2012-02-13 23:10:14 -

LOS ANGELES, CA -- (Marketwire) -- 02/13/12 -- Tech Coast Angels, the largest angel investor network in the United States and the number one source of start-up funding in Southern California, today announced that it has begun seeking submissions for its seventh annual "Fast Pitch" event.



The event will take place on Tuesday, April 24th at 4:00 pm in Korn Hall located within the Anderson School of Management at UCLA.



Applicants interested in competing in this year's event must submit an application online ( www.pitchtheangels.com : www.pitchtheangels.com/ ) by midnight on March 31, 2012. After an initial screening, the successful applicants will be invited to an initial try-out in mid-April where they will undergo extensive training and coaching to hone their 90-second pitches.





Ten finalists, out of approximately 150 applicants, will then be invited to compete in the April 24th event where they will each have 90 seconds to make their best pitch to a panel comprised of Tech Coast Angels members, founders of leading accelerators and incubators and other start-up experts. The ten finalists will be competing to win the following categories: Best Overall; Best Fundability; and, Best Presentation.



"Los Angeles is undergoing renewed interest from the technology community as numerous business accelerators, led by successful executives, have recently opened for business offering capital and resources," said Peter Cowen, Chair of the TCA Fast Pitch and Managing Director at Angeles Capital. "This event, now in its seventh year, fits in perfectly with this trend and this year's competition will once again feature original and paradigm-shifting entrepreneurs and companies."



"Fast Pitch is really a cornerstone event for Tech Coast Angels," said Michael Green, President of the Los Angeles Chapter. "The competition is a microcosm of what our organization does on a daily basis -- seek out local, promising, early stage businesses which are in need of a little help, be that in the form of funding, counsel or contacts. Being part of the initial growth of companies that can quite literally change the business landscape is at the heart of our mission."



The keynote speaker for the event will be Regis McKenna who is widely considered to be the marketing guru of Silicon Valley. For the past 30 years Regis has worked closely with Apple, Microsoft, Intel, Genentech, Electronic Arts and dozens of other major companies in strategic planning and marketing communication.



The annual event attracts top angel investors, venture capitalists and business executives from Southern California. Many of the companies that have participated in Fast Pitch have received funding from Tech Coast Angels and several venture capital firms. Overall, Tech Coast Angels has funded over 200 ventures and raised over $1 billion for portfolio companies from direct investments and follow-on investment partners.



Registration and tickets are available at www.pitchtheangels.com : www.pitchtheangels.com/ .



About Tech Coast Angels
Tech Coast Angels, www.techcoastangels.com : www.techcoastangels.com/ , is the largest angel investor group in the United States. Its members provide funding and guidance to more early-stage, high-growth companies in Southern California than any other investment group. TCA members invest in companies in a wide range of industries, including the life sciences, biotech, IT, services, retail, Internet, financial, software, media, consumer products and tech start-ups. TCA members give companies more than just capital; they also provide counsel, mentoring and access to an extensive network of potential investors, customers, strategic partners and management talent. TCA has more than 300 members, including its venture capital affiliates, in five networks in Los Angeles, Orange County, San Diego, Central Coast and the Inland Empire. More information on investment with Tech Coast Angels can be found at www.techcoastangels.com : www.techcoastangels.com/ , www.facebook.com/techcoastangels : www.facebook.com/techcoastangels or www.twitter.com/techcoastangels : www.twitter.com/techcoastangels .