Entrepreneurship workshop to include Live Fire! session

Time to get out the flak jacket, the Charlottesville Venture Group said of its signature angel investor event, Live Fire!, coming to Richmond on Wednesday.

For 15 minutes each, in front of a live audience, five regional companies will stand at the podium with PowerPoint presentations and try to get money from a panel of angel investors to help fund their ventures.

The reference to a flak jacket (a reinforced garment that protects against gunfire or shrapnel) may become clear at the end of each presentation.

For 10 minutes, the panel members will grill the companies, providing -- as the Charlottesville group bills it -- "a thought-provoking and often entertaining opportunity for all to learn more about the world of early-stage companies and investing."

Live Fire! is the afternoon portion of the University of Richmond's Robins School of Business all-day entrepreneurship workshop at the school's Jepson Alumni Center. The session is from 1:30 to 4:30 p.m.

The morning session, "Launching, Growing and Attracting New Financing to Your Venture," will focus on the intersection of finance and entrepreneurship. That program is sold out.

In the afternoon session, expect to see local business owners, investors, students and aspiring entrepreneurs watch and learn from the angel capital presentations.

Some of the companies have received funding at previous events.

Register for the afternoon program through tomorrow at www. cville-venture.org. It costs $20.

A networking cocktail reception from 4:30 to 6:30 p.m. is included. No registrations is available on the day of the event.-- Iris Taylor