By Arik Hesseldahl

Early-Stage Tech Companies Make Their Pitch

If you needed any more proof that the technology economy is slowing down, look no further than the DEMO conference getting under way Mar. 2 in Palm Desert Calif. At last year's event, 77 early-stage technology companies demonstrated their products before potential investors, journalists, and other tech luminaries. This year's crop is about half that size.

Blame the economy if you must, but some of the companies are introducing products and services—like mortgage research site Home-Account.com and shopping assistant Gazaro—that are oddly well-timed for the current financial environment. This BusinessWeek.com slide show offers a wide sampling of companies and products making their big debut at DEMO.