For any entrepreneurs looking to get some visibility for their company, the folks over at DOMAINfest Global, the domain name conference run by Oversee.net, have extended the deadline for their PitchFest competition. The PitchFest competition will be judged by such folks as John Morris of the Tech Coast Angels, Jeff Cohn (DeadCellZones.com,PhotoEnforced.com) Scott Jarus (j2 [...]

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Angel Investing, Conferences by Benjamin Kuo

Among one of the biggest issues new entrepreneurs face when trying to raise money, from both angel and venture capital investors, is not doing their research and getting to know their investors before approaching them. In my years tracking the high tech companies getting–and not getting–funding, particularly here in Southern California, I’ve noticed that those [...]

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Advice, Angel Investing, Venture Capital by Benjamin Kuo

Sid Mohasseb, one of the Tech Coast Angels, just emailed out about a new “entrepreneur happy hour” the group is running in Orange County, which got me thinking about how entrepreneurs should (or shouldn’t) approach angel and venture investors. I’m sure there are many opinions out there, but based on my time working with angels [...]

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Angel Investing by Benjamin Kuo

The Tech Coast Angels just announced today that a new fellowship at UC Irvine has been established to honor founder Luis Villalobos. Villalobos, who was the driving force behind creating the angel investment group,  died unexpectedly last month. The Villalobos Fellowship will attract outstanding students to the full-time MBA program at the Paul Merage School [...]

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Angel Investing by Benjamin Kuo

It looks like the effort by Jason Calacanis to “out” angel groups which charge entrepreneurs to pitch is finally gaining some steam and attention. However, there’s been some debate over whether or not groups can or should charge fees, and if they are ever appropriate. Jason’s crusade–which started with the Keiretsu Forum–now has expanded to [...]

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Angel Investing by Benjamin Kuo

One thing is for sure: Jason Calacanis keeps things from getting boring in the high tech world. Jason does not mince words when he’s got a cause, and he’s got a new one: taking down the Keiretsu Forum, an angel group which–unlike most–charges fairly steep fees to startups looking to present to investors. Jason–calling it [...]

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Angel Investing, Startups by Benjamin Kuo

Luis Villalobos, founder of the Tech Coast Angels, passed away yesterday, leaving a huge whole in Southern California’s technology and angel community. Luis — who regularly emailed me when I was  late sending out my daily email — exemplified some of the traits which make So Cal’s angel community an asset to entrepreneurs here. No, [...]

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Angel Investing, Southern California by Benjamin Kuo

I often run into entrepreneurs looking to raise their very first round of capital (whether that is angel funding or venture capital), and I find there’s a common mistake new entrepreneurs make: they don’t ask for enough money. Wait a second–you say they’re not asking too much, they’re asking too little?  Yes, lots of entrepreneurs [...]

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Advice, Angel Investing, Venture Capital by Benjamin Kuo

Not tired yet of hearing how angels have pulled back? The New York Times talks to at least one local Southern California entrepreneur about how angel funding seems to have dried up. … For TwoSmartDogs, an Internet start-up in Los Angeles that was building an online hub for adult education classes, this sudden pullback was [...]

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Angel Investing by Benjamin Kuo

The Tech Coast Angels is gearing up for its annual Fast Pitch event, which lets entrepreneurs tune their “elevator pitch” and present to a panel of venture capitalists and angels, later this month. The group has Mark Suster of GRP Partners, Richard Yen of Saban Ventures, Michael Rotgin of Shelter Capital Partners, and Richard Wolpert [...]

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Angel Investing, Conferences, Startups by Benjamin Kuo