Tech Coast Angels Funds 31 Deals in 2010 and Highlights Three Profitable Exits

IRVINE, Calif., Feb. 22, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- Tech Coast Angels (TCA), the nation's largest angel investment network, today announced it funded 31 investments, including 12 new deals and 19 follow-on investments in a broad range of start-up businesses, demonstrating its angel investment leadership. TCA raised over $40 million of total investment for its entrepreneurial companies, including over $6 million through direct TCA investment and approximately $33.9 million through other sources of venture and angel capital. The total number of investments is up significantly from 2009 when 24 deals were completed. In addition, 2010 marked a year of profitable exits for TCA portfolio companies, including an IPO for Green Dot Corporation that yielded over 100x return for early investors, the acquisition of Language Weaver Inc. by SDL for $42.5 million, and an IPO for Trius Therapeutics.

"This past year was a dynamic time in our history. Coming out of an economic recession, we turned the tide and invested in more innovative, game-changing entrepreneurial companies and experienced several profitable exits. This is the result of our commitment to making the angel funding process faster, easier and more accessible to entrepreneurs to generate more investment. We've streamlined the process and added new events and opportunities for entrepreneurs to connect with our members," said Mike Napoli, Chairman, Tech Coast Angels. "The entrepreneurial community in Southern California is growing dramatically and Tech Coast Angels is committed to identifying the brightest, most innovative new companies and fostering their growth through both capital investment and mentoring leadership. Already, 2011 is shaping up to continue on this upward trend."

This year's investment portfolio represented companies in a wide number of growth industries including technology, biotech and pharmaceutical, social media, financial services, consumer products, and green technologies, among others. The companies funded by Tech Coast Angels in 2010 included: Cyber-Rain; Benchmark Revenue; Allylix; Outside Labs; Vigilistics; H2Scan; Mobile XL; Continental Windpower; Amplyx Pharmaceuticals; OlFactor; Vokle; MicroPower Technologies; HitFix; Ranker; CardioCreate; MyShape; Bikestation; MasherMedia; Brand America; Intrastage; YouMail; Glassbeam; LaughStub; Ondax; Cosnet; Solulink; and Cognition Therapeutics.

About Tech Coast Angels

Tech Coast Angels, www.techcoastangels.com, is the largest angel investor network 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 clean technology, consumer products and services, digital and social media, financial services, hardware and software technologies, and life sciences and healthcare. 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 in five networks in Los Angeles, Orange County, San Diego, Westlake/Santa Barbara and the Inland Empire (Riverside and San Bernardino Counties). More information on investment with Tech Coast Angels can be found at www.techcoastangels.com, www.facebook.com/techcoastangels or twitter.com/techcoastangels.

SOURCE Tech Coast Angels

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