I'm working with MeetingBurner.com which uses nearly all the AWS products to power their cloud webinar service - from real time video encoding, to phone bridges

I'm working with MeetingBurner.com which uses nearly all the AWS products to power their cloud webinar service - from real time video encoding, to phone bridges, to playback. From the list of finalists last year it appeared that having a VC or notable investor on your team was almost a requirement to get anywhere. Anybody with experience making the finals or from the AWS side lurking around HN that might be willing to give some tips?