Mirabilis's goal is to corner the market, says Yossi Vardi, the company's first investor and head of business development.

ECONOMIST: Word of mouse

Below are my realtime notes from what was said. as Peres was seated between Israeli investor Yossi Vardi and Producer Jason Calacanis.

FORBES: So, Why is Shimon Peres at the Launch Festival?

Israeli venture capitalist Yossi Vardi, who founded the famed ICQ instant message service later bought by America Online, decided to poke fun at it.

FORBES: Nerds Of A Feather

The entire San Francisco Design Center was cordoned off by at least 50 police and Secret Service agents as the Launch Festival prepared to open with Israeli President Shimon Peres in a fireside chat with angel investor Yossi Vardi and conference producer Jason Calacanis.

FORBES: Security Tight As Launch Festival Opens

Y. art collective, a remote-controlled gray blimp that hovered ominously over the ferry on the way to New Jersey and a cheeky presentation from ICQ founder Yossi Vardi on why excessive heat from laptops seriously impairs male gonads and is the root of population decline in certain nations of the developed world.

FORBES: Magazine Article