EDCO announces 10 Bend Venture Conference Early Stage semifinalists presenting at C.O. Pub Talk
BEND, Ore. (KTVZ) – Economic Development for Central Oregon announced the 10 semifinalist companies advancing in the Early Stage competition for the 21st Annual Bend Venture Conference, which will take place at the Tower Theatre in Bend on Thursday and Friday, Oct. 17-18.
In the next round of competition, the following Early Stage semifinalists will pitch against each other at the Thursday, Sept. 26 Central Oregon PubTalk: Road to BVC. This high-energy entrepreneurial event showcases the semifinalists as they deliver fast-paced, three-minute pitches to a live crowd.
The audience, along with an expert panel of judges, will vote to decide which companies advance to present at BVC next month. In addition to influencing which companies advance to the BVC stage, the audience vote will determine which Early Stage company receives a $3,000 cash award, courtesy of Washington Trust Bank.
Speaking on behalf of EDCO, Venture Catalyst Brian Vierra said, “Congratulations to all of the semifinalists in this year’s Early Stage track for the Bend Venture Conference! We were thrilled to see such an extremely talented group of entrepreneurs apply, each showcasing innovative ideas and tremendous potential. Central Oregon PubTalk and the Bend Venture Conference serve to highlight new, emerging startups and provide opportunities for local investors and business leaders to engage with and witness the latest industry innovations firsthand.”
In alphabetical order, the BVC Early Stagesemifinalists that will compete at the Sept. 26 Central Oregon PubTalk are:
- Dayo (Portland, OR) - A free and frictionless app that rewards users for curbing their social media use.
- Ecobadlandsz, Inc. dba Ranger EV (Portland, OR) – A scalable software solution that allows vacation rental hosts to sell energy to guests with electric vehicles.
- Fordje (Portland, OR) – An AI software platform to help construction developers and cities clarify city codes, allowing both markets to build faster the first time.
- Howl at the Spoon (Beaverton, OR) – Portable, flavor-packed, single-serve artisan sauces for every meal.
- HumanKind Homes (Portland, OR) – Develops, builds and sells healthy and sustainable homes priced to be affordable to those making 80-120% Area Median Income (AMI).
- Kickplan, Inc. (Portland, OR) - A comprehensive SaaS solution that provides developer-friendly infrastructure for billing, pricing, feature access control, and metric instrumentation and an intuitive web console for management.
- Mesh (Bend, OR) - An iOS fitness, health and wellness application that increases personal accountability, improves mental health and brings community together through activity.
- Offer Haus (Eugene, OR) – A simplified online platform that allows buyers to purchase a home without a realtor.
- Prophetic (Portland, OR) - A SaaS platform that finds and analyzes real estate development opportunities in seconds, not hours.
- Rose City Robotics (Portland, OR) – Autonomous robotic disassembly that enables direct recycling of lithium-ion EV batteries.
Central Oregon PubTalk on September 26th will feature these Early Stage semifinalists pitching on the outdoor “Drink up Dream on” stage at Worthy Brewing in Bend.
PubTalk Agenda
4:30 pm to 5:00 pm - Networking, drinks and appetizers
5:00 pm to 7:30 pm – Early Stage company pitches, audience vote and winner announcement
PubTalk Cost and Registration
Register through Eventbrite here.
Ticket price is $32 for EDCO Members (become an EDCO member here); $48 for Non-Members. Attendance includes appetizers and a beverage (beer, wine or non-alcoholic options available).
About Economic Development for Central Oregon (EDCO)
EDCO is a non-profit corporation supported by private and public members and stakeholders, whose mission is to create middle-class jobs in Central Oregon by recruiting new employers to move to the region; helping entrepreneurs start new, scalable businesses; and working with businesses that are already here to grow their operations. edcoinfo.com
About Bend Venture Conference (BVC)
The annual BVC, hosted by EDCO, is one of the largest and longest standing angel investment conferences in the country. Over the past 21 years, BVC has served to evolve and grow the startup ecosystem throughout Central Oregon and across the Pacific Northwest. Since its inception, more than $14 million has been invested in 59 companies as a result of the conference. This year’s conference will gather entrepreneurs, investors, business leaders, and students at the Tower Theatre in Bend, Oregon on October 17-18, 2024. bendvc.com
