Hyderabad|India|February'2010: With the rapidly increasing traction in software products development work and startup eco-system in Andhra Pradesh, the 18th Annual ITsAP Software Products' Showcase and Awards event will be expanded into 2 full day showcase and an awards event on March 12 and 13, 2010 at HICC, HI-Tec City.

This annual event which is into its 18th edition has been acting as a great platform for the software product companies in the state to showcase their unique products that push the boundaries of innovation in technology and has also been awarding the innovations in the software products. This year's event will also uncover new support initiatives and organizations for the new emerging startups, with industry leaders here firmly believing that only from these new technology startups betting on innovation only will the next Microsoft or Google emerge.

This year the nominations received for ITsAP Software Product Awards will automatically be considered for TiE - ISB Connect 2010 and HeadStart National Product Awards.

The nominations this year are divided into 5 categories: -

Startups: New emerging software product based companies in Andhra Pradesh with few or no customers to showcase their first version of products: infrastructure, application platform, frameworks, or business solutions.

Nominations can be made in three sub categories:

1. Consumer Solutions

2. Enterprise Solutions

3. Emerging Trends (Mobile/Bottom of Pyramid/Social entrepreneurship)

Social Impact: Software product based companies in Andhra Pradesh to showcase the products that create a social impact and are mainly used by NGOs and government organizations.

Established Indian: Well established software product based companies in Andhra Pradesh to showcase their products.

MNC Products: Software product based MNCs who have their development centers in Andhra Pradesh to demonstrate their products.

Student entrepreneur: Idea/prototypes of products being built by students

The products will be assessed by a panel of leading, entrepreneurs, product companies, VCs and academicians.

This much awaited annual event reflects the rapidly increasing momentum around software products, the next wave of growth opportunity for the IT industry in AP.This year the event will also be graced by successful CEOs, VCs, investors and others in the support eco-system sharing their views and experiences. The event has been getting an encouraging response from the participants over the years in both the awards and the product showcase section. Last year's awards saw a total of 111 nominations for various categories and this year ITsAP expects further uncovering of new product companies.

Reachout's News Bureau
February' 2010