San Jose, California – June 11, 2009 – CellWand Communications, a Canadian firm specializing in mobile applications through abbreviated dialing codes, claimed one of the top prizes at Launch: Silicon Valley 2009, being named one of the firms “Most Likely to Succeed” by an audience made up of Silicon Valley’s top venture capitalists, angel investors, entrepreneurs and power brokers.
"Innovation coupled with ease of use always sets itself apart, and there is no question that #TAXI has done that at this event. It's an elegant solution to a real problem, using a compelling business model." said Chris Gill, President and CEO of SVASE.
"With its unique support infrastructure for entrepreneurs, Silicon Valley produces the best prepped startups in the world, so it's very impressive for a firm from outside the Valley to come here and claim one of the top prizes"
CellWand presented their #TAXI service at the event, which recently has been added to major U.S. carrier networks and is now available to the majority of U.S. mobile phone users with anticipation of adding more carriers by the end of 2009. #TAXI is an award winning application first deployed in Canada that has already generated millions of calls and revenue for Canadian wireless carriers.
CellWand was one of six companies to claim with the prestigious “Most Likely to Succeed” award and also walked away with over $40,000 in services from various sponsors.
The event featured the top 30 start-up and early stage businesses out of over 400 applications, including several of the top venture and angel backed firms in Silicon Valley. The 30 presenting firms were selected from almost 400 applicants and span the categories of information technology, mobility, security, digital media, next generation internet, technology and clean energy.
“Launch: Silicon Valley has grown to become a global event showcasing products and services from the most exciting of the newest startups from around the world,” said Gill. “The success of this year’s event, clearly demonstrates that the next generation of emerging technology companies continue to view Silicon Valley as the place to pitch their products to, and network with the top VCs, Angels, corporate executives, prospective customers and partners. Equally as important, this network which SVASE represents is looking to early stage entrepreneurs like these to find the next great company.”
Launch: Silicon Valley is Presented by SVASE and co-sponsored by the early stage venture capital firm Garage Technology Ventures and Microsoft, which hosted the event at the Microsoft Silicon Valley campus in Mountain View. Additional sponsors included Draper Fisher Jurvetson, Townsend Townsend and Crew, Nair & Co., the Band of Angels, Sand Hill Angels, the Angels Forum, Cooley Godward Kronish, The Kauffman Fellows Program, PR Newswire, Halosys Technologies, Keiretsu Forum, Krause-Taylor Associates, Life Science Angels, Link Silicon Valley, and VentureDeal.
About SVASE
Founded in 1995 by entrepreneurs, for entrepreneurs, The Silicon Valley Association of Startup Entrepreneurs (SVASE) is the largest and fastest growing nonprofit in Northern California dedicated exclusively to helping technology and life science entrepreneurs start and grow successful businesses.
SVASE provides support and resources for entrepreneurs, from the idea through initial rounds of funding to product launch, delivered at 12 monthly events and a continually evolving web site. For more information about SVASE, please visit www.svase.org.
About Garage Technology Ventures
Garage Technology Ventures is a seed-stage and early-stage venture capital fund headquartered in Palo Alto, California, with investors that include Thomas Weisel Partners and CalPERS, the California Public Employees Retirement System. Garage is focused on investing in emerging technology startups in the Western U.S. For more information about Garage, visit http://www.garage.com.
About CellWand Communications Inc.
CellWand is North America’s leading provider of mobile search applications through abbreviated dialing codes. Utilizing location based technology, voice recognition and intelligent databases, these lifestyle applications give mobile phone users an easier way of connecting to businesses and information, while providing wireless carriers with increased Average Revenue Per User (ARPU).
CellWand’s first application, #TAXI® (Pound Taxi) is available on virtually every mobile phone in Canada with Bell Mobility, Fido, Rogers, TELUS, Virgin Mobile, Aliant, MTS and SaskTel, and now in the U.S. with AT&T Mobility, Verizon Wireless, Alltel and Boost Mobile. CellWand is a privately held company founded in January 2000 with its headquarters in Toronto, Canada and was recently recognized by IDC as one of the 10 Canadian Wireless Companies to Watch in 2008. #TAXI is a proud corporate sponsor of MADD and MADD Canada as part of promoting an easy way to plan ahead and get home safely after drinking. For more information visit CellWand’s website at www.cellwand.com and www.poundtaxi.com.
Media Contacts:
Jonelle Hester
Krause Taylor Associates (For Launch: Silicon Valley)
jonelle at krause-taylor.com
408-918-9083
OR
Jeff Lettes
Director of Communications (SVASE)
jlettes at globalmediastrategy.com
408-406-1161
OR
Nick Quain
CellWand Communications Inc.
(direct) 613-791-6448
nquain@cellwand.com
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