Kevin Kwak’s Blog

The Unique Entrepreneurs’ Competition & Networking Event of the Year
TCVN “8th Annual Fast Pitch Competition”

Monday - May 19, 2008
6:00pm - 9:00pm
Anaheim Marriott
70 West Convention Way, Anaheim, CA 92802

Meet, greet, and see - the art of the pitch through the eyes of the Tech Coast Angels, the nation’s largest and most active network of angel investors.

Network with hundreds of investors and entrepreneurs.
Enjoy a sumptuous walk-around dinner and wine.

Register Now @ www.PitchTheAngels.com
Registration

$85 by May 15th
($115 after)

At Fast Pitch you will -
Watch the finalists in the competition pitch a panel of expert judges.
Learn about exciting new startup investment opportunities.
Learn how Tech Coast Angels has funded 142 ventures, investing $94 million coupled with $994 million from co-investors.
Since 2006, two of the Fast Pitch winners have each received multiple funding rounds from TCA.

Scoring System and Judges
Fourteen finalists have been selected from previous Coaching sessions.
Judges are prominent VCs, Angels and Business Executives, who will score funding opportunity and presentation on scale of 1-10
4 Winners: Best Overall; Best Funding Opportunity; Best Presentation; People’s Choice/Audience Pick.
Best Overall - based on the combined score — weighted with 60% for funding opportunity and 40% for presentation.
Best Funding Opportunity - based on who best attracts the investors to take the next step and visit in depth with the entrepreneur.
Best Presentation - based on the best and most effective delivery, the most enthusiastically persuasive, and the most exciting.

Associated with the May 19th all-day event:
Harvard Business School “24th Annual Entrepreneurs Conference”
Win Fun Door Prizes from TCA Companies
Conference Overview

The annual Entrepreneurs Conference is an exceptional opportunity to capitalize on the successful experiences of others in starting, funding, growing, and managing a new business.

Who should attend?
Entrepreneurs, investors, and executives of rapidly growing companies will definitely want to be at this event. If you are contemplating a start-up, looking to accelerate your sales growth, or want to connect with other business owners or investors, this conference is for you.

What will I get out of it?
You can:
* Learn how to get funding for your business,
* Acquire valuable marketing ideas to accelerate your sales growth, and
* Find out what worked and didn’t work from successful entrepreneurs.
http://www.hbsaoc.org/conference/index.htm

Liberty in North Korean (LiNK) Presents Shin Dong-Hyuk
There are three exciting events happening in the LA/ OC area that I want to share with you for three main reasons: 1) it’s a very unique opportunity; 2) I feel like this will be of some interest to you; and 3) your support could make a difference.

Who
Shin Dong-Hyun (Shin) was born on Nov. 19, 1982 and called the camp home until 2005. While at the camp, Shin endured daily beatings, torture, starvation-level rations, saw forced abortions and even witnessed the public execution of his mother and brother in 1996. Shin described his life of total isolation from the world: “In South Korea, although there is disappointment and sadness, there is also so much joy, happiness and comfort. In Kaechon, I did not even know such emotions existed. The only emotion I ever knew was fear: fear of beatings, fear of starvation, fear of torture and fear of death.”

Articles on Shin:
http://www.washingtontimes.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20071030/FOREIGN/110300055/1001&template=printart
http://www.reuters.com/article/idUSSEO16870720071029
http://www.csmonitor.com/2007/1106/p07s01-woap.html
His book: http://book.naver.com/bookdb/book_detail.php?bid=3292618

What
LiNK is hosting a speaking tour for Shin entitled, “Born and Raised in a Concentration Camp,” from Wednesday, April 30 to Wednesday, May 14. Shin will recount his experiences as a North Korean who was born into slavery as a political prisoner in a North Korean concentration camp. Mr. Shin, along with LiNK’s Executive Director Adrian Hong and Deputy Director Hannah Song, will arrive in LA on May 14. For more info: http://www.libertyinnorthkorea.blogspot.com/

Where/ When

UCLA (Westwood), Wed. 5/14, 4:00 - 6:15 PM, Bunche Hall 1209B
Hear Shin’s testimony, watch riveting clips, hear updates from LiNK and ask questions, get answers!

Further details: 405 Hilgard Ave. Los Angeles, CA 90095. [http://www.admissions.ucla.edu/map/directions.htm ]
M-Grill (Koreatown), Wed. 5/14, 8:30PM - 10:30 PM ($20 cover (donation to org.); RSVP necessary. Limited space!)
Come join us for this special after-hours event for your opportunity to meet and speak with Shin more personally, learn more about LiNK, watch film clips, and mingle with other young professionals. Light appetizers will be served. Link to Facebook invite: http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=16668681994
UCI (Irvine) Thurs., 5/15, 8:00 - 9:20 AM, Social Science Lab 228.
Hear Shin’s testimony, watch riveting clips, hear updates from LiNK and ask questions, get answers!
Further details: This public event is during a Conflicts Management in Cross-Cultural Perspective course taught by Prof. Paula Garb (Founder and Co-Director of UCI’s Center for Citizen Peacebuilding: http://www.socsci.uci.edu/~cpb/)
E6 on map: http://today.uci.edu/pdf/uci_07_map_campus.pdf

Why
When will you again be given the opportunity to listen to a survivor of a prison camp who is willing to openly share his story so much so that he will come to you (from Korea)? Seize the opportunity to learn, be educated, and discover ways in which you can take action. Thanks in advance for your attendance and support!

Born and Raised In a Concentration Camp Video

Yikes! Prices of bananas (produce), rice, gasoline, utilities bill, are all up. Gasoline prices will continue to go up for few more months and who would’ve ever guessed that a barrel of gasoline would reach $200.

Off-topic: This drummer dude got groove.