SVASE Announces uTest for the `Most Promising New Company' Award

The Silicon Valley Association of Startup Entrepreneurs (SVASE) today announced its selections for the "Most Promising New Company" at "Launch: Silicon Valley 2008," which was held yesterday at Microsoft's Silicon Valley campus. Thirty companies were chosen to present at the annual event, which had a record 266 applicants this year.

The winners in each of the presenting categories included:

• Next Generation Internet: Dayak
• Semiconductor/Industrial: Loadstar Sensors
• Next Generation Internet: Triggit
• Life Science & Acoustics: Sensear (from Australia)
• Computing: uTest
• Media & Mobility: Dial2Do

Dayak, is the world's first online recruiting marketplace that links employers with a nationwide network of professionally trained recruiters in order to fill jobs faster and save employers money.

Triggit, dramatically simplifies the process of monetizing Websites. Using Triggit's unique technology, web publishers can start running ads across their entire site with just the click of a mouse and one simple line of code.

Loadstar Sensors Inc. is a leader in the design and manufacture of capacitive load sensors for automotive, aerospace, medical device and industrial applications.

Sensear has developed the Patent Pending SENS (Speech Enhancing Noise Suppressing) Technology, the world's first speech enhancement device that enables clear communication in high noise environments. Sensear has a first mover advantage in the industrial sector and is uniquely positioned to create and dominate a new speech enhancement device market targeting consumers with hearing loss.

uTest is the first ever, on-demand global marketplace for software application testing-providing companies with testing services by a global community of professional software testers.

Dial2Do is a phone service that gives users a phone number to call to get things done, hands-free. It lets them make use of driving time to send emails/texts, create reminders, listen to selected content and use a range of other hands-free services, safely and easily. Users just dial the number and say what they want to do.

"Yesterday's event was a smashing success, with well over 300 people attending. We think the audience had a chance to preview some of the most innovative and compelling startups in the marketplace today," said Chris Gill, President and CEO of SVASE. "We look forward to monitoring the future successes of these companies."

For more information about the event, and overview of all the companies that presented at "Launch: Silicon Valley 2008," please click here.

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.

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. Garage is also the creator of the "Art of the Start," a renowned conference series for entrepreneur education. For more information about Garage, please visit www.garage.com.

Source: Silicon Valley Association of Startup Entrepreneurs