We thought today for our interview, that we'd get an update on the angel investment environment here in Southern California from Scott Sangster , the incoming President of the Los Angeles Chapter of the Tech Coast Angels , the biggest angel investment group in Southern California. Scott sat down with us last week and gave us some hints and tips about finding angel investment nowadays, and how the economy has affected local angel investors. It It seems that the economy hit angel investors pretty badly over the last couple of years, along

The Tech Coast Angels said this morning that the group has made an investment in Amplyx Pharmaceuticals, a drug development firm developing small molecule drugs. According to the Tech Coast Angels, it invested $289,000 in a Series A round for Amplyx, which also scored $492,000 in funding from the Life Science Angels. The TCA's investment was led Amplyx is based in the Bay Area. The Tech Coast Angels is the largest angel investment group in Southern Californi

Los Angeles-based Mobile-XL , the international mobile information services firm backed by the Tech Coast Angels, said this week that it has linked a deal with Oberthur Technologies to include its XLBrowser Content Platform on Oberthur's line of SIM cards. Mobile-XL provides SMS-based, mobile applications which provide news, information, and other content to lesser served, developing countries with limited or expensive Internet access. Financial details of the deal were not disclosed. The firms said that including Mobile-XL's software on its SIM cards will

Irvine-based eGuardian , a provider of service aimed at protecting children on the web, has partnered with safety education firm i-SAFE, according to investor the Tech Coast Angels. eGuardian develops technology for verifying the age, gender, and location of children on web sites. Tags: eguardian safety tech coast angels angel investment isaf i-SAFE SAFE is a nonprofit which educates consumers about Internet safety.

San Diego-based BrightQube, an angel-backed stock photo search site, has updated its web services to make it easier for photo buyers to find images. BrightQube has developed a radically different user interface specifically aimed at filtering through both microstock and professional stock photography, making it easier for graphics designers and other who use stock photography to find particular images visually. The firm is angel BrightQube rolled out its new web site earlier this week, adding such features as pop-up search tips, new navigation options, filtering, and other features.

Last night I attended a DealMaker Media (whom I love because they always host such great discussions) panel on raising angel money moderated by Dan Gould and with panelists Rob Hayes (First Round Capital, more seed or A round than angel), Scot Sangster (with OrganicStartup and the best spokesperson for Tech Coast Angels that I have met to date), Tom McInerney (TGM) and Jarl Mohn (who invests on his own “account” and whose track record is truly humbling). recently wrote a post on angel financing covering the topic of convertible notes but

Digital Family Reunion is bringing all of the LA Tech/Business/Media scene together next month, for a nice holiday party at the Skirball Center! Los Angeles, CA 90049 Girls In Tech LA Web Developers Howdy Campers! It should be a blast having so many great LA communities together, sharing their thoughts and having some great holiday fun!

Irvine-based Bikestation , a developer of facilities for bicycle commuting, has scored an investment from the Tech Coast Angels angel investment group, the TCA said this morning. According to the Orange County arm of the Tech Coast Angels, the investment was led by Raulee Marcus. Bikestation develops infrastructure, including Amount of the investment in Bikestation was not announced. The firm operates facilities in Long Beach, Santa Barbara, Palo Alto, and Seattle, and says it is opening facilities in Washington, DC; Salt Lake City,

Irvine-based Integrien , a developer of analytics software for IT operations, announced this morning that it has appointed Ian Dodd as the firm's Vice President of Strategy and Business Development. The firm, which is backed by Clearstone Ventures, Acartha Group, and the Tech Coast Angels, said that Dodd joins the firm from IBM, where he was ran Global Operations and Enterprise Automation supporting Kaiser Permanente. Dodd has also served at United Health Group. READ MORE>> ...Tags:

Irvine-based Integrien , a developer of IT analytics software, announced today that it has added Carol Dingle, most recently VP Product Development and Shared Services at Digital Insight/Intuit, to its technology advisory board. Integrien is backed by Acartha Group, Clearstone Venture Partners, and the Tech Coast Angels. Dingle spent the last 12 years at Digital Insight serving as VP Operations and Infrastructure. READ MORE>> ...Tags: