The German Tech Tour 2008 is the Association's 28th event. Entries are being sought from companies from across the technology spectrum, including internet security, 'clean tech', wireless technology, Web 2.0 applications, medical devices and nanotech. Boris Anderer, President of the German Tech Tour 2008, said: "In Germany a startup boom is happening again. According to an analysis of "deutsche-startups.de" in 2007 alone in the Internet sector more than 320 companies have been founded in Germany. With the German Tech Tour 2008 we are looking for the 25 best German startup companies which will be offered a unique forum of about 70 representatives from international investors and enterprises. Our goal is to help these startups paving their way to international success like we did it already with companies like Astaro, Suse or Dresden Silicon."

Selection criteria for finalists:
Finalists are assessed and identified by the committee based on six key points:

1. Uniqueness of the technology
2. Solid business model
3. Vision
4. Capability to execute the business plan
5. Targeting relevant markets
6. of management team and track record

Benefits for finalists:
The 25 finalists will each have a twenty minute slot to present their business plans to sixty senior partners, vice presidents and CEOs from the global venture capital and technology industry and receive their advice and feedback. In addition, they will benefit from:

• Extensive networking with the sixty representatives
• Networking with up to 300 professionals from the local technology and venture capital community
• Local and international media exposure
• Potential opportunities to secure funding

James Hook, Vice President of the German Tech Tour 2008, said: "I believe the 2008 German Tech Tour is a must attend event for any investor interested in European technology. We have already compiled a long list of high-profile companies for the tour, drawing on strengths of the region in areas such as clean technology and the internet/digital media, amongst many others. I am looking forward to that will be a very exciting and informative event."

This year's German Tech Tour is presided over by Boris Anderer General Partner of Booster Ventures GmbH. Previously Boris was Venture Partner at the German VC firm Wellington Partners, chairman and General Manager of Reldata Europe GmbH, an innovative provider of unified storage systems. Notes to editors The Selection Committee is presided this year by James Hook, Principal at Apax Partners. He focuses on venture, growth and buyout deals in the technology sector, with a particular emphasis on clean-tech.

About European Tech Tour
The European Tech Tour Association (ETT) was founded by Sven Lingjaerde in Switzerland in 1998 and has successfully organised 27 Tech Tours across Europe and Israel, Russia and India, since its inception ten years ago. In response to the growing interest to visit emerging technology companies in various European regions, the ETT is an independent organisation composed of key contributors to the high-technology industry. Focused on the global expansion of emerging companies with a high index of growth, the European Tech Tour Association's main objective is to provide independent leading platforms designed to identify and support the emerging companies with the necessary potential to impact in the technological global scenario. The association recognises that the European continued prosperity lies in its ability to transform today's innovative projects into tomorrow's global technology leaders.

For further information, please go to www.techtour.com