When launching a new product, these common mistakes could cost startups valuable opportunities Last week, DEMO Fall 2013 provided more than 40 startups the opportunity to launch. For some, it may have been the first step toward massive success. Some major names in the tech industry, such as VMware, E-Trade, and Salesforce.com, began their rise to prominence with a brief pitch at a DEMO conference in the past. However, a lot of startups make the same small mistakes when launching. These aren’t the kinds of mistakes that will necessarily cause a young company to fail, but rather the kinds of mistakes that just make it more difficult for a startup to get the publicity that could be so valuable early on. 1. Don’t hide everything about your company Many companies reserve these large startup-centric events for their debut, remaining in stealth mode right up until they get on stage and introduce themselves to the world. While that might make sense for a company with an exact launch date, keeping the press completely in the dark prior to the launch may cost a startup some opportunities for coverage. Technology Industry