But this area received failing grades for neglecting to trumpetits high-tech companies to the rest of the nation and the world.And in doing so, the community fell far behind other metro areas inattracting venture capital for even more high-tech startupcompanies, according to Angelos Angelou, president of AngelouEconomic Advisors Inc., who coordinated the 200-page study.

For example, Orlando has more high-tech firms than Austin, TX, ahigh-tech hot spot, but Austin easily attracted more venturedollars than Orlando. Orlando picked up $18.32 million inventure-capital deals last year. Austin landed $232.6 million worthof transactions. Raleigh-Durham, NC was right behind Austin with$193.5 million; San Diego, $192.7 million; Atlanta, $178 million;and Dallas, $156.7 million.

Even more embarrassing, area entrepreneurs search for seed moneyin Silicon Valley, Boston, New York and Atlanta but not in Orlandowhere the banking community isn't yet attuned to the needs andvalue of the high-tech industry here, the report concludes.