On July 13th the Israeli high-tech community gathered at TWS2009 to to discuss and preview  new trends and technologies from Israel’s hottest Web and Mobile.

As one of the judges, I was chosen to help TWS select the top 10 companies to present at this year’s showcase. From the hundreds of top-notch applicants, it wasn’t an easy process to funnel applicants down to 10. Other judges included, Ron Conway, Rafe Needleman, Andrew Baron, Stowe Boyd, Ayelet Noff, Deborah Schultz, Jeff Pulver, Kfir Pravda, Gil Ben-Artzy, Dave Sifry, among others.

Congratulations to this year’s TWS2009 Top 10:

Shidonni is a web based virtual world for young kids, based on the simple joy of drawing. In Shidonni, kids draw their virtual pets and play with them as they magically ‘come alive’. After creating their pets, children enjoy over 30 different activities and games featuring their own creations and can even share their creation with their friends.

Confidela provides businesses and individuals with hassle-free document control, tracking and protection services to facilitate the sharing of sensitive documents with customers, partners or suppliers. Confidela’s flagship SaaS product, WatchDox, is the easiest way for organizations to send documents securely, and control and track who views, edits, prints or forwards them.

Cmycasa is a first of its kind “Handshake service” between home owners and furniture retailers. With Cmycasa, users of real estate web sites and “do-it-yourself portals” will be able to visualize in stunning photo-realistic 3D how their new home will look once furnished to their taste.

Cellerium is the maker of MobileCanvas, a mobile application platform that delivers rich, mobile tailored web experiences across leading mobile platforms. Cellerium AppOnce approach resolves device and operating system fragmentation and combines a rich UI experience that rivals client centered applications with the flexibility of web deployment.

ContextIn is a semantic media-buying platform for display-advertising. Using semantic algorithms for automatic extraction of the discussed topics in web pages, ContextIn addresses the display advertising market problems of absence of visibility and control over the media-buying and poor performance, especially over user-generated-content sites. ContextIn offers a new and innovative solution, which proved to show significant increase in the online campaigns returns, using automatic ads targeting, real-time bidding, unique BI data and dynamic ad-creative creation according to the web-site content.

Tweegee is a pioneering destination site designed exclusively for kids. The site empowers children and pre-teens, ages 7 to 12, to express themselves creatively and safely in an innovative and customized online environment. Tweegee integrates social networking, digital content, and interactive tools to offer a complete web platform for kids. Tweegee’s platform has been released with great success in Russia and soon in Turkey and many other countries.

KIDO’Z is a web operating environment intended for children between the ages of 3-8yrs. KIDO’Z creates a personal protected Internet space with a collection of special tools that enable the children, for the first time, to carry out everything that adults do on the Internet; but simply and intuitively, and without needing to know how to read or write

CamSpace is a ground breaking computer vision platform that connects the virtual and the real world through motion games, experiences, activities and navigation of application and websites through your browser and using any standard webcam. The platform can detect human gestures and turns everyday products (like cans, bottles, boxes, etc) or objects into exciting computer controllers that can operate new or existing games and applications. The company is active in the advertising space (creating games and experiences based on products), in the educational space and in the social/fun gaming space. (Disclosure: I advised the company in the past).

Virtual Web provides innovative social network marketing solutions. Its SociaLAVA™ platform enables online publishers of any scale to instantly deploy a fully-functional social network as a transparent layer over their existing websites, powered by a unique social network interaction analysis engine™. Publishers can offer users personalized content to keep them on the site for longer visits, enhance conversion rates, monetize their sites through segmented ads, increase site ‘stickiness’ and link a consistently growing number of online communities to their domains using a unique community-clustering mechanism.

Reimage is a fast growing company that offers a web-based service that automates all PC repairs (due to software problems), and makes PC’s run better than new using unique boosting technologies. To date, Reimage has repaired tens of thousands of Windows based computers.

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by Brian Solis

I’m just returning from my trip to Next09 in Hamburg Germany where I had the privilege to serve as one of the event’s keynote presenters among a cast of some of those whom I most revere. During my session, I discussed how the event’s theme, “The Share Economy,” equated to the Social Economy and the laws of diminishing attention.

We’re constantly struggling and learning how to discover and in turn, personify our place within the perpetually evolving social universe.

It is the ongoing saga of bridging the distances between who we are and who we want to be and furthermore, manifesting this presence outward.

I believe we are creating our online persona with every status update, tweet, video, picture, review, comment, and post, we share. We’re forging networks through a fusion of traditional relationships and friendships and also contextually – following and friending those whom we admire and respect based on their ideas, vision, and experience. It’s how we share, discover and learn. The nature for how we view and establish relationships is evolving before us and eventually we will change how we interact based on the contextual network we’ve built. Most of your “friends” don’t care about your profession exploits. Concurrently, your peers and professional contact are not better off for knowing anything about your personal endeavors.

There will be a collision and ensuing fallout.

What’s next?

Multiple Personality “Order.”

Don’t be surprised if eventually, if for only a short time, we maintain multiple online personas in the networks that are important to us as a consumer and also as a producer.

I’ll let the pictures tell the rest of the story:

Next09

Andrew Keen

Stowe Boyd

Chris Heuer

Andrea Vascellari

Brian Solis and Dennis Howlett

Nicole Simon, Tobias Kaufmann, Martin Recke

Stephanie Frasco

Stowe Boyd, Matthias Lufkens, Dennis Howlett

Pictures of Hamburg and other things that caught my eye:

For more pictures from Hamburg and Next09, please visit my album on Flickr.

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words and pictures by Brian Solis

When we peer into the looking glass into what truly made SXSW Interactive a unique and successful culmination of culture and real life networking, we see something very different and exceptional.

The real story is the human network and the Social Economy that fosters the conversations that serve as its currency – on and offline.

SXSW is about the emotional and psychological connection between people and our investment in the personal traits that others find irresistible.

Relationships….RELATIONSHIPS…count for everything here, and they’re measured by the mutually beneficial rewards that all parties experience over time. We invest in each other and harvest the fruits of our collaboration and interconnection.

Nothing was more evident of this than the Flashmob party that stormed the Driskill, forever becoming a part of the SXSW legacy.

After the Diggnation party, Erica O’Grady, Jeremiah Owyang, Charlene Li, Chad Catacchio, Francisco Dao, and I opted for the the elegant and stylish decor that adorned the Driskill lobby bar to regroup and plan our next adventure. What we had yet to realize, was that the evening at the Driskill would unfold into our next adventure.

Overcome with contentment and the prompt attention for service, we decided to Tweet our location while also personally texting some of our close friends to join  us.  Almost immediately, tweets were flying, “headed to the Driskill.” As each person arrived, they too would tweet, “At the Driskill, it’s incredible.” They cycle continued for the duration of the evening.

Soon, hundreds of people crowded the spacious lounge, the staff called for reinforcements, and we celebrated friendship and The Human Network together, creating one of the most memorable nights in SXSW history.

I’ll let the pictures tell the rest of the story…

Jolie O’Dell

Francine Hardaway

Justin Levy

Heather Meeker

Jessica Berlin

Laura Fitton aka Pistachio

Brian Solis

Shira Lazar

Brett Petersel and Rebecca Corliss

Randi Zuckerberg and Michelle Deforest

Leora Israel

Jessica Alter and Frank Gruber

Halcyon

Melody McCloskey

Andrew Mager

@NikoleZ

Megan McCarthy

Pete Cashmore

Jeff Dowd (The Dude) and Brian Solis

Cal Henderson

Tessa and Gregarious

Steve Garfield

Alexia Tsotsis and Kevin Rose

Lala, Lara Doucette and Brian Solis

Vanessa Camones

Chris Heuer and Leora Israel

Gary Vaynerchuk and Jen Consalvo

Michael Gruen Ilana Arazie

More on Flickr.

Please read:

The Human Network: The Social Economy is Influenced by How We Communicate Online & Offline (My philosophical analysis of what makes SXSW so special)

Which parties did you hit or miss?

Check em off at Diddit: SXSW Interactive Festival 2009 Party List

Pictures:

SXSW – The Calm Before the Storm

SXSW Day One

TechSet + Windows Mobile Rat Pack 2.0 Party

SXSW Day Two

Diggnation Party at Stubbs

We Flashmob the Driskill

AllHat @Allens Boots

Brian Solis Book Signing @SXSW

Are PR Agencies a Dying Breed: Brian Solis joins the panel

Kirtsy, AllTop Party @Allens Boots

Pool 2.0 – SocialMediaClub

SXSW Day Four

Paul Nelson Performs in the TechSet + Windows Mobile Blogger Lounge

Dell Adamo Premiers at SXSW

Power Geek Girl Tweetup in the TechSet + Windows Mobile Blogger Lounge

Rackspace + Scoble Party

Blurb + Mashable Party

SXSW Day Five

WorldSings.com

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words and pictures by Brian Solis

During SXSW Interactive 2009, interesting, notable, and unexpected geeks as well as the Internet Famous filled the streets in and around the conference and the after hours parties.

Some of my best encounters happened simply by walking from point A to point B.

I’ll let the pictures tell the rest of the stories…

Corvida

Drew Olanoff shows us the bid-winning @melaniemitchell tattoo

Chris Brogan, @geekmommy, Justin Levy throw up Hashtag signs

Dan Patterson of ABC

Sarah Townsend performs on a random Austin street corner

Gregarious Greg Narain vs. Corvida

Scott Beale of Laughing Squid and Brian Solis

Violet Blue, Robert Scoble, Alexia Tsotsis

Frank Gruber channeling Johnny Cash

Sun/Nokia Fogo De Chao

Francisco Dao, Lynne Johnson

Brian Solis, Jessica Berlin, Ilana Arazie, Gregarious

Please read:

The Human Network: The Social Economy is Influenced by How We Communicate Online & Offline (My philosophical analysis of what makes SXSW so special)

Which parties did you hit or miss?

Check em off at Diddit: SXSW Interactive Festival 2009 Party List

Pictures:

SXSW – The Calm Before the Storm

SXSW Day One

TechSet + Windows Mobile Rat Pack 2.0 Party

SXSW Day Two

Diggnation Party at Stubbs

We Flashmob the Driskill

AllHat @Allens Boots

Brian Solis Book Signing @SXSW

Are PR Agencies a Dying Breed: Brian Solis joins the panel

Kirtsy, AllTop Party @Allens Boots

Pool 2.0 – SocialMediaClub

SXSW Day Four

Paul Nelson Performs in the TechSet + Windows Mobile Blogger Lounge

Dell Adamo Premiers at SXSW

Power Geek Girl Tweetup in the TechSet + Windows Mobile Blogger Lounge

Rackspace + Scoble Party

Blurb + Mashable Party

SXSW Day Five

WorldSings.com

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by Brian Solis

Paula Nelson is the daughter of music legend Willie Nelson. She’s more than making a name for herself now and we invite to share in something very special while at SXSW.

Today at 1:00 p.m., Stephanie Agresta and I, along with Windows Mobile, 1938 Media, Earbender and Stormhoek Vineyards, are proud to present a very special acoustic performance by Paula Nelson at the TechSet lounge on Monday the 16th at 1:00PM.

Join us for this intimate, memorable, and inspirational moment that will earn a place in your heart and carry with you for years to come.

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by Brian Solis

SXSW Interactive is powered by the one thing that binds us together, you.  It is a congregation of wisdom, artistry, and poetry and it is the foundation for why we each make this annual migration to Austin, Texas.

The TechSet Joins the Rat Pack, for One Night Only

The TechSet and Windows Mobile invite you to a very special, free event at the classic Belmont Lounge on Friday, March 13, 2008 from 8 to 10 p.m.

Come enjoy the unique and stylish period-specific décor that conjures scenes from Las Vegas and Palm Springs during the Sinatra era. You’ll be surrounded by incredible and pioneering entrepreneurs and influencers as we create our own Rat Pack rich with relationships that will propel us long after the curtain closes on SXSWi 09.

Style. Swagger. Distinction.

Do it your way, this is your time to shine baby!

RSVP HERE

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by Brian Solis

Michael Dolan reached out to let me know about an interesting game that he’s introducing at SXSW.

SXSW Bingo is a clever play on some of the more popular and emerging trends on Twitter, the statusphere, and other social networks. For example, the team picked up on the Hashtag sign for marking a noteworthy topic in the real world.

Halcyon throws up the Hashtag sign.

Other moments to capture include:

- Gary Vaynerchuk with a glass of wine

- People playing RockBand (come to the TechSet Windows Mobile blog lounge for an easy shot)

- Guy Kawasaki Twittering

- Robert Scoble sighting

- A Geek Girl

I asked Dolan to share he vision for SXSW Bingo, “We wanted to make a game that was fun, easy to play and drew on our shared geeky obsessions. Most of us sit in front of computers all day, so we wanted to create another way for people to connect with each other in person. It isn’t often enough that the Twitterverse and the universe cross paths.

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by Brian Solis

Chris Shipley kicked things off at DEMO09 with a humbling, yet inspiring introduction that embraced the state of the economy, “This show is smaller with 39 companies instead of the usual 70-plus we typically showcase. The economy has had its effects.”

However, she noted that things always have a way of resetting so that they can flourish and prosper in a more meaningful way.

Ctrl-Alt-Del

This DEMO is much more intimate and productive. I’ve been able to meet every company, see demos and sit down and host deep, wonderful conversations with incredible people, which just isn’t typically possible at most events. I’m enjoying this experience tremendously.

Now, with that…this is the first DEMO that witnessed the changing of the guard for the first time in 13 years. Chris Shipley introduced Matt Marshall of VentureBeat to the DEMO audience and he was warmly welcomed. We’ll miss Chris indeed. Under Matt’s reign, we anticipate greatness.

I’ll let the pictures tell the rest of the story…

Chris Shipley passes the torch to Matt Marshall

Rafe Needleman, CNET

Home-Account

Don Dodge

CC:Betty

Citrix Online

Walt Mossberg

Loyal2Me

Skout

Matt Marshall, Eric Tilenius, Bryce Roberts, David Hornick, Christine Herron

Christine Herron

David Hornick

Matt Marshall

Touch Book

Avaak Vue

Mirasol

DEMO Jam Party

Shuly Ghalili and Deb Schultz

Ravit Lichtenberg and Eliane Fiolet

Palm Desert

For more pictures from DEMO, please my albums on Flickr:

Opening Reception

Day One Morning

Day One Afternoon

DEMO Jam

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