Although several Aussies have made it into the heralded TechCrunch50, such as Spellr.us, this year was not the year. And although none are in the tops group, there are still several presenting in the Demo Pit and even more attending simply to learn, rub shoulders and promote their business.
At the Demo Pit, a place where businesses get a one-day opportunity to show of their site to attendees for a chance at getting to take the stage with the 50, we found 360 Desktop and Australian Evan Jones. 360 Desktop allows a user to create a rotating desktop background, as though you had two side-by-side monitors, giving far more desktop space to even the smallest computer. Beyond just an expansion of space, it put the internet onto the desktop allowing the desktop to move, or internet apps or clips to be dropped into it, so without logging in, your twitter, CNN headlines and more can all be held on the desktop.
There were also several businesses showcasing ways to help the startup, and one interesting concept that got some doubtful remarks from judges was The Swop. It’s not new for any startup to occasionally deal in favors with friends or other businesses. The Swop basically put a value on these favors and creates a space for startups to deal in the economy of these favors. It allows new people to use get favor credits as a way to start building up their business, or for a startup to save thousands in the beginning paying part in money and part in favors.
