Latin lessons.

Venture capitalists have often complained that Los Angeles needs a more supportive environment to nurture its startup companies. Aside from the Tech Coast Angels and Larta, whose Venture Forum was held last week at the Beverly Wilshire Hotel, such programs have been few and far between.

Now the Latin Business Association is getting into the act. The group is launching a series of workshops for its 1,300 members, who are closely tied to a growing ethnic marketplace that's garnering increasing attention from the world of finance.

Many Latino businesspeople are unfamiliar with how to position their companies for an equity investment, said Martha Montoya, board secretary and finance chair of the LBA. In addition, she said, there are cultural obstacles to overcome, such as the desire to leave the company to one's children, or mistrust of business counterparts the owner hasn't known for years.

"We need to create a pre-boot camp where people can say, 'Yes, you haven't met this gentleman but he is a very successful venture capitalist and maybe he can take you to the next level,'" Montoya said.

The LBA program, created with the help of Newport Beach-based Engage Capital, will include pitch sessions that bring investors together with entrepreneurs. The first event is scheduled for April 13 at the L.A. City Club.

The program is "extremely important" to Los Angeles given the diverse and geographically dispersed economy, said Rohit Shukla, chief executive of the private, non-profit Larta.

L.A.'s small-business economy is something the city should celebrate, Shukla said, even as its ties to the world economy shape the way those businesses are run.

"How do you deal with the fact that you're going to be an entrepreneur in the most globally diverse market in North America?" Shukla said. "(Entrepreneurs) are going to need to have places where they can go to be refreshed and develop their skill sets."