San Jose, Calif – May 26 , 2009— The Silicon Valley Association of Startup Entrepreneurs (SVASE) today announced the names of the 30 companies invited to present new products at Launch: Silicon Valley 2009 and included on the list of selected companies was CellWand Communications.
CellWand will present 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.
“#TAXI’s strength is its simplicity, and based on their success in Canada, it’s clear CellWand has huge potential in the U.S. market” said Chris Gill, President and CEO of SVASE. “It is a great example of an easy to understand and use solution to a very real problem in a large market.”
This year’s presenters 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 provides a terrific platform for startups to launch their products to the world,” said Gill. “The growing popularity of this major early stage startup event, with the innovation and talent showcased here, have inspired a significant increase in applicants from around the world this year. The result is a must-attend event for potential investors, partners, press, bloggers, entrepreneurs and other Silicon Valley influencers who are searching for those exciting startups that may ultimately become the next great companies to emerge from the Valley.”
Launch: Silicon Valley provides companies with the opportunity to present themselves to investors and other influencers who can help shape their success. In addition to the presentations, participants also have the opportunity to network with the audience at the Pre-Launch: Silicon Valley Event Party on the evening of June 8, as well as at the event itself.
Launch: Silicon Valley is Presented by SVASE and co-sponsored by the early stage venture capital firm Garage Technology Ventures and Microsoft, which will host the event at the Microsoft Silicon Valley campus in Mountain View. Additional sponsors include 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.
For more information about the event, go to: http://launchsiliconvalley.org/index.htm
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
Originally published: 5/20/2009