not sure about how many startup events or conferences you attended. but if someone gets 'featured' on techcrunch, they would make sure to go party on it. especially in europe. i found this to be almost sad, to see, how this single entity is controlling so much of the success/failure of many. or, maybe from a different angle: it has become the point of success for many startups, featured there, you'll make it anywhere... (i know that's not true, but you'll hopefully see what i mean).