Next month GigaOM will hold Structure 08, a conference centered on the changing face of computing infrastructure. The event will discuss the wave of cloud computing technology that has been driving a revolution in web applications and has started to overthrow the notion of conventional servers.

Structure 08 will feature a workshop on Google App Engine, along with keynote presentations from Werner Vogels (Amazon), Greg Papadopoulos (Sun), and James Crowe (Level 3). You can see a full schedule here.

We’re giving away two tickets to the event, so leave a comment telling us why you’re too financially impaired to pay for a ticket and we’ll pick the best responses.

Structure 08 will be held on June 25th at San Francisco’s Mission Bay Conference Center. TechCrunch readers who register by May 20 can get a 10% discount on registration here.

Crunch Network: MobileCrunch Mobile Gadgets and Applications, Delivered Daily.

We’re fast approaching our super fun CrunchNetwork Prague Meet-up and getting ready for the big night. We’re going to have some surprises coming up so watch this space but until then feel free to RSVP by email or on Facebook.

Remember the event is on Friday, May 23, 2008 from 7pm until ?? at Restaurace Zvonařka.

The program will be fairly basic but I’m planning an elevator pitch face-off, allowing 10 start-ups the chance to do a 2 minute presentation to the entire audience using limited tools. We’ll then pick the best pitch and that team will get an as-yet-to-be-undetermined really great prize (think plasma TV). If you’re interested in participating, please contact Jack DeNeut at jack @ nelso dot com.

If you have something you want to discuss with me for consideration on TechCrunch, MobileCrunch, or CrunchGear, please have a paper presentation handy with a detailed description of your project — powerpoint and business plans are right out. Consider creating a press-release for the event.

Special thanks to all these sponsors:

Nelso - Multi-language local search for Europe

Geewa - Multiplayer games for PC and mobile

Newstin - Connecting people through news to create global communities
of interest

Wirenode - Simple-to-use tools that allow anyone to create a mobile website

GoodData - A complete, on-demand business intelligence platform

Crunch Network: MobileCrunch Mobile Gadgets and Applications, Delivered Daily.

Drama over. The CrunchGear/TechCrunch Iron Man screening, which Marvel tried to shut down yesterday for no good reason whatsoever (more on that below), is back on.

We are adding another 30 spots on the wait list. At least most of the people on the wait list will get in, so if you’re willing to risk being turned away at the last minute, sign up there. Showing is at 7:15 tonight at the AMC Metreon in San Francisco.

We’re still trying to figure out exactly what happened, but Marvel is now saying that Oracle, which is promoting the movie, complained about the event. From our attorney: “He said this all arose from a misunderstanding. Paramount had not informed Marvel about your deal. Oracle had booked the theatre for a different screening at the same time. People at Oracle were upset thinking that their event was turning into a TechCrunch event and that there would be too many people, conflicts over who would get in, etc.”

I was already slightly annoyed at Oracle for spamming comments on our original post (see comment 50 here). But to try to derail the event is just villainous.

Marvel also apologized, and we accept.

Crunch Network: MobileCrunch Mobile Gadgets and Applications, Delivered Daily.

The PopSugar/TechCrunch Geek Goes Chic party in Los Angeles is over. The final count - over 1,300 paid attendees plus another 800 on the private guest list. In all, over 2,100 people attended the event last Thursday.

It was our largest event to date, twice as large as the thousand-person events we normally have. And based on feedback, it was a lot of fun for everyone. The only problem was that there were so many people, distributed in three main areas, that it was nearly impossible to find anyone that you were specifically looking for. We’re hoping to have a messaging system on a big screen at the next party to help people find each other.

$13,250 Being Donated To OpenId And DataPortability

As always, we’re donating 100% of the proceeds from ticket sales to charity. We charge $10 to get in the door primarily to reduce no-shows, but we’ve been able to donate tens of thousands of dollars to charity from the gate fees from previous events as well. This time we’re splitting the proceeds between the OpenID Foundation and the DataPortability WorkGroup. Each will receive $6,625 to further their goals of opening up identity and data on the Internet.

Event Wrapup

Thank you to everyone who attended. At one point I looked around and saw nothing but a sea of people, and took the picture to the right (and that was just 1 out of 3 main areas of the venue). I wasn’t able to meet everyone, but I tried. And the people I did meet came from a fascinating mix of backgrounds.

Photos for the event can be found at the TechCrunchMeetup12 tag and on our sponsor site PicApp here. I also want to thank all of our sponsors for the event. Many thanks to our platinum sponsors MySpace, Engage, Global Grind, Velocity Interactive Group, The Rubicon Project, and Geni. We also thank e.factor, CoComment, DimDim, DocStoc, Mahalo, This Next, PicApp, Meebo, ArtistForce, Media Temple, EventBrite, LotusVodka, PerkettPR, Mo’jiva and MailChimp. See more on all of the sponsors on the official party page.

