Southland

Venture Capital Forum: The first annual Los Angeles Technology Venture Forum, designed to help fledgling Southland technology companies find venture capital financing, will be held from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Wednesday at the Beverly Hilton Hotel. A panel of venture experts will screen a pool of applicants from Los Angeles, Ventura, Orange, Riverside and San Bernardino counties and select 15 finalists to make presentations to potential investors at the forum. The event, the first in a series of such conferences sponsored by the Economic Development Corp. of Los Angeles, is designed to strengthen the region’s economy by helping companies in emerging industries. Currently, Southern California receives less than 20% of California’s total venture capital investments.