San Diego Tech Coast Angels Announce Finalists for Fifth Annual Quick Pitch Competition

SAN DIEGO, Sept. 7, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- Tech Coast Angels (TCA), the largest angel investor network in the United States and the number one source of startup funding in Southern California, announced the finalists for their Fifth Annual Quick Pitch Competition. Of the 14 finalists, 12 will present at the October 6 competition to a blue ribbon panel of judges, and an audience of more than 450 leaders within the entrepreneurial community.

Each two-minute pitch will be judged on substance and presentation quality. Winners will be announced at the end of the event.

Since 1997, TCA has invested more than $100 million in over 160 companies and raised more than $1 billion of additional capital, mostly from venture capital firms. The group is supported by many of the regions leading VC funds and sponsors including many of the best service providers to early stage companies.

"The annual Tech Coast Angels Quick Pitch is an opportunity for entrepreneurs to network, learn and compete for the investment capital that is so crucial to early stage companies," says Stephen Flaim, president of San Diego Tech Coast Angels. "It is one of the most important entrepreneurial events of the year in San Diego." TCA members selected this year's Quick Pitch finalists from among a number of high-caliber entries representing a broad range of companies. The 2011 Quick Pitch finalists, in alphabetical order, are:

Altadyn
Darius Lahoutifard, CEO
www.altadyn.com

Atlantis Technologies
PM Curran, CEO

Gamer Grub
Keith Mullin, Founder
www.GamerGrub.com

HumanCentric Performance
Rob Logan, CEO
www.HumanCentricPerformance.com

iTel Companies, Inc.
Tom Bang, CEO
www.iTelCompanies.com

Lifetime Health Diary
Hamish MacDonald, CEO
www.LifetimeHealthDiary.com

Nascent Biologics, Inc.

Mark Glassy, CEO
www.NascentBiologics.com

Sironis
Joseph Rinehart, President
www.Sironis.com

SwoopThat, LLC
Jonathan Simkin, CEO & Founder
www.SwoopThat.com

Tesla Controls
Derek Smith, CEO
www.TeslaControls.com

TrueAngular, Inc.
Dan Ikoyan, CEO & Founder
www.TrueAngular.com

Ventrix, Inc.
Adam Kinsey, CEO & Co-Founder
www.Ventrixheart.com

Visionary Pharmaceuticals
Gordon Alton, President & CEO
www.VisionaryPharmaceuticals.com

Xen Biosciences, Inc.
Mark Nowakowski, VP Product Development
www.XenBiosciences.com

For more information about Tech Coast Angels' Quick Pitch Competition and to register to attend, please visit: http://www.sdquickpitch.com/

About Tech Coast Angels

Tech Coast Angels, 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 startups. 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 250 members, including its venture capital affiliates, in five networks in Los Angeles, Orange County, San Diego, Westlake/Santa Barbara and the Inland Empire. More information on investment with Tech Coast Angels can be found at www.techcoastangels.com, www.facebook.com/techcoastangels or www.twitter.com/techcoastangels.

SOURCE Tech Coast Angels