Tech Coast Angels Partners with Fish & Richardson P.C. to Advise Entrepreneurs; Angel Investor Network to Co-Host Boot Camp for IT and Life Sciences Entrepreneurs.

SAN DIEGO -- Tech Coast Angels (TCA), the largest angel network in the United States and the acknowledged(a) number one source of first-time, startup and early-stage funding in Southern California, today announced that it will be co-hosting a Venture Capital Boot Camp with Fish & Richardson P.C. The event will prepare entrepreneurs for the upcoming Venture Connections event, to be held at the WITI (Women In Technology International) conference.

The Boot Camp will be held at Fish & Richardson P.C. law campus, 12390 El Camino Real, San Diego, CA 92130, on February 4, 2006 from 8:00 AM to 1:00 PM. It will help entrepreneurs give their best-focused pitch to an audience of VCs, as part of the Venture Connections track of the WITI conference on February 13, 2006. The conference will run on February 13 and 14, 2006 at the Hilton Torrey Pines Hotel in La Jolla, CA.

The WITI conference features structured networking between entrepreneurs in technology and life sciences companies and investors (venture capitalists, angel investors, private equity funds and other capital providers). The event will provide an opportunity for entrepreneurs to access funding for their technology or life sciences start-ups, learn about the venture capital process and meet potential investors. Female and male entrepreneurs are participating in Venture Connections.

The WITI conference will be attended by over 300 decision makers from established and emerging companies, and will give attendees the opportunity to learn from hundreds of other professional women and innovators with a focus on biosciences, technology and career building.

"The life sciences and technology sectors are buzzing with exciting new companies, and investors are constantly looking for high-quality opportunities," said Jack Florio, vice president marketing and communications of TCA's San Diego network. "By partnering with Fish & Richardson P.C. and WITI, Tech Coast Angels can offer strategic and financial assistance to emerging organizations in these high-growth industries, prior to their attendance at WITI Venture Connections. Events such as WITI Venture Connections are essential for investors to meet a large number of potential ventures in a single location, and also provide a great resource for the entrepreneur community. We want to make sure entrepreneurs are as prepared as possible to get the most out of this valuable event."

"Organizations like Tech Coast Angels are the lifeblood of the entrepreneurial community," said Jennifer Beckey, regional VP at WITI. "Not only do they provide capital to early-stage organizations, but they also provide the mentoring, experience and contacts to turn a bright idea into a commercial success. By teaming up with TCA, WITI is able to give attendees an invaluable insight into the world of angel investing, providing emerging companies with the opportunity to further develop their businesses."

To be considered for WITI Venture Connections, please contact Jennifer Beckey at WITI at 858-344-3825. For more information on the conference or to register, see http://www.witi.com/sdconf/.

About Tech Coast Angels

The Tech Coast Angels, www.techcoastangels.com, is the largest angel investor network in the United States, and provides funding and guidance to more early-stage, high-growth companies in Southern California than any other venture capital, angel or other private equity group. Since its inception in 1997, TCA members have personally invested more than $66 million in 103 companies and have helped portfolio companies attract $613 million in additional capital, mostly from venture capital firms. As a value-add, seed and early-stage investment group, TCA offers companies much more than capital. Members also mentor and coach entrepreneurs, help recruit additional management, and provide access to institutional investors and strategic partners. TCA has more than 270 members in its four networks in Los Angeles, Orange County, San Diego and Westlake/Santa Barbara.

(a) Based on data from PWC Money Tree

About Fish & Richardson

Fish & Richardson P.C. is a national law firm with over 350 lawyers in ten offices: Atlanta, Austin, Boston, Dallas, Delaware, New York, San Diego, Silicon Valley, Twin Cities, and Washington, DC. The firm is one of the largest firms practicing intellectual property, litigation, and corporate law and the only firm with a truly national intellectual property practice. Founded in 1878, the firm represented Thomas Edison, Alexander Graham Bell, and the Wright Brothers. For 125 years it has served great innovators, helping to protect countless ideas, nurture discoveries, and bring new concepts to market. Today, the firm continues to represent great innovators working in cutting-edge technologies.

Fish & Richardson's Corporate and Securities Group provides a broad spectrum of corporate, securities, and transactional services to clients nationwide, ranging from startups to multinational corporations. Its team of highly respected, highly experienced corporate attorneys advises companies over the course of their life cycles, from start-up and initial financing through IPO and beyond. It has experience in securities offerings, mergers and acquisitions, venture capital financings, and corporate partnering.

The Fish & Richardson Venture & Technology Group pairs technically savvy corporate attorneys with an experienced intellectual property team to provide a special set of services to start-up and emerging companies. The firm taps into the resources of the leading patent and technology law practice in country in several ways to strengthen the technology foundation of its corporate services. Having a thorough understanding of client's technology and the strength of a client's intellectual property enables greater insight into business and competitive issues. It also offers unique expertise in those areas that lie at the intersection of corporate and intellectual property law, such as intellectual property "due diligence" in connection with mergers and acquisitions.

About WITI

Since 1989, WITI is the premier global trade professional association for tech-savvy women who acquire wealth, power and influence in the business marketplace. With a global network of smart, talented women and a market reach exceeding two million, WITI has established powerful strategic alliances and programs to provide connections, resources, and opportunities within a supportive environment of women committed to helping each other. WITI's mission is to empower women worldwide to achieve unimagined possibilities and transformations through technology, leadership and economic prosperity.