Announcing The TechCrunch50 Finalists

Tuesday, September 9, 2008

Session 5: Collaboration. 9:00 - 10:15am

Tingz ( CB) ? Offers a unified platform for delivering internet content across multiple devices including mobile phones and PCs MIXTT ( CB) ? A group based social network/dating site that encourages real world interaction that's more comfortable than the 1-on-1 format of most similar sites Imindi ( CB) ? Based on neuroscientific principles, Imindi?s Thought Engine tries to exceed human thought and help its users find new ideas, concepts, and questions on the Web Popego ( CB) ? Surfaces the most meaningful information from within your social graph based on your interests and other factors

Session 6: Finance & Statistics. 10:30 -11:45am

PersonalRIA ( CB) ? Allows users to shadow a professional investment advisor's portfolio, automatically executing trades (which most brokerage sites cannot do) Emerginvest ( CB) ? A global finance portal that helps you invest in international stock markets. ExchangeP ( CB) ? Dubbed a ?fantasy stock market,? ExhangeP?s service allows users to sign up for free and start investing in private companies Me-trics ( CB) ? Lets you see how mood, weight, and goals correlate with other metrics, including web services like Facebook or RescueTimeiCharts ( CB) ? YouTube for embeddable, interactive charts

Session 7: Mobile. 2:15 - 3:30pm

Mytopia ( CB) ? A gaming platform that lets players compete across mobile devices and social networks Tonchidot ( CB) ? Makes the Sekai Camera, a camera system that aims to merge the virtual and real worlds by using a digital device as a viewfinder Mobclix ( CB) ? An analytics and monetization platform for iPhone developers FitBit ( CB) ? Developing a small wireless sensor called the Fitbit Tracker, which automatically records data about a person?s activities, calories burned, sleep quality, steps, and distance throughout the day

Session 8: Language & Communication Tools. 3:45 - 5:00pm

Alfabetic ( CB) ? Translates any blog or Website into another language and places ads alongside it in the new tongue Postbox ( CB) ? Based on Mozilla technology, Postbox saves users time when looking for particular information within their email Swype ( CB) ? A new method of text input on touch screens; does away with traditional "hunt and peck" in favor of a more fluid motion DropBox ( CB) ? Provides an easy way to backup your files, share them with coworkers and friends, and synchronize them between computers

Wednesday, September 10, 2008

Session 9: Rich Media. 9:00 - 10:15am

VideoSurf ( CB) ? A visual video search engine that allow users to search across millions of videos for a given actor and to view summaries of videos through a series of detected keyframes GazoPa ( CB) ? An image search engine developed by Hitachi that uses visual similarities between photos to suggest matches (rather than simply relying on keywords). Fotonauts ( CB) ? A photo sharing application that turns every album instantly into a Web page. Bojam ( CB) ? Although there are a slew of online music services already on the Web, Bojam is trying to do something a bit different: it wants to connect musicians and allow them to collaborate over the Web.

Session 10: Games. 10:30 - 11:45am

Grockit ( CB) - A "Massively Multi-Player Online Learning Game" Akoha ( CB) ? A web-based social game played with trading cards aimed at spreading good deeds around the world Atmosphir? A platform for creating 3D interactive games by selecting blocks (such as a sand castle tower, fireball-breathing bird, or trap door) and snapping them onto a grid. PlaYce ( CB) ? Provides a 3D virtual world inside the browser for games and social interaction that is based on the real world

Session 11: Vertical Social Networking. 2:15 - 3:30pm

Birdpost ( CB) ? A social network for birdwatchers Closet Couture? Fashionistas need a social network too and Closet Couture is looking to give them one by connecting them to other fashion lovers, stylists, and retailers Footnote ( CB) ? For those looking to create historical records of loved ones or themselves, Footnote offers a timeline-based archive where you can upload photos and documents linked to historical databases Causecast ( CB) ? Causecast leverages social networking to connect nonprofits, leaders, celebrities and brands with those who want to make a difference through good causes Shattered Reality Interactive ( CB) ? A new massively multiplayer online game (think World of Warcraft) that lets the crowd guide the direction of future expansions

Session 12: Research & Recommendations. 3:45 - 5:00pm

GoodGuide ( CB) - Provides information on the health, environmental, and social impacts of products and companies GoPlanit ( CB) ? A one-click travel planner that assembles a customized trip itinerary with the click of a button; also supports mobile microblogging TrueCar ( CB) - A site that allows users to assess the current market value of their automobiles in a given geographic area Goodrec ( CB) - A mobile and online recommendation service that provides brief, to-the-point recommendations from friends and trusted sources