Refresh Demo Night

February 6th, 2008

Refresh Phoenix last night was quite the event. There were probably over 70 people gathered at Inza in Scottsdale, AZ to watch five minute demos from local Phoenix companies. Below is a quick hit list of what was presented. refresh notes:

1. Show in a Box (Cheryl Colan and Clintus McGintus)

Show in a Box is a package of free video-centric themes and plugins for WordPress, made by and for independent video-on-the-internet creators. We’ll teach you how to set-up your very own website for your video “show” and provide many of the tools needed as a free download.

2. Square Mile Web (Eric Eaglstun)

The Square Mile is a new, fun way to share and find interesting images.

3. Durt Bagz (Erin Atherton)

Erin stated that this is Threadless for dumb people. In a nutshell, users generate sign designs. Users vote on sign designs. Erin creates limited runs of bags with the most popular designs. She also has a dirty laundry section that are interviews with fake celebrities. You can also make custom durtbagz. Erin you need to hook up AZ folks attending SXSW so that you can get some free marketing!!!

Dynamic presenter that engaged people well. Kudos Erin. Looking forward to the “How to Stay From Being Lame” video blog that she mentioned was soon releasing.

4. My Community Board (Deacon Hayes)

Recently, we’ve lived in three places where we didn’t know the people who lived right next door. Then we thought, “there has got to be a better way”. Nothing is better than creating something to scratch a personal itch. Deacon was a quality presenter and is attempting to solve a very real problem we encounter in this digital world. Curious to how something like this might fit into The QC

5. Travel Click (Kevin Schumacher)

Show case of proprietary content management system for the hotel industry. Travel Click is looking for developers.

6. Crowd Box (Seth Markowitz)

Conference. Content. Community.

Crowdbox helps you manage your conference content, create a community around it, and help your attendees build their professional relationships and networks.

Unfortunately the speaker spent the majority of the time discussing the space as opposed to showing the product. However, what was seen probably showed the most promise out of all the demos. I think the product takes best in show for this demo night.

7. Testing Software (Hugh Dunne)

Windows GUI application to automate testing. No website or take away here.

8. Read Phoenix (Erica Lucci)

Listing of blogs in the Phoenix Area. I mentioned that an OPML feed was done, but not published. Unfortunately I got my projects mixed up. Will look to get this functionality added by end of weekend. :(

9. XID Card (Brian Shaler)

The XID project is intended to provide a free, open, and decentralized method of sharing your online identity with your friends. Brian did a great job covering a huge project in five minutes time. Like all of Brian’s adventures, this one is sure to be a fun ride.

10. gAuto (Srini Vasan)

A safe and easy way to buy auto services. Vertical market specific directory listing with quality rankings. Another project birthed out of personal need. Roughly 3 weeks old.

11.Neh Meh Yeh (Matt Gist & Matt Heidemann)

It’s a simple question, “How are you today?”

Nehmehyeh is a super rad way for you and yo’ friends to track how your mood be everyday…until you die.

12. Twitter Sign (Matt Gist)

Have you ever seen an odd sign?

This is where you broadcast those signs to the twitter world.

12. After Halloween (Daniel Davis)

There are people good at what they do and there are geniuses. Daniel is a genius. Just enjoy what he is capable of.

Daniel is also rocking Tiny Army a new group for illustrators.

Two different companies announced that they got funding (I don’t recall their names). Additionally, several people were looking for CakePHP developers.

There was an announcement that the AZ Republic is looking for submissions for its 35 under 35 contest. Unfortunately links to get applications seem to be too sparse for me to tinker with.

All in all a great night. I won’t even get into the wild after party at Ling and Louies.