The Next Big Idea in Tech: Do It Yourself Focus Groups ? - 1 March 2011

In a class of 53 startups presenting at DEMO’s Spring 2011 conference in Palm Springs, GutCheck stood tallest. The do it yourself qualitative research company took home the People’s Choice award and $1 million in winnings.

The Denver based company was voted best in show by conference attendees. The startup’s mission: to make focus groups more accessible and affordable.

GutCheck customers draw from the service’s pool of five million participants for targeted questioning. Then they interview respondents in a traditional question and answer survey format, or something more free form. Interview transcripts are stored and can be shared with co-workers.

DEMO’s focus this time around: apps for mobile and the social sector. Several startups offered me too services for social media management, news curation, mobile application development and group communication. The show was not without its standout ideas ecoATM, for instance, is a hardware company with a futuristic solution to electronics recycling.

So, all competitors considered, is GutCheck the next big idea ? Given that it has no groundbreaking or remarkable technology, this respondent would have to answer no. But, GutCheck does have the makings of a revenue generating hit, perhaps following in the footsteps of Groupon’s low tech success. Its low price point $40 per qualified 30 minute interview makes it affordable for even the smallest of businesses and startups.

Prior to its official DEMO debut, GutCheck had raised $2 million. Now, as the People’s Choice winner, GutCheck is the beneficiary of $1 million worth of complimentary advertising from IDG publications.

Six other startups were recognized by DEMO organizers for the quality of their products and demonstrations Tuesday. Webcam Social Shopper from Zugura, Nimble, ecoATM, Stratosphere by V3, Manilla and ecobe all received recognition for ideas ranging from augmented reality e-commerce and social CRM to a drop-in virtual desktop appliance.

By Jennifer Van Grove (Mashable)