Techcrunch did not start hitting the HN front page 10-20 times a day until the last 12 months or so, and Google Trends (http://www.google.com/trends?q=%22techcrunch+50%22) seems to indicate that I'm not the only one who hasn't heard of their conference until this month. In summary: the excitement does not seem to be based on reputation.

I get that the companies that are going want us to think it's important, but why would a startup that's not going hype it up?

When your entire world becomes immersed in startup life, these types of events grow to paramount importance in the minds of entrepreneurs, often to unrealistic levels. It's the same reason an entrepreneur broke into Arrington's house to get a story, spat in his face, etc. Furthrmore, making yourself deceptively important allows you to charge ~$2k/company, which Arrington is particularly good at.

To be fair, several companies that have launched at TC40/50 are rapidly growing. Mint is the first example that comes to mind, and I think DropBox and Xobni as well.

For all the companies whose TC press has helped them, I would approximate that more than 99% of successful companies have not relied on TC for press. That's the danger of living in a bubble and I believe why this particular author hypes it up.

The examples of companies that have benefited helped explain the hype for me, thanks.

I hope I don't sound critical of startups getting excited about a chance to shine--my grumpiness has much more to do with the greasiness of advertising than the oddities of human nature.

That is about the time Techcrunch started writing about Hacker News.

It's only ever mentioned for a month, and it was called "Techcrunch 40" in 2007, which was its first year.

I thought the total lack of a blip in 2007 was odd--thanks for clearing that up.

edit: http://www.google.com/trends?q=%22techcrunch+50%22%2C+%22tec...

Thanks for the comments.

I didn't really mean to focus hype on the TC50 conference. Rather, I think it makes an interesting story about trying to get in to a decent product launch conference - we get told by the main main we've got 80% chance getting in [yah!], we don't get in [boo!], we get email saying 'actually you are in' [yah!], but then we realise we can't do it [boo!]. I'd hope it's at least vaguely interesting, regardless of the conference.

I agree there is a danger of getting caught up in the TechCrunch hype bubble, just as there is in getting caught up in the Y Combinator programme hype. As has been pointed out, the reality is that 99.9%+ of successful web startups have nothing to do with TC50 or YC. Nevertheless TC (just as YC) have had some notable successes that fuel the hype - just look at Mint (TC40 2007 winner) being acquired today.

I'd say that in terms of web product launch conferences, TC50 is about as good and prestigious an opportunity you can get. However after that it is unlikely I would have a need to attend again - it's not the sort of conference where you sell your service.

Part of the reality check we took in saying "no" to this opportunity was to remind ourselves that it is "just a conference" - it's not the be all and end all. It won't break us not to attend. I think that shows that we were able to resist the hype. As is said below - we want to do things right - not do something for the sake of it.

wrt to DemoPit - according to the information we received, the DemoPit was only for the TC50 semi-finalist companies. I haven't seen any mention of being able to buy your way in otherwise. That said, if you did want to do DemoPit you had to pay a few thousand dollars. In that regard it becomes just a regular exhibition. We were offered a free DemoPit place just in case we weren't actually needed on the stage.

Gotta admit, it takes guts to turndown an opportunity like that (even if it wasn't a certainty). It's the fine line between 'release early, release often' and 'you only get one chance to make a first impression'.

Yeah, you can tell from the article that they want to do it right, even if that means waiting a little bit longer. I respect that.

I wonder if TC50 is struggling this year.

I also heard that you can now just buy your way into the DemoPit which used to be for overflow of companies that didn't quite make the cut (in theory startups 51-150).