(Photo courtesy of EDCO)
Early Bird Registration Available Until September 30
Economic Development for Central Oregon (EDCO) will once again host the annual Bend Venture Conference (BVC) on Thursday, October 17-Friday, October 18, 2024, 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 30, will receive ten percent 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.
About Bend Venture Conference (BVC):
The Annual BVC, hosted by EDCO, is