Demofall 2006 is a must watch

Every entrepreneur in technology should be glued to their computer screens today and tomorrow, because DEMOfall 2006 is finally upon us. For those of you who don’t know what DEMO is, it is a 3 day conference held twice a year that allows approx. 70 handpicked companies 6 minutes on stage to launch their new product or service in front of press, venture capitalists and technojunkies.

For these entrepreneurs, getting on stage in the just first half of the battle. Industry maven Chris Shipley personally interviews hundreds of companies every year before picking the final 70 to demonstrate. Factors she looks at go beyond the technology. Viability is a huge consideration. She also gives a critical eye to the management team to ensure that they have what it takes to create a lasting enterprise.

DEMO is the show to watch, because many of the technologies released there are groundbreaking, or at the very least, extremely interesting. Here’s how to follow the show:

Watch the Demonstrations. This year, the videos will be uploaded during the show.

Follow the buzz. Michael Arrington’s Techcrunch does an excellent job at analysing the demonstrators

Read the blogs. DEMO.com is providing a live blog feed via Denver-based (and former DEMO participant) Newsgator.

Read the press. A live feed of all press surrounding DEMO.

Entrepreneurs should pay close attention to the videos. Beyond the technology, the Demonstrators are often extremely effective at showing how to do a fast pitch in front of a critical and demanding crowd. In fact, the participants with the best demo are crowned DEMOgods at the end of the show.

Disclosure: I work on a significant portion of the marketing for the DEMO brand.