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"Have a startup focused on helping brands improve their relationships with their customers through engagement?  Want to get the attention of key influencers and Mashable's readers?  Then we want you!\nMashable is proud to once again be partnering with Under the Radar for Fast Pitch, a startup competition that will take place on November 12 at the Microsoft Conference Center in Mountain View, California.\nTeam Mashable and 300+ decision makers from some of the biggest and most influential brands, agencies and marketing companies will be there to listen to you make your pitch for your company's game-changing idea.  We're opening up applications for Fast Pitch starting today.  \nBefore you apply, though, here's more about Fast Pitch:\nContest Format\nThe Fast Pitch contest will take place on November 12 at the Microsoft Conference Center in Mountain View, California.  Please don't apply if you can't be there that day, because we need you to pitch your company or app in person.  We also prefer startups that have already launched or have a usable, functional product.\nThe format is simple; you get two minutes to wow the audience and our panel of judges (to be announced) with your pitch.  Keep it short and pithy, and focus on how you solve the big problems facing retailers, brands and media companies.\nUnlike last year's Fast Pitch competition, which focused on mobile applications, this year we are looking for any startup that helps brands better connect with their customers.  There are a couple areas that we're especially interested in seeing this year's crop of startups tackle, including:\n\nSocial shopping and commerce\nApps for advertising and marketing\nLoyalty/coupons\nSocial recommendations\nViral marketing\nLocation checkins\nPublishing and infrastructure tools\nAny startup that helps improve the customer decision process\n\nBe warned, the deadline is fast approaching \u2014 applications are due by Friday, October 29 at 6:00 p.m. PT.  Mashable will select approximately eight startups from the application pool for the Fast Pitch competition.  All finalists will receive free passes to the Under the Radar conference.\nWhat are you waiting for?  Submit your startup for Fast Pitch!\nAbout Under the Radar\nUnder the Radar is a one-day showcase of  hand-selected disruptive companies in a particular sector. We take a comprehensive look at the true innovators fueling the explosion of emerging technology and new business opportunities. Each company presents their offering to a panel of active industry experts, along with an audience of more than 300-early adopter technology insiders. 64% of past presenting companies have gone on to close partnerships, raise funding or be acquired after presenting at Under the Radar. Alumni include: LinkedIn, AdMob, Flickr, Loopt, Jive, 3Tera and more.\nImage Courtesy of Flickr, Andrei!"^^<http://www.w3.org/2001/XMLSchema#string>
<http://mashable.com/2010/10/25/fast-pitch-2011/>