Its That Time of Year: Summit Season & Launch Pad 3.0

....and attention all startups, this year's Launch Pad is now VC-sponsored...that's right, there is no fee for companies involved and the format has changed somewhat with the emphasis leaning on actualizing VC funding. The judging panel will consist of six VC's who will choose 8 finalists to give a ten minute pitch to the panel and the entire Web 2.0 Summit audience. The judging panel may also, at any time, offer applicants non-binding term sheets for financing. The submission deadline for Launch Pad 2007 is October 1st and you can get the submission form here.

Participating VC's for this year include Christ Albinson and Mike Jung from Panorama/JP Morgan; Mark Jacobsen from O'Reilly AlphaTech Ventures; Michael Skok and Dayna Grayson of North Bridge Venture Partners; and, Jim Lussier of Norwest Venture Partners.

Past Launch Pad participants include:

Adify
Instructibles
Sphere
Flock
Orb
Socialtext
Wink
Zimbra
Zvents