The TechCrunch50/DEMO Conference feud continues thanks to the DEMO Conference organizers upping the ante with a $1 Million online advertising package being awarding to the top enterprise and consumer technologies.
Not surprisingly, TechCrunch's Michael Arrington is steamed and has promised to double the prize package offered by the DEMO Conference.
Unlike last year, attendees no longer have to pick one event over the other as they no longer fall on the same date. With TechCrunch50 taking place on September 14-15th in San Francisco and DEMO the following week in San Diego on September 21-23rd, most assumed the similar startup pitch events could both survive.
Not if it's up to Arrington - he still argues that DEMO's $20K "pay-to-pitch" is bad all-around. Startups get gouged when they are most vulnerable AND attendees get shortchanged as well with the presenting company lineup full of those with the means to pay instead of the best startup ideas.
So, will any of our readers be attending either event in September?
Well, I'm a two-time DEMO alumnus and have been pleased with the results both times. The ~$20K spent on each launch has been well worth it from both investor interest and in terms of efficiency in reaching tech press... like a lot of these shows, you can count on writers being there and the event gives you a framework around which to build your meetings. I think that F2F media briefings on the whole are way more effective than phone calls.
That said, I have also been to TC40 and TC50 but haven't pitched there. The peanut gallery-effect can be hard on startups with weak propositions or unprepared management, however this makes it entertaining. It is somewhat unkind of Michael to throw lambs to the wolves as he does occasionally. This is a cornerstone event and like DEMO is a very efficient way to reach out to media and VCs.
Sorry, but $20K for a media launch (plus travel expenses etc.) is a pittance -- even for a startup. If you can't spring for that then it's doubtful you could support a proper media launch anyway.
