Innovate!100 Semi-finalists to Pitch in Tallinn, Estonia on June 2nd

SAN FRANCISCO and TALLINN, Estonia, May 27 /PRNewswire/ -- Innovate!2010 is a global program produced by Guidewire Group, the world's leading analyst firm focused exclusively on startups and emerging markets, to identify and promote 100 of the most promising technology startups. As part of the international program, Guidewire Group is hosting a regional 'Pitch Slam' event on June 2 in Tallinn, Estonia.

Taking place at Arengufond's offices, the Tallinn Pitch Slam will feature rapid-fire pitches by a dozen local startups that have been selected as semi-finalists in the Innovate!100 competition. At each session, the semi-finalists will receive invaluable feedback from a panel of expert judges that includes Heidi Kakko, Estonian Development Fund; Allan Martinson, MTVP; Margus Uudam, Ambient Sound Investments; Andrei Korobeinik, Rate Solutions; and Kaushal Chokshi, Quickstart Global.

Startups will be evaluated using Guidewire Group's proprietary G/Score™ assessment methodology, and the G/Scores from the Tallinn Pitch Slam will be aggregated with the results from over 20 other Innovate!2010 Pitch Slam events being held this year to determine the Innovate!100 – a list of top 100 technology, media and communications startups.

Further information on the Innovate!2010 program and the schedule of upcoming Pitch Slam events can be found at www.innovate100.com. To attend the Tallinn Pitch Slam, sign up online at: http://2010pitchslamtallinn.eventbrite.com/.

About Innovate!2010

Innovate!2010 is a global competition to identify and promote the top 100 global technology start-ups. The program enables the most promising startups to gain access to resources and opportunities to accelerate the growth of their companies. Innovate!2010 also enables its partners, including technology and telecommunications vendors, government agencies, professional services providers, technology scouts and investors, to identify and engage hundreds of highly vetted, fast-growing startups and raise their brand profile in the global startup community. Innovate!2010 sponsors and partners include leading organizations like Alacatel-Lucent, BestBuy, Cisco Systems, Comcast, DifferenceEngine, eBay, EMC, HP, HSBC, Hearst, IBM, LaPoste, LG Electronics, Microsoft, O2 Litmus, Oracle, PayPal, PWC, Quickstart Global, RIM, SAP, Silicon Valley Bank, Sony, SWIFT, Turner Broadcasting, Verizon, and the City of Zaragoza; as well as European and US economic development agencies, and dozens of leading angel and venture capital investors.

About Guidewire Group, Inc.

Guidewire Group is a global market intelligence and advisory firm passionate about technology

entrepreneurship. Our exclusive focus on early-stage companies and emerging technology markets drives insight and opportunity to our clients and community. At the heart of our offerings is the G/Score™, a proprietary assessment tool that brings clarity and focus to the art of transforming ideas into successful enterprises. Developed over the course of more than 20,000 startup interviews, the G/Score has proven to be a reliable predictor of startup viability and promise. Our G/Score data helps technology investors, customers and platform vendors rapidly qualify and respond to startup deal flow from even thousands of startups. Our G/Score assessment tools help startups, investors, service providers and government agencies to identify and benchmark competitive strengths and weaknesses, and our Studio G business acceleration programs helps startups achieve their growth objectives with clarity of purpose, speed and efficiency.

About Estonian Development Fund

Estonian Development Fund activates the venture capital market by investing together with private investors into Estonian companies with international ambition.

Estonian Development Fund is also the think tank for foresight of Estonia's growth perspectives and the booster of startup entrepreneurship.

For more information, contact Vanessa McDonald, [email protected], +44 (0)754 032 5319.

SOURCE Innovate!2010