In just a few days, Bend will welcome hundreds of entrepreneurs and investors from across the country for the Pacific Northwest’s largest angel investment event, the Bend Venture Conference (BVC).
This year’s competition is shaping up to be one of the most exciting yet. Five standout Growth Stage companies ready to scale fast, and five innovative Early Stage finalists are set to make their mark on the Tower Theatre stage.
Join us October 16-17 for two days of startup pitches, industry insights and high-value networking. Secure your ticket today and be part of the region’s most anticipated entrepreneurial event.
Early Stage Finalists
Central Oregon Early Stage finalists at BVC will be eligible for a $25,000 cash award to be announced during the conference thanks to generous local community members, among whom are Taylor Brooks, Rod Ray, Horan MediaTech Advisors, and Scott and Annie Allan.
All Early Stage finalists will compete for a Founder First equity investment award of at least $20,000, which may be split among the finalist companies.
In alphabetical order, the Early Stage finalists that will compete at the BVC are:
- 360 Sierra(Bend) – All-in-one platform for vehicle-rental operations — powered by an AI master operator.
- Neurosom(Eugene, Oregon) – Neurosom is advancing a clinically validated, personalized neuromodulation therapy to reduce dementia risk by enhancing deep and REM sleep.
- SokoLife(Eugene, Oregon) – SokoLife is revolutionizing cardiac care with innovative, non-toxic patches for congenital heart defect repair, reducing reinterventions and healthcare costs.
- Toast Wear Inc.(Bend) – Cold is universal. Your gear is personal. Toast solves both with a personal thermostat for your jacket, making existing apparel your go-to for warmth.
- Yak Incorporated(Portland, Oregon) – Yak is the all-in-one, automation and AI-powered platform that automates audits for accounting firms, cutting admin work in half and ending auditor burnout.
Growth Stage Finalists
Following considerable due diligence, companies in this category have historically been awarded funding ranging from $100,000 to $2,500,000 from the BVC LLC and partner VC funds.
In alphabetical order, the Growth Stage finalists that will compete at the BVC are:
- Airbuild (Portland, Oregon) – Airbuild creates modular, self-powered systems that capture carbon, purify water and turn waste into biochar.
- Bold Reuse (Portland, Oregon) – Bold Reuse reduces costs and waste from single-use packaging through reusable packaging systems, a Bold Reuse is critical infrastructure for the circular economy.
- MarineSitu (Seattle, Washington) – MarineSitu provides marine infrastructure monitoring through their AI software platform, preventing costly interventions, saving time and increasing efficiency.
- Photon Marine (Portland, Oregon) – Photon Marine is building the world’s most capable electric fleet.
- Rapta (Tigard, Oregon) – Rapta supercharges U.S. manufacturing by increasing capacity 30% through eliminating 98% of errors and accelerating workflows 10x faster.
