I sugest a start search like the one in the windows vista in the PortableApps Menu.
When we click on the tray icon, the menu shows and the cursor focus at a Editbox that allow write something to search a app name, in the list.
It is very simple and very usefull.
Furthermore, the menu can be activate by pressing a set of buttons. Like "[Windows] + P".
Thanks,
Ewerton Ramos Pires