During Event's Launch Pad Workshop

O'Reilly Media, Inc. and CMP Technology, co-producers of the annual Web 2.0 Conference, today jointly announced the return of the Launch Pad Workshop, a popular segment that will welcome 13 start-ups to the Internet world. The inaugural Launch Pad Workshop took place during the 2005 Web 2.0 Conference, giving newcomers and innovators in the market an opportunity to debut their companies or launch new products on stage in front of influential press and attendees, and will do the same at this year's event. Companies that have publicly debuted at the Web 2.0 Conference in past years include SpikeSource, JotSpot, SocialText, Rojo and Zimbra. The Web 2.0 Conference takes place November 7-9, 2006 at the Palace Hotel in San Francisco.

The Launch Pad Workshop will take place on Opening Day, November 7 at 2PM, and will be open to all attendees and press. This showcase will feature a select group of start-ups offering a promising new business model or innovative technology -- or both. Out of over 250 entries that vied for inclusion, only 13 made the cut, and this year's competition for Launch Pad inclusion has been even fiercer than in 2005. Sponsors who will be launching their companies and participating in Launch Pad include:

  * 3B
  * ADIFY
  * In the Chair
  * Instructables
  * oDesk
  * Omnidrive
  * Pidgin Technologies
  * Sharpcast
  * Sphere
  * Stikkit
  * TimeBridge
  * Turn
  * Venyo

"The Web 2.0 Conference has become the gathering place for business leaders of the new Web, showcasing industry titans as well as startups eager to make their names in the market," said John Battelle, Web 2.0 Program Chair. "The participants in this year's Launch Pad Workshop are perfect examples of companies that are reshaping the business landscape and creating opportunities leveraging the power of the Internet."

"The Web 2.0 Conference is a unique opportunity to learn about innovative new technology and network with entrepreneurs in the growing areas of consumer and business Internet, both of which are investment priorities for Intel Capital," said Angela Biever, Managing Director, Consumer Internet. "We are excited to be a sponsor of the Web 2.0 Conference since it provides a strong venue for our portfolio companies to gain visibility and find new business development opportunities," added Lisa Lambert, Intel Capital Managing Director, Software and Solutions.

Final determination of these 13 Launch Pad companies from over 250 submissions was made by John Battelle, Web 2.0's Executive Producer, in concert with an advisory board of noted entrepreneurs, VCs, and industry analysts:

  * Jim Bankoff - Programming Chief, AOL
  * Ross Levinsohn - President, Fox Interactive Media
  * Megan Smith - Director, New Business Development and Strategy, Google
  * Shana Fisher - Sr. VP, Strategy and M&A, IAC
  * Allen Morgan - Managing Director, Mayfield Fund
  * Jim Lussier - General Partner, Norwest Venture Partners
  * Bryce Roberts - Managing Director, O'Reilly AlphaTech Ventures
  * Mark Jacobsen - Managing Director, O'Reilly AlphaTech Ventures
  * Chris Albinson - Founding Partner, Panorama Capital
  * Mike Jung - Principal, Panorama Capital
  * Michael Hirshland - General Partner, Polaris Venture Partners
  * Mike Arrington - Editor, Techcrunch
  * Fred Wilson - Managing Partner, Union Square Ventures
  * Bradley Horowitz - VP Product Strategy, Yahoo!

The Web 2.0 Conference focuses on emerging business and technology developments that utilize the Web as a platform and defines how the Web will drive business in the future. What began as a focused gathering on the implications of the Web becoming a platform has transformed into an industry event focused on the latest Internet innovations that are redefining the way companies do business and how people live.

The Web 2.0 Conference is known for its interactive format stressing audience interaction and participation. Through incisive plenary sessions, cut-through-the-hype onstage conversations, rapid-fire "high order bits" and "show me" presentations and in-depth workshops, visionaries and executives from platform businesses will present their unique perspective on the Web's future-in-flux.

About CMP Technology

CMP Technology (http://www.cmp.com/ ) is a marketing solutions company serving the technology industry. Through its market-leading portfolio of trusted information brands, CMP has earned the confidence of more technology professionals than any other media company. As a result, CMP is the premier provider of access, insight and actionable programs designed to connect sellers and buyers in ways that yield superior return on investment. CMP Technology is a subsidiary of United Business Media (http://www.unitedbusinessmedia.com/ ), a global provider of news distribution and specialist information services with a market capitalization of more than $3 billion.

About O'Reilly

O'Reilly Media spreads the knowledge of innovators through its books, online services, magazines, and conferences. Since 1978, O'Reilly has been a chronicler and catalyst of leading-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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SOURCE: CMP Technology

CONTACT: Ben Stricker, PR Director of CMP Technology, +1-415-905-2464,
or bstricker@cmp.com; or Suzanne Axtell, Communications Manager of O'Reilly
Media, Inc., suzanne@oreilly.com

Web site: http://www.cmp.com/