SAN FRANCISCO & BEIJING--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Innovation Works has partnered with TechCrunch, the largest blog on technology innovation in the world and an AOL company, to produce the first-ever international version of TechCrunch’s popular conference series, Disrupt.
"TechCrunch Disrupt has always been a conference with a global mission, and we are delighted to expand it to Beijing-- one of the most exciting hubs for technology innovation in the world,” said TechCrunch CEO and AOL Technology General Manager, Heather Harde.” We are honored to partner with resident technology leader and liaison, Kai-Fu Lee and his Innovation Works team for our first ever Beijing conference. Partnering with him for this event, TechCrunch is excited to learn a lot, share a lot and report a lot about the ways technology is impacting one of the most important markets of the global economy."
The conference will be held October 28-November 1 at the China National Convention Center in Beijing. The four-day event will include a two-day Hackathon where developers can register to come build online and mobile applications in twenty-four hours, and a two-day conference with an expo area, a high-stakes start up competition and keynotes from some of the biggest names in technology.
The start up competition, called "the Startup Battlefield," presents an opportunity for the next big tech idea to be discovered and launch on a global platform and compete for US$50,000 cash prize. An open call for submissions has begun online (http://applybj.tcdisrupt.com) for brand-new technology innovations that are fewer than 2 years old with minimal to no press exposure. Startups may submit applications now and should include a video showing the product. Submissions will be accepted until Monday, September 26.
The who's who of China and Silicon Valley tech scenes will be speaking at Disrupt. Featured keynote speakers will include Tencent CEO Pony Ma, YouTube Co-founder Steve Chen, Disrupt partner and Innovation Works founder Dr. Kai-Fu Lee, Rovio Mighty Eagle Peter Vesterbacka, entrepreneur and angel investor Lei Jun, Evernote CEO and Founder Phil Libin, Instagram CEO and Founder Kevin Systrom, Jawbone Founder and CEO Hosain Rahman and the founders of three of the largest group buying sites in China Lashou, 24quan and Meituan, among many others.
TechCrunch will also be expanding both English and Chinese-language coverage of technology to support the conference. The conference will also feature full English and Chinese language translation services onsite, in order for speakers and presenters to speak in their native language and facilitate greater understanding.
“Beijing and Silicon Valley are the two most exciting places to start a company in the world today,” said TechCrunch Senior Editor Sarah Lacy, who reported extensively in China for her latest book “Brilliant, Crazy Cocky: How the Top 1% of Entrepreneurs Profit from Global Chaos” (Wiley, 2011.) “TechCrunch has spent years evaluating the best way to help our audience in Silicon Valley build a bridge with entrepreneurs in China. We knew Innovation Works would be the perfect partner to make this vision a reality, especially due to Dr. Lee’s vast experience working between Silicon Valley and China. We can’t wait to showcase the best developer and entrepreneurial talent in China to our global audience and bring the Disrupt Cup to Beijing.”
Innovation Works' Chairman and CEO Kaifu Lee said, "We are excited to be partnering with a world-class organization such as TechCrunch in bringing their signature Disrupt conference to Beijing. China's growth and development, especially in the Internet and mobile Internet space, means the time is ripe for entrepreneurs. We hope to help make Disrupt Beijing the preeminent platform for showcasing the most groundbreaking Chinese companies, and to help these companies make a global impact."
Innovation Works has provided TechCrunch valuable feedback and introductions in the Chinese market, while TechCrunch will be solely responsible for the editorial content on stage and decisions over who will compete in the Startup Battlefield.
About TechCrunch Disrupt Beijing
TechCrunch Disrupt Beijing (http://disrupt.techcrunch.com/bj2011) is technology blog TechCrunch's first international conference. Disrupt Beijing will include all the features of the popular US Disrupt conferences held in New York and San Francisco which typically attracts over 2,500 leading technology innovators and investors and over 150 new startups. The Beijing conference will feature the popular Hackathon -- a 24-hour competition where over 500 innovators develop and present new products. TechCrunch Disrupt conference follows with a format that combines thought-leading discussions with new product and company launches. Morning executive discussions debate the timeliest disruptions in the technology industry. In the afternoons, new companies will launch for the first time on stage during Startup Battlefield. Approximately 15 start up companies will be selected for Disrupt Beijing Battlefield, from an applicant pool that is historically more than 1,000 applications at the US events. Another 80 early-stage startups will exhibit in the Beijing Startup Alley and exhibit hall. TechCrunch will award a US $50,000 grand prize along with other award recognitions at the conclusion of the conference. The Hackathon is October 29-30; the main conference is October 31-November 1, 2011 at the China National Convention Center in Beijing, China.
About TechCrunch
TechCrunch (www.techcrunch.com) is a leading technology media network dedicated to obsessively profiling and reviewing new Internet products and companies. Founded by Michael Arrington in 2005, TechCrunch and its network of websites reach over 13 million unique visitors and more than 30 million page views per month. TechCrunch was acquired by AOL in 2011 and operates a global network of websites including dedicated properties in Europe and Japan. TechCrunch's CrunchBase is the leading open database about startup companies, people, and investors. In addition to TechCrunch Disrupt, TechCrunch hosts a number of other recognized conferences and events, including the Crunchies Awards (http://crunchies2010.techcrunch.com) and various meet-ups worldwide, serving as community platforms for industry conversation and collaboration.
About Innovation Works
Founded by Dr. Kai-Fu Lee in September 2009, Innovation Works is committed to helping Chinese young people create successful start-up companies. Innovation Works is an investment company focusing on making early-stage high-tech investments, coaching young entrepreneurs, and providing complete services to help these start-ups. These services are highly valuable to start-up entrepreneurs including: funding, business plan optimization, technology guidance, marketing, human resource, legal assistance and staff training. Innovation Works helps start-up companies to launch smoothly and grow rapidly in the early stage. It also helps entrepreneurs develop many products with great market value and commercial potential. Innovation Works will invest in the cutting-edge of information technology: mobile Internet, consumer Internet, e-commerce, and cloud computing.
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