DEMO: The Launchpad for Emerging Technology

As a Venture Capitalist, I go to a lot of conferences in a year. I go to some of them to learn about interesting new technologies. I go to others to meet interesting people. I go to some to be informed. I go to others to be entertained. I go to DEMO each year for all of the above.
- David Hornik, General Partner, August Capital

A gathering of revolutionary technology companies, influential journalists and venture investors. Is there a better venue for a product launch?
- David St. Angelo, VP, Valance Technology

I've looked to DEMO over the years to stir up my creative technology juices. I've never been disappointed.
- Ike Nassi, CTO, Firetide

DEMO is the definition of serious fun. Serious technology presented in a fun way. Serious outcomes from fun people. If you're serious about this industry you can't afford to miss the competitive advantage attending represents.
- Michael Skok, General Partner, Northbridge Venture Partners

EMO is the best mirror to reflect what's happening - or about to happen - in the industry. The categories and products change every year and that's the point: that's what's going on right then and that's what you have to watch throughout the year. Some years it's heavily consumer-focused - gadgets and gizmos - some years its been enterprise systems and some years its been tools. But DEMO has always been an accurate gauge for the industry
- Te Smith, Senior Director of Corporate Communications, Zone Labs

So much was gained from following DEMO's best practice guidelines about how to message, be disciplined, and demo a product. It inspired a lot about how we do marketing. And imposing a deadline on product demo really put a fire under our engineering. It influences how we rapidly develop new product releases today."
- Marco Peterson, chair and co-founder of TimeTrade (DEMO 08)

The Demo Team is amazing. The support they provide to each company enables each to reach their full potential. When you get to the show, you realize how much planning, care and thought goes into supporting each Demo company. While the planning and thought is required, it is the care that most impressed me. Everyone is working the hardest to make you successful. Thank you Chris and Team.
- René Lacerte, CEO/Founder Bill.com (formerly CashView), Demo Fall 2007

The whole event makes you think carefully about key messages to give potential investors/customers. I was skeptical about the '6 minutes' idea but this seemed to really be a great leveler and the whole event seemed to fizz as result of this. The whole DEMO concept has been refined over the years and obviously has a winning formula.
- Mike Foss, Engineering Operations Director, Tao Group Limited

DEMO was the perfect forum to become acquainted with complementary technologies and key members of the press. We look forward to attending future DEMOs.
- Bruce Marcus, President, Stata Labs

DEMO was a perfect venue to unveil Danger. We were pleased with the top notch press and attendees. DEMO cut through the hype and delivered the goods - a very worthwhile event!
- Andy Rubin, President & CEO, Danger

DEMO provided Trigence with an amazing opportunity to launch our new software to an 'A' list audience of peers, press, analysts, venture capitalists, potential partners and customers.
- David Roth, CEO and President, Trigence

The networking opportunities, both with established companies and our fellow demonstrators, created a wonderful camaraderie that will be forever remembered. We all left the conference making plans to meet again for a DEMO Reunion. There is no competition for 'who will be best'. We all cheered for each other's success.
- Paulo Vieira, Chief Architect, NanoLearning, Inc.

DEMO for years has held a unique position as a launching pad. Every bit of it earned. It's an unusual industry event that provides the exposure you desperately need and can hardly afford as a start up. But the rare ingredient is Chris. Her historical understanding of the technology industry - and her ability to find what's special about your role in it - is pure nourishment to the start up team.
- Leslie Latham, VP Marketing, Mirra, Inc.

Year after year, Chris and her team exceed our expectations with créme of the crop press, top notch business and venture capital attendees, timely speakers and demo sessions - and most of all - an extremely well organized and absolutely enjoyable event. We gained more early traction from the press and business community from our presence at the show than we could have ever anticipated.
- Courtney Brigham, Senior Marcom Manager, EverNote Corporation

WebEx launched at DEMO 99 and since then we've changed the way the world thinks about meetings. Prior to DEMO no one new what Web conferencing was. Launching WebEx at DEMO allowed us to break through all the clutter of the Dot Com binge and show you could have a great product despite all the hype. And launch a whole new category in the process. Since then WebEx has become the undisputed leader in online meetings. I have tremendous admiration for Chris Shipley's sharp eye for the Real Next Big Thing.
- David Thompson, VP, Worldwide Marketing, WebEx

It is a supreme paradox that in a time when we are able to get our hands on any bit of information we want within seconds, we are still in a perpetual state of anxiety when it comes to making business decisions regarding adoption of new technologies. Because we are drowning in this sea of data, we need an event like DEMO to sort out the truly important technologies for our businesses as well as our lives. I have personally had the pleasure of launching four products at DEMO, and can categorically state that no other event comes close to DEMO in ensuring a successful launch for a new technology/product.
- Kim Shah, VP, Marketing, Convoq

DEMO was a very important event for our company, one that we will never forget. We received numerous accolades from investors, potential partners, and even potential customers.
- Oren Asher, CEO, Qnext

DEMO has been a phenomenal success for us. The press coverage is great and now people are calling us.
- Tim Sylvester, President & CEO, Molino Networks

So DEMO might not be big, but it’s hot. And if you really care about which way the tech industry is headed, it makes sense to pay attention to January’s little show, along with the San Francisco Applefest and the Las Vegas Gadgetfest.
- Jon Fortt, Fortune

For an early look at emerging technologies, the DEMO conferences can't be beat. Attended by corporate execs, entrepreneurs, venture capitalists and other tech junkies, the semiannual events feature demonstrations of dozens of new products, none of which has previously been shown publicly. Unlike other trade shows that allow any company that can afford it to exhibit, each product at the DEMO conferences is handpicked by executive producer Chris Shipley, a discerning journalist and analyst who has covered the industry for more than 20 years.
- Mary Kathleen Flynn, The Deal

DEMOfall is a rare breed of technology conference, one that distills a presentation to its essence and gives those on hand a unique chance to see dozens of companies' products and services in a very short period of time.
- Daniel Terdiman, CNET News.com

The annual DEMO conference... is regarded as one of the best places to find out what early-stage tech companies are working on.
- Scott Kirsner, Boston Globe

What will be the next great technology start-ups of tomorrow? What must-have gadgets and killer applications are in our future? That's what venture capitalists and journalists were hoping to unearth in the desert last week at IDG's annual DEMO conference. …the confab thrown by technology magazine publisher IDG is an annual ritual where geeks congregate to demonstrate (hence the name) their latest innovations and, they hope, attract additional capital or grassroots branding buzz.
- Mark Veverka, Barron's

I am eagerly anticipating the DEMO conference... In years past, the influential tech shindig has been the launching pad for Palm, Handspring, the Java programming language and E*TRADE
- Ed Baig, USA Today