This week marks the start of our search for the companies and products that will make their debut at DEMO 09, March 1 to 3, in Palm Springs, California. But before DEMOfall 08 becomes a distant spot in the rear view mirror, it’s imperative that Guidewire Group puts the cap on that event by selecting the 10 companies of DEMOfall 08 that we think will outperform among this remarkably talented group of companies that presented at the event in September.
The practice of highlighting 10 companies was spurred on by IDG Ventures’ Pat Kenealy, who challenged me at DEMO 08 to identify the companies at the conference that would out-perform typical venture portfolio metrics. And thus began what with this second issue is a new tradition: Guidewire Group’s list of the 10 companies we predict will prove most fundable, and most profitable, of the portfolio that is the demonstrating class of each DEMO Conference. This is no easy task. Carla and I spent months screening hundreds of companies in order to identify the Class of DEMOfall 2008. In each company, we found something innovative and important, so calling out just 10 companies is a bit like asking a mother to identify her favorite children.
As with the DEMO 08 Top 10 List, I decided to wait a few weeks for the post-DEMO media to play out so as not to influence coverage of any of the 72 DEMOfall 08. But now, the time has come. So here, in no particular order, are the Guidewire Group Top 10 of DEMOfall 08: Read the rest of this entry »
