Matt Marshall

Matt Marshall is editor and CEO of VentureBeat.

Recent Posts

From Austin back to the Valley — thanks for coming (pics)

From Austin back to the Valley — thanks for coming (pics)

Every now and again, it’s good to get out of Silicon Valley to visit other regions — if only just to put Silicon Valley into perspective.
I’ve just finished a trip around various U.S. tech hubs in order to scout companies for DEMO, the conference… Continue Reading

DEMO announces $1M media prize

DEMO announces $1M media prize

Here’s the latest reason why entrepreneurs should consider launching their products at the fall DEMO conference in San Diego:
Two winners, as selected by a panel of individual judges, will be awarded a significant amount of media publicity, totaling $1 million in ads — to… Continue Reading

MobileBeat 2009: Come hear executives from EA Mobile, CBS, Pandora, China Mobile and more

MobileBeat 2009: Come hear executives from EA Mobile, CBS, Pandora, China Mobile and more

Below is latest batch of speakers we’ve got confirmed for MobileBeat 2009, our executive conference for the mobile industry on July 16 in San Francisco.
I’m really looking forward to the debates we’ll be having about which mobile platform rules: Is the iPhone really destined… Continue Reading

CBS’ Natali Del Conte hosts MobileBeat startup competition: Deadline today!

CBS’ Natali Del Conte hosts MobileBeat startup competition: Deadline today!

I’m delighted to announce that Natali Del Conte, host of Loaded on CNET TV, and correspondent for the CBS Early Show, will be hosting the MobileBeat Top Startup Competition.
The competition, part of the MobileBeat conference we’re throwing July 16 in SF, will feature the… Continue Reading

DEMO and VentureBeat land in Austin, so long Boston!

DEMO and VentureBeat land in Austin, so long Boston!

The DEMO-VentureBeat bus has arrived in Austin.
We’re holding cocktails tonight at the rooftop of the Lanai lounge, and we’re inviting entrepreneurs — and any other interested professionals interested in learning about DEMO — to join us. It’s expected to be sizzling 90-plus degree weather,… Continue Reading

Latest speakers at MobileBeat: Steve Boom and Sam Altman

Latest speakers at MobileBeat: Steve Boom and Sam Altman

I’m delighted to announce the latest speakers we’ve recruited for MobileBeat 2009, our conference on July 16 in SF:
–Steve Boom, chief executive of mobile social networking company Mig33, arguably the most downloaded mobile application of all time; and
–Sam Altman, chief executive of another… Continue Reading

Ooma raises $14M more amid tough round

Ooma raises $14M more amid tough round

updated
Ooma, the much-hyped company that sells an expensive VoIP box ($249) that you can install in your homes to make free land-line calls, has raised another $14 million in venture capital, we’ve confirmed.
TechCrunch reported the story earlier, but loosely reported that financing “wiped… Continue Reading

Does a venture capitalist’s size — and network — matter?

Does a venture capitalist’s size — and network — matter?

What are the factors driving performance of venture capital firms? Does their size, or the size of their network, matter?
These are questions people have been asking for a long time. If there were simple answers, institutional investors  — the universities, pension funds, banks and… Continue Reading

Let’s close out Boston “Innovation month” with a bang!

Let’s close out Boston “Innovation month” with a bang!

Chris Shipley and I arrived in Boston today, the latest step in our campaign to find the best companies to launch at the DEMOfall conference in September.
We’re meeting at Vox, at 6pm. More details here. Make sure you register. First 40 people in the… Continue Reading

MobileBeat2009 Top Startup Competition: Deadline extended to July 1

MobileBeat2009 Top Startup Competition: Deadline extended to July 1

We’ve extended the deadline for the MobileBeat2009 Top Startup Competition by one day, until July 1.
We’ve gotten scores of great submissions, but we’d like to make sure we shake out as many as possible because of all the exciting action going on in the… Continue Reading

Sense Networks gets $6M in hotly contested deal for “tribe” advertising

Sense Networks gets $6M in hotly contested deal for “tribe” advertising

Sense Networks, a company that can track “tribes” of people — such as those who like the same bars and same movies — to better target them with instant advertising, has raised $6 million in new venture financing in a hotly contested deal.
Semiconductor giant… Continue Reading

DEMO-VentureBeat heads to Boston — goodbye Santa Monica!

DEMO-VentureBeat heads to Boston — goodbye Santa Monica!

Chris Shipley and I are coming to Boston — the next step in our extended road trip to scout out the best companies and products to launch at the DEMOfall conference in September.
We’re headed there after having a great time in LA, with the… Continue Reading

Mig33 is most downloaded mobile app — have you heard of it?

Mig33 is most downloaded mobile app — have you heard of it?

Mig33, a company that lets millions of users communicate on mobile phones via IM,  chat rooms, and photo sharing, says it’s the most popular downloaded mobile application ever.
You’d hardly know it, though. Chances are, if you live in the US, even if you’re tech-savvy,… Continue Reading

VentureBeat-DEMO hit Seattle, and the sun is actually shining!

VentureBeat-DEMO hit Seattle, and the sun is actually shining!

We had a great cocktail party last night in Seattle, with more than 150 entrepreneurs, investors and other professionals showing up at the Spitfire bar downtown.
Chris Shipley and I found flew in yesterday, only to hit the usual mass of thick clouds that cover… Continue Reading

DEMO & VentureBeat visit Los Angeles, prowling for great companies

DEMO & VentureBeat visit Los Angeles, prowling for great companies

We continue to search for the most exciting companies and products to launch at the DEMOfall conference in September.
Next, Chris Shipley and I are coming to Los Angeles!
Tomorrow, Wednesday, June 24, we’re meeting up for an evening of cocktails and conversation at The Parlor… Continue Reading

PG&E reveals true color of its business model: Not green!

PG&E reveals true color of its business model: Not green!

PG&E, California’s largest electric utility, objected yesterday to two pieces of state legislation that would encourage consumers to invest in solar energy. Its opposition is just the latest in a stream of evidence indicating poorly-structured U.S energy grid policy.
California Assembly Bill 560 would increase… Continue Reading

Mobile gold-rush continues: Qualcomm offers $550,000 in mobile startup competition

Mobile gold-rush continues: Qualcomm offers $550,000 in mobile startup competition

Qualcomm, the largest wireless chip supplier, has announced it will offer $550,000 to four companies in a business plan competition.
Called the QPrize, the competition comes at a time when Qualcomm is seeking to maintain its spot as the mobile industry’s biggest player (ahead of… Continue Reading

Welcome to VentureBeat’s new design

Welcome to VentureBeat’s new design

I’m delighted to announce VentureBeat’s new design.
It’s meant to cater to the differing interests of our readers. For example, we’ve ramped up our coverage of games over the past year, and we see a distinct group of readers interested in games coverage. So we’ve… Continue Reading

Has the Palm Pre already beaten the iPhone?

Has the Palm Pre already beaten the iPhone?

The Palm Pre is a tad young to threaten the established and massively popular iPhone. But some Silicon Valley developers are saying the Pre’s operating system is far better to develop on.
If that’s true, it raises significant questions about the balance of power in… Continue Reading

DEMO-VentureBeat meetup in Palo Alto — on Monday

DEMO-VentureBeat meetup in Palo Alto — on Monday

Join DEMO co-executive producers Chris Shipley and myself for a casual evening of cocktails and conversation Monday at Nola in Palo Alto.
The first 40 folks through the door receive a drink ticket good for beer or wine. Make sure you register. We’re starting at 6pm sharp,… Continue Reading