Entrepreneurs from around the world pitched for funds at Silicon Valley event today

June 9, 11:38 PMTechie to Trendy ExaminerAsa Murphy

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The Silicon Valley Association of Startup Entrepreneurs (SVASE) today hosted 30 tech startup companies pitching to an audience of VCs and peers at the Microsoft campus in Mountain View CA, during its annual Launch Silicon Valley event.

The presenters were selected among 400 applicants from around the world across mobility, information technology, digital media and clean energy. The event was co-sponsored by Garage Technology Ventures (founded by Silicon Valley icon Guy Kawasaki), and by Microsoft.

Each company was given 6 min to present. Each presentation was followed by a 4 min Q&A led by a panel of VCs. A total of 6 companies were selected in the end as the most likely to succeed, based on votes by VCs and by the audience.

Here are a few of my favorites for innovation and clear positioning.

• GazoPa. An incredible image search tool, developed by a Japanese team. It allows users to upload or draw a picture, which the software uses to search for similar images on the web. GazoPa is pure power.
• CellWand. A mobile application, this time from our friends to the north, which simplifies a traveler’s life by letting her use #TAXI to order taxi service. #TAXI searches for an available cab company nearby and books it. The company has plans to launch #PIZZA and other intuitive solutions, which will become available on a subscription basis.
• Socialibrium. Another example of simplicity and a clear value proposition, this time in the form of a CRM (customer relationship management system) for people not in sales. It is an easy-to-use interface designed for the mobile phone, which allows professionals (lawyers, finance managers etc) to track contacts and the history of their interactions.

Here is the list of the six companies voted most likely to succeed, in no particular order:

1. eCitySky
2. InDx Logic
3. CellWand
4. Replay solutions
5. HearPlanet
6. Lumiette