Brian Solis and the Bub.blicio.us team captured lots of photo and video highlights for us. We’ve posted official MeetUp photos, videos and other evening highlights on our dedicated MeetUp page

Lastly I want to thank the whole team at PopSugar for co-hosting the event with us. Let’s do it again next year!

Crunch Network: CrunchGear drool over the sexiest new gadgets and hardware.

The PopSugar/TechCrunch Geek Goes Chic party in Los Angeles is over. The final count - over 1,300 paid attendees plus another 800 on the private guest list. In all, over 2,100 people attended the event last Thursday.

It was our largest event to date, twice as large as the thousand-person events we normally have. And based on feedback, it was a lot of fun for everyone. The only problem was that there were so many people, distributed in three main areas, that it was nearly impossible to find anyone that you were specifically looking for. We’re hoping to have a messaging system on a big screen at the next party to help people find each other.

$13,250 Being Donated To OpenId And DataPortability

As always, we’re donating 100% of the proceeds from ticket sales to charity. We charge $10 to get in the door primarily to reduce no-shows, but we’ve been able to donate tens of thousands of dollars to charity from the gate fees from previous events as well. This time we’re splitting the proceeds between the OpenID Foundation and the DataPortability WorkGroup. Each will receive $6,625 to further their goals of opening up identity and data on the Internet.

Event Wrapup

Thank you to everyone who attended. At one point I looked around and saw nothing but a sea of people, and took the picture to the right (and that was just 1 out of 3 main areas of the venue). I wasn’t able to meet everyone, but I tried. And the people I did meet came from a fascinating mix of backgrounds.

Photos for the event can be found at the TechCrunchMeetup12 tag and on our sponsor site PicApp here. I also want to thank all of our sponsors for the event. Many thanks to our platinum sponsors MySpace, Engage, Global Grind, Velocity Interactive Group, The Rubicon Project, and Geni. We also thank e.factor, CoComment, DimDim, DocStoc, Mahalo, This Next, PicApp, Meebo, ArtistForce, Media Temple, EventBrite, LotusVodka, PerkettPR, Mo’jiva and MailChimp. See more on all of the sponsors on the official party page.

Brian Solis and the Bub.blicio.us team captured lots of photo and video highlights for us. We’ve posted official MeetUp photos, videos and other evening highlights on our dedicated MeetUp page

Lastly I want to thank the whole team at PopSugar for co-hosting the event with us. Let’s do it again next year!

PS - If you’ve written about the event, leave a link in the comments and we’ll add it to the post.

Crunch Network: CrunchGear drool over the sexiest new gadgets and hardware.

Mark your calendars for the second annual TechCrunch launch conference, co-produced between TechCrunch and Jason Calacanis: TechCrunch50 at the San Francisco Design Center on September 8-10, 2008.

Like last year at TechCrunch40 (except there will be ten more startup launches), fifty new startups and products will launch over three days. All finalists will be chosen solely on merit; they are not charged to attend or present at the event. The top startup to launch at TechCrunch50, as chosen by the judges and organizers, will receive a $50,000 cash prize (last year’s winner was Mint)

The 40 startups that launched at last year’s event have now raised at least $143 million in venture capital (not all has been disclosed publicly). That’s mostly because they were all excellent startups. But the press and blogger coverage from the event certainly didn’t hurt, either.

New Venue, New Format

TechCrunch50 is a three day conference to accommodate the ten additional startup launches, as well as more panels and workshops. We’re changing locations this year. The event will be held at the San Francisco Design Center, a huge and beautiful venue that can accommodate over 1,000 attendees with ease.

We’re incredibly lucky to have the support and backing of a great and growing group of corporate partners. Sequoia Capital, Mayfield Fund, Clearstone Venture Partners, Charles River Ventures and Fenwick & West all returned quickly to support us for the second year in a row. Google and Microsoft reached out as well, and we’re very grateful for their new commitment to our merit-based conference format.

Things To Know:

Official Site: TechCrunch50
Dates: September 8 - 10, 2008
Tickets To Attend: TechCrunch50 Tickets
Application to Launch Startup/Product: Company Application Form
Applications Deadline: Friday, June 27, 2008 (early consideration deadline June 13)

Sponsors:

Crunch Network: CrunchBoard because it’s time for you to find a new Job2.0

We’re releasing 250 tickets for the Geek Goes Chic MeetUp in Los Angeles with PopSugar. These will go quickly, so act fast. If you miss out, please be patient and stay tuned; we will continue to release 250 tickets each week leading up to the event on April 10.

Event Details:

• Date: Thursday, April 10, 2008
• Time: 6:30 pm - midnight
• Venue: Vanguard, 6021 Hollywood Boulevard, Hollywood (maps: Google / Microsoft / Yahoo)
• Photo/Flickr Tag: PopCrunch2008
• For additional details, see our dedicated event page.

Get tickets here, based on availability. As usual, tickets are $10 to manage the guest list, and proceeds will be donated to charity. All ticket purchases are non-transferable and non-refundable. If you purchase multiple tickets under your own name, your guests will need to arrive together with you at the event. Photo IDs are required for event check-in (attendees must be at least 21 years of age); no paper tickets necessary. Hope to see you there!

Thank You to our growing list of MeetUp Sponsors

We’ve been lucky to receive a strong showing of support from sponsors for the LA MeetUp (We need your help; 1,500 people is a big bar bill). Sponsorship packages are available in all shapes and sizes: dedicated entertainment rooms, specialty cocktails, MeetUp giveaways, demo tables, etc. Please contact Jeanne Logozzo to learn more about how your can participate.

Thank you to our charter MeetUp sponsors:

Co-Host

Partner and Product Launch Sponsors

Product Sponsors

Event Sponsors:

Crunch Network: CrunchBoard because it’s time for you to find a new Job2.0

This is going to be our best party yet.

PopSugar is a blog all about fashion, beauty, shopping and celebrity news. TechCrunch is about startups and the geeks that create them. These two groups definitely need to mingle.

So on April 10, in Hollywood of course, we are putting on a huge party with them. The theme - Geek Goes Chic. Expect lots of startup geeks commingling with, well, normal people. Who are most likely attractive. And can carry on a conversation. What could could possibly go wrong?

The party is being held at Vanguard in Hollywood, which holds up to 1,500 people. Like our previous events, there will be sponsors, hors d’oeuvre and an open bar. Unlike our previous parties, not all of the sponsors will be startup and tech related.

Event Details:

• Date: Thursday, April 10, 2008
• Time: 6:30 pm - midnight
• Venue: Vanguard, 6021 Hollywood Boulevard, Hollywood (maps: Google / Microsoft / Yahoo)
• Photo/Flickr Tag: PopCrunch2008

We’re releasing the tickets in stages - the first 200 tickets are available now. As usual, tickets are $10 to manage the guest list, and proceeds will be donated to charity. All ticket purchases are non-transferable and non-refundable. If you purchase multiple tickets under your own name, your guests will need to arrive together with you at the event. Photo IDs are required for event check-in; no paper tickets necessary. Hope to see you there!

Sponsor Opportunities

The Vanguard is a huge club with outdoor patio and cabanas. The club can hold over 1,500 people, and we expect this to be the largest MeetUp yet. The large-format venue is very conducive to creative sponsorship opportunities that can really showcase innovations in new and interactive media. Sponsorship packages are available in all shapes and sizes– dedicated entertainment rooms, specialty cocktails, MeetUp giveaways, demo tables, etc. Please contact Jeanne Logozzo to learn more about sponsorships.

There are a limited number of sponsorship spots for companies to take “center stage” during the entertainment portion of the evening. The venue has a built-in catwalk, a stage/dance floor and the latest high-tech production equipment.

Crunch Network: CrunchGear drool over the sexiest new gadgets and hardware.

From CrunchGear: Check out the high definition trailer for the new Indiana Jones movie on Yahoo Movies. You can’t embed the trailer, of course (that would make too much sense), but they have some ridiculous countdown widget thing that shows the exact number of seconds until the movie is released. In case you are curious:

Crunch Network: CrunchGear drool over the sexiest new gadgets and hardware.

On the evening of March 6, 2008 I’ll be moderating a Churchill Club panel discussion in San Francisco on “Bootstrapping As A Start-Up.” Participants include Sean Byrnes (CEO Flurry), Craig Newmark (Founder Craigslist), Gabe Rivera (Founder TechMeme), and Stephen Weir (CEO MadeIt). The discussion will be around starting and growing a startup without outside funding.

This is a very small event - just 30 attendees total (hopefully they’ll video so that more people can watch it afterwards). The tickets are now gone - but the last five have been reserved for TechCrunch readers (and are free). If you want to go, please leave a comment below telling us why you think you would benefit from the event or have something interesting to contribute. Also, given that there are so few seats available, please don’t ask for a ticket unless you are sure you can attend. I’ll choose five in 24 hours.

Crunch Network: CrunchBoard because it’s time for you to find a new Job2.0