as though there are millions of people who feel it is the central business information repository online?
I think because there really are millions who feel that way. Getting featured on TC has become one of the must-accomplish tasks for startups and so many feel, maybe even rightly, that TechCrunch can make or break you. They've kind of become the decider of what's cool and what's crap and you'd be surprised how many people don't question it and take their word as truth.
There's this whole group of us living outside the major startup capitals, looking in from the outside, and wondering how they can rocket to the center of the universe too. That group often feels frustrated when we see all these me-too startups while they're working on a labor of love for all the right reasons. Then when someone with their same idea gets into TC they fear being considered a me-too company as well despite having worked on whatever project for so long. It's not a jealousy thing, I think it's different. All in all they just feel like they're very deserving of some help from the players in Startupland but can't get it because they're an outsider.
Just like that? Easier said than done. You're leaving out the most important part. The traditional way usually involves getting that lucky connection, getting funded, making a huge PR push using that funding and then make lots of money (or at least be in a position to). Otherwise there could be people out there who have products far better than what's around but can't rocket to the center of the universe because of the way things work now. It's like there's this bubble that you either live inside of or outside of which is created by tech rags like TechCrunch. If you're outside the bubble then good luck getting noticed. And for all the talk about how all these sexy new startups are being so innovative we sure do see a ton of me-too apps, networks, and SaaSes. What's an outsider to do? It's like getting mega rich. There's an unspoken truth that your position in life is governed by the class you we born in. Moving up a class is a true rarity. It's a myth in the style of The American Dream.
The overturning of insiders by hungrier outsiders is as old as civilisation. It didn't work out for the outsiders most of the time, but it did eventually.
Maybe that's you, maybe it's not. But you've got to play the hand you're dealt.
There's this whole group of us living outside the major startup capitals, looking in from the outside, and wondering how they can rocket to the center of the universe too. That group often feels frustrated when we see all these me-too startups while they're working on a labor of love for all the right reasons. Then when someone with their same idea gets into TC they fear being considered a me-too company as well despite having worked on whatever project for so long. It's not a jealousy thing, I think it's different. All in all they just feel like they're very deserving of some help from the players in Startupland but can't get it because they're an outsider.