For those of you who don’t know what TechCrunch is, it’s an editorial website that reports on new technology (primarily Internet startups, and computer-related geekery) over in the U.S. In the past, it’s got a lot of attention and has built a good name for itself by reporting honestly and being fairly successful with their predictions.
So, TechCrunch50 has just been and gone. 52 startups got up on stage and pitched their ideas for $50k, and there were some great ideas – but two things struck me. Firstly, the amount of crap being developed and being pitched as innovative (as a senior developer, I’ve been around the block a few times, and this stuff is NOT innovative), and secondly the need for these startups – their products have such small niches or fill a void only temporarily until a bigger player comes along and wipes them off the face of the net. Ok, ok, so that may be a bit harsh but I’m being realistic!
As for Yammer winning the $50k, I’m stunned. Nothing new, nothing revolutionary (lots “borrowed” from twitter and facebook) and not even that difficult to knock up from a tech perspective.
What do you think? Watch the presentations here: http://www.techcrunch50.com/2008/conference/
