MIT/Stanford Venture Lab: Next Generation Search -- the hope, the hype & the chutzpah March 20, 2007

A new crop of startups are hoping to stake their claim in the lucrative search landscape by refining and improving search capabilities. In the past two years, more than 30 search engine companies have been funded, reflecting a renewed optimism that Google isn't the final word in search. Search-engine companies such as Vivisimo, Powerset, Hakia, MCN (Mobile Content Networks), ChaCha, Riya and Snap are moving forward with the idea that fortunes can be made -- even if only a small portion of Google's vast revenue streams can be diverted away from the ubiquitous 800-pound gorilla.

We have put together a group of hot new search companies along with their audacious and innovative leaders. Powerset, which has been touted recently in the NY Times, will be debuting soon with it's proprietary natural language search capabilities; Riya has launched a new product, Like.com, to tap into using visual search technology in the promising arena of online shopping; and MCN (Mobile Content Networks) has launched the industry's first real-time mobile search solution. Join moderator Mike Sigal, CEO of the Guidewire Group, Christine Herron, Director of Omidyar Network, and our panelists as we explore the challenges and opportunities for next generation search.

Speaker:
Barney Pell - CEO and Co-Founder, Powerset

Moderator:
Mike Sigal - CEO and Co-Founder, The Guidewire Group

Panelists:
Christine Herron - Director, Omidyar Network
Phyllis Reuther - CTO, MCN (Mobile Content Networks)
Munjal Shah - CEO and Co-Founder, Riya

About VLAB :
The MIT/Stanford Venture Lab (VLAB) is the San Francisco Bay Area chapter of the MIT Enterprise Forum, a non-profit organization dedicated to promoting the growth and success of high-tech entrepreneurial ventures by connecting ideas, technology and people. We provide a forum for entrepreneurs, industry experts, venture capitalists, private investors and technologists to exchange insights about how to effectively grow high-tech ventures amidst dynamic market risks and challenges. In a world where markets change at breakneck speed, knowledge is a critical source of competitive advantage. Our forums provide an excellent opportunity to network and learn about pivotal business issues, emerging industries and the latest technologies.

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