RESEARCH TRIANGLE PARK, N.C. – PricewaterhouseCoopers will put on its quarterly venture capital breakfast on Thursday morning.

If your new venture is looking for funding – from angels or venture capitalists or other sources – I suggest you show up at the Embassy Suites hotel.

The event, which is free, will include an overview of statistics and trends from 2006 as well as a forecast for 2007 from Jeff Barber of the PwC practice in Raleigh.

Here’s what one venture capitalist, Jason Caplain of Southern Capitol Ventures, had to say recently in his own blog about the PwC event:

“I know a lot of entrepreneurs feel like they have a hard time getting to know the VCs in their community. Some make the comment that VCs won’t call/e-mail them back. Well, I have a way to get around all that. Find out where the VCs are and then go and introduce yourself in person – even better!

“One example:

“PricewaterhouseCoopers’ runs a really good quarterly breakfast called ‘Shaking the MoneyTree’ where they give an overview of venture capital trends over the last quarter and talk about where the market is heading. They then turn it over to 2 VCs (usually one local and one out of state firm) who then talk about their background, what they look for and they also give comments about some of the VC trends they see in the market.

“From attending over the last 6 years, I know the quarterly breakfast in RTP attracts ALL the NC-based VCs every quarter. I think it is great because it gives regional VCs and entrepreneurs a chance to mingle in a very informal setting. I need to quickly mention that this event is EXCLUSIVELY for VCs and emerging technology companies.”

Barber also will moderate a panel discussion with at least two venture capitalists, one of which will be Caplain.

Oh, I forget, the event is free.

Even with the amount of venture capital investments increasing last year, money is still not easy to find. Why more entrepreneurs don’t attend the PwC events is something I’ve never understood.

All one has to do is pre-register (send an e-mail to laura.troy@us.pwc.com).

Few if any people know more about what’s happening in the local and regional venture capital industries than Barber.

So, pre-register, get up early, head for Cary, and network.