DEMO@15! Conference Unveils Top 15 Innovators
Conference Honors Those Who Defined the Best Products and Technologies of the last 15 years

SOUTHBOROUGH, MA - December 15, 2004 - In reaching its 15th anniversary, the widely acclaimed DEMO conference has much to celebrate. As the launch pad for more than 1,500 technology products over the years, DEMO continues to shine as the one conference that identifies and creates contexts for emerging trends in the technology industry.

"We at DEMO are proud of our history and reputation as a forecaster in technology. Sure, DEMO ushered in such products as Java, TiVo, the original Palm Pilot, and E*Trade services. But we've also heralded technologies that instigated profound market changes, then made way for even better products," said Chris Shipley, DEMO executive producer. "DEMO@15! will continue our proud tradition, showcasing the 70 best new technologies I've seen. Some of these will go on to become household names and others will catalyze development that will alter our lives for the next five to 10 years."

The DEMO@15! conference program will also recognize those who defined the best products and technologies of the last 15 years. A celebratory dinner during the conference will honor those movers and shakers that have altered technological life as we know it through their DEMO product introductions. The top 15 innovators of the last 15 years are:

  • Dr. Teresa H. Meng, Founder & Director, Atheros Communications, for playing a primary role in creating the WiFi economy.
  • Kai Krause, Founder, Byteburg Research Lab, for pushing the envelope in software demonstrations over the years and advancing state-of-the-art computer graphics.
  • Howard D. Elias, Executive Vice President, EMC Corporation, who demonstrated the first multimedia PC at the inaugural DEMO conference in 1991.
  • Sergey Brin and Larry Page, Co-Founders & Presidents, Google, for stepping into a market that conventional wisdom would have said was crowded and mature and demonstrating that smart, fresh innovation can disrupt a market and create a dynamic and ultimately gigantic company.
  • Les Vadasz, former President of Intel Capital, for providing rocket fuel for many fledgling companies that got their start at DEMO.
  • Marc Andreessen, Chairman, Opsware, for his early browser product at Netscape to rapid Web development services of Loudcloud.
  • Ed Colligan, President, palmOne, Inc.; Jeff Hawkins, CTO, palmOne, Inc.; and Donna Dubinsky, Co-Founder, Handspring, for the vision, persistence and innovation in creating a remarkable product and, in the end, an industry. There is no better "poster child" for DEMO than the PalmPilot and we are proud of the role the conference played in bringing it to market.
  • Marc Benioff, Chairman & CEO, Salesforce.com, for almost single-handedly legitimizing the ASP business model.
  • Mena and Ben Trott, Co-Founders, Six Apart, for making blogging accessible, affordable and powerful, giving a voice to tens of thousands of individuals.
  • Mike Ramsay, Chairman & CEO, TiVo Inc., for fundamentally altering how we consume mass media.
  • Dan Bricklin, Founder & CEO, Trellix Corporation, for sharing his vision and innovation with the DEMO audience countless times, from early tablet computing to smart visual display of Web-based information.

Special honors will be given to Stewart Alsop, General Partner of New Enterprise Associates and Founder of the DEMO conference. DEMO is a unique and wonderful event, and it is owing to Mr. Alsop's vision to create a technology conference centered on products demonstrated to peers in an enjoyable environment that encouraged business and social networking. DEMO is proud and honored to recognize Mr. Alsop as a remarkable and innovative voice in the industry and the event's esteemed founder.

DEMO@15! is the result of months of searching by Shipley to find the most compelling and most likely-to-succeed companies in technology today. Shipley's judgment, thanks to her 20 years in the industry, is considered a litmus test for new technologies by investors and innovators alike.

Approximately 70 companies will launch new, never-before-seen products and services at the conference. Each company who launches at DEMO, regardless of size, faces the same tough screening process. Marketing budgets are checked at the door in favor of nitty-gritty technological detail. It's technology vs. technology on a level field. DEMO@15! takes place February 13-15, 2005 at the Westin Kierland Resort & Spa in Scottsdale, Arizona. Online registration is available at http://www.demo.com.

The DEMO@15! conference provides an intimate environment where a select group of decision-makers from emerging companies, respected veterans, sought-after VCs, top analysts and influential journalists engage in the mutual pursuit of what's next. At DEMO@15!, attendees exchange ideas, connections and opportunities.

Among the programs in store for DEMO@15!:

  • The Living Digital Pavilion - 15 of the coolest and most innovative consumer technologies showcased in a home environment, ALL of which will be raffled off to attendees!
  • Anniversary Celebration Dinner - A celebratory dinner commemorating 15 years of technology innovation and honoring our elite list of innovators.
  • 15 Great Moments at DEMO - Be sure to check out the DEMOletter Blog each week for the countdown of DEMO's greatest moments. You can even nominate your own! http://www.demo.com/demoletter/

NOTE TO MEDIA: Press attendance is by invitation only and is non-transferable. If you are interested in attending, contact Becky Sniffen at becky@mc2pr.net or Carla Thompson at carla@mc2pr.net. Space for media is limited so please express your interest early.

DEMO@15! Partners
DEMO@15! partners are introNetworks and Porter Novelli. Media partners are Network Life and PR Newswire. Marketing partners are Arizona Technology Council, Backbone Magazine, LAVA (Los Angeles Venture Association), Market4Demand, Mobile Enterprise, SIIA (Software and Information Industry Association), and SVASE (Silicon Valley Association of Startup Entrepreneurs).

About the DEMO Conferences
The annual DEMO conferences focus on emerging technologies and new products, which are hand-selected from across the spectrum of the technology marketplace. The DEMO conferences have earned their reputation for consistently identifying tomorrow's cutting-edge technologies, and have served as launch pad events for companies such as Palm, E*Trade, Handspring, and U.S. Robotics, helping them to secure venture funding, establish critical business relationships, and influence early adopters. Each DEMO conference features approximately 70 new companies, products and technologies. For more information on the DEMO conferences, visit http://www.demo.com/.

The DEMO community also benefits from the award winning DEMOletter. A weekly e-newsletter designed to reach the people who are creating companies, building products and launching new ideas, DEMOletter provides smart insight and analysis of entrepreneurial business issues.

About Network World
Network World, Inc., the Leader in Network Knowledge, empowers Network IT Executives through education, information and community. Network World, an IDG company, is the leading provider of news, analysis, reviews, events and education on information technology. Network World publishes the leading newsweekly, Network World, hosts the most active online community, Network World Fusion (http://www.nwfusion.com), and produces educational seminars and events worldwide. Network World's portfolio of strategic marketing programs provides marketing and agency professionals with the tools to generate high-quality leads, optimize marketing campaigns, and create new revenue opportunities.

About IDG
International Data Group (IDG) is the world's leading technology media, research, and event company. A privately-held company, IDG publishes more than 300 magazines and newspapers including Bio-IT World, CIO, CSO, Computerworld, GamePro, InfoWorld, Network World, and PC World. The company features the largest network of technology-specific Web sites with more than 400 around the world. IDG is also a leading producer of more than 170 computer-related events worldwide including LinuxWorld Conference & Expo, MacWorld Conference & Expo, DEMO, and IDC Directions. IDC provides global market research and advice through offices in 50 countries. Company information is available at http://www.idg.com.

For More Information Contact
MC2 Communications for DEMO@15!:

Carla Thompson
972-562-0740
carla@mc2pr.net

Becky Sniffen
510-531-1710
becky@mc2pr.net