Bend Venture Conference returns in October; EDCO adds ‘Early Bird’ registration discount
BEND, Ore. (KTVZ) – Economic Development for Central Oregon will once again host the annual Bend Venture Conference on Thursday, October 17th - Friday, October 18th at the iconic Tower Theatre in downtown Bend.
Tickets to the 21st Annual BVC are available here.
This year, EDCO is offering an Early Bird registration discount. Attendees who register by Monday, September 30th, will receive 10% off their order and a free, commemorative shirt.
Each fall, hundreds of entrepreneurs and investors from around the country descend on Bend for a two-day celebration of entrepreneurship. Now in its 21st year, BVC is the longest standing and largest angel investment conference in the Pacific Northwest and has served as a catalyst for startup investment in Central Oregon. Building on the success of last year’s inaugural High Desert Innovation Week, attendees can also participate in other entrepreneurial events throughout the week leading up to BVC.
Since its inception, the BVC LLC Funds have awarded over $14 million in investment, and companies participating in BVC have leveraged connections from the conference to receive tens of millions in additional funding. As Central Oregon’s flagship entrepreneurial event, BVC aims to garner as much exposure for these companies as possible. Throughout the conference, attendees hear company pitches, break away for networking events at local restaurants and learn from aspiring entrepreneurs and industry thought leaders.
This year’s keynote presentation will be delivered by Julie Sandler, Co-founder and General Partner at PSL Ventures and Managing Director at Pioneer Square Labs, the largest venture studio in the Pacific Northwest. PSL Ventures provides early-stage investment in technology-driven, market-defining companies. Julie was previously a partner at Madrona Venture Group after her tenure leading product teams at Amazon Kindle, TeachStreet.com (acquired by Amazon) and Accenture. She has served on the boards of numerous privately held companies, industry associations and advisory boards.
In 2016, Julie was one of 60 Americans selected as a Presidential Leadership Scholar by the Presidential Centers of Clinton, Johnson, Bush, and Bush. She has been voted GeekWire’s “Geek of the Year” and “Hire of the Year” and named to Puget Sound Business Journal's “Power 100” and "40 under 40". She is a frequent speaker and commentator across CNBC, Bloomberg, The Information, Forbes, TechCrunch, and Inc Magazine.
"I am extremely excited about this year’s Bend Venture Conference. For over two decades, BVC has had tremendous energy around Central Oregon's entrepreneurial ecosystem, attracting top talent and investors. Central Oregon has truly become a hub for entrepreneurship. This event showcases the incredible potential and innovation present in the region and serves as a platform for entrepreneurs to access the resources they need to thrive," said Brian Vierra, Venture Catalyst Director at EDCO.
Throughout the two-day event, startup companies from around the country will take the Tower Theatre stage to pitch their businesses to BVC’s community of investors. Growth Stage finalists have historically received investments of $250,000 or more. Early Stage finalists will compete for mentorship and exposure as well as potential funding from BVC partners. Companies in the New Economy Track have an opportunity at investment of $100,000, thanks to BVC’s partnership with The BFM Fund. For more information on the application process and to apply, visit bendvc.com/apply.
Bend Venture Conference cannot guarantee that investments will be made in any specific amount because the final amounts to be awarded are dependent on investment commitments received from third-party investors and the ability of the winning companies and the investors to agree on the terms and conditions of the investment.
