A trio of veterans of Pittsburgh's technology scene has been tapped to build and manage a new investment fund charged with aiding local startups.

Selected from a pool of more than 50 candidates from across the country, the Pittsburgh Early Growth Partners' new management team -- Edward Engler, Steve Robinson and Robert Dickson -- already has $2 million to work with from the local economic development groups and universities that joined forces to create the fund last year. They won't say just how much money they plan to raise from private investors.

Initially named the Pittsburgh Angel Fund, it was created to provide the difficult-to-find dollars that tech companies need to get going. Over the next five years, the fund plans to provide money to between 15 and 20 up-and-coming tech firms in the region.

In addition to having connections with regional and national investors, the fund's new management has the expertise of having both invested in and managed local technology startups, according to Joel Adams, a Sewickley-based venture capitalist who served on the selection committee.

Until recently, Mr. Engler helmed Summa Technologies, the Downtown tech services firm he founded more than a decade ago. For 25 years, local private investor Steve Robinson has been bringing together wealthy families and individuals to help finance technology firms. Mr. Dickson, is a seasoned financial executive and consultant who is currently the chief financial officer of CardiacAssist Inc., an O'Hara-based medical device firm.

Mr. Engler said he resigned this month as chief executive officer of Summa to become a partner in the PEP Fund, although he remains Summa's chairman. Audrey Dunning was promoted to CEO.

"I have this amazing management team that can and wanted to take on more responsibility," he said.