Maybe you've already done an angel round and now you're looking for VC money. So how is it different pitching to VCs versus angels? Joe Platnick knows.

Joe's a long term member of the Pasadena Angels; he's on the board and he's recently joined a venture capital firm in New Zealand. What kind of a year are the Pasadena Angels having in 2009? And how did their conversion to Angelsoft go?

I've seen him around the Southland for years, always willing to come out and speak to an audience of entrepreneurs. It's part of giving back for Joe.

Show #237 (40:51) Listen

Susan Solovic was recently presented with a Leader of Distinction Award by the Institute of Women Entrepreneurs in Anaheim recently. Thanks to the SBA's Jill Andrews who helped arrange this interview with Susan.

She's the founder of SBTV.com, an online media company that mimics network television with an emphasis on small business issues. She enjoys telling the stories of successful entrepreneurs, "just knowing that someone else stumbled and fell, or failed, and now look at where they are today; I think that says to everyone: You know what? It's not a cake walk". So I have to ask her, tell me a story of the challenges you've faced. Be prepared to be inspired; you'll know why she's the award winner.

Show #236 (38:00) Listen

Alana Semuels reports in today's Los Angeles Times that Venture Capital Investment is Still Sluggish.

If at first you don't succeed...

Is it easier to recover from failure in the US compared to Europe?

Do entrepreneurs have a more difficult time bouncing back in say, Germany, versus Silicon Valley?

Is there a difference of perception, a stigma regarding failure between Silicon Valley and Silicon Alley? Melissa says yes.

Melissa Cardon of Pace University in New York City teams up with Richard Sudek at Chapman University in Orange County to discuss the results of their research into entrepreneur passion. Richard's also a long term member of the Tech Coast Angels and is the incoming Chairman for 2010, so he has access to the entrepreneur presentations which are the source of the data.

So what are the 3 types of passion? And why is the question and answer period after the presentation so fraught with danger for the entrepreneur?

Show #235 (52:57) Listen

Events
The Orange County Venture Group features "Healthcare: The Final IT Frontier" 7am on July 21st at the Pacific Club in Newport Beach. Come out and meet the local VCs.

Early Exits author, Basil Peters has just been named as the keynote speaker for the 2009 National Angel Summit in Toronto, October, 14-15. Register now.

Listen to Basil on why angel investors should consider avoiding venture capital investments in their portfolio companies.

Claire Cain Miller reports in today's New York Times on the ongoing meltdown in venture capital: Venture Capitalists Look for a Return to the A B C's.

What's the state of one of the largest angel groups in the world, the Tech Coast Angels? How has deal flow been affected by the downturn? And what about membership; how soon will it rebound? And what's deal-lead fatigue?

As an investor, "two thirds of my investments are in life science", which enjoys a special emphasis in the San Diego network. Ralph sees parallels between life science and clean tech, too, but his assessment of venture capital in San Diego surprises me.

Show #234 (36:39) Listen