Keywords for this post: investors, angel investors, business plans, business proposals
The Tech Coast Angels (TCA), the largest angel network in the United States, announced its fifth annual Fast Pitch Competition for Southern California startup companies seeking seed and early-stage funding. The Competition challenges entrepreneurs to develop a company pitch that will interest potential investors and present it in 60 seconds or less.
TCA members select the top 12 companies that enter to present at the Competition held on May 9, 2005, from 6 to 9 p.m. at the Irvine Hyatt Regency hotel. Attendance at the Competition, which also includes a networking and a walk-around dinner and wine event, is open to all Southern California entrepreneurs, investors and business professionals for a fee of $65, and $95 after April 30. A panel of experts will select three winning companies that will be given an opportunity to present their business plans at a TCA funding screening session. All participating entrepreneurs have a chance to capture the interest of TCA members or TCA's venture capital affiliates and receive funding.
"Investors typically fund less than one percent of the companies they see and often tune out a company unless something immediately captures their interest," said Luis Villalobos, TCA's founder. "Fast Pitch helps entrepreneurs learn how to ignite an investor's interest in less than a minute and improve their chances of getting funded."
How to Compete in Fast Pitch
Interested entrepreneurs must register to attend the May 9 Fast Pitch event by April 30 and submit their written Fast Pitch Competition entry form by May 2. Participating entrepreneurs are encouraged to attend one or more of the five free coaching sessions taught by TCA members. These optional coaching sessions will take place on April 19, 21, 25, 28, and May 2, and provide an opportunity for entrepreneurs to present their companies and get feedback and tips from TCA members, which will help them put together a winning presentation.
"The importance of coaching and practicing your delivery cannot be emphasized enough," said Robert Moore, TCA's Fast Pitch director. "Most of the winners of our past competitions received coaching and practiced extensively prior to presenting at the Fast Pitch finals."
The 12 finalists will present their companies to a panel of experts and an audience of more than 200 at the Fast Pitch finals on May 9. The panel, which includes investors and other business professionals, provides comments, scores the presentations and determines the three winners for best presentation, best business plan, and best overall. The three winners will be invited to present their companies at a TCA funding screening session.
For more information on entering a company in the Competition or attending the May 9 finals and dinner, visit www.TCAFP.com.
About Tech Coast Angels
The Tech Coast Angels, www.techcoastangels.com, is the largest angel investor network in the United States, providing funding and guidance to the most early-stage, high-growth companies in Southern California. Since its inception in 1997, TCA members have personally invested $55 million in 85 companies and are the region's major source of referrals to venture capital firms. TCA has leveraged its investments into more than $591 million in funding for TCA portfolio companies, by attracting venture capital firms as co-investors. As a value-add, early-stage investment group, TCA offers seed and early-stage companies much more than capital. Members also mentor and coach entrepreneurs, and provide them with access to investors, individuals with domain expertise and other contacts. TCA has more than 250 members in its four networks in Los Angeles, Orange County, San Diego and Westlake/Santa Barbara.
Contact: Spencer Communications for TCASusan Spencer (Media), 310-541-5208
susan@spencercomm.biz
orCalVentureTechRobert Moore, 714-334-9577
RMoore@Calventuretech.com
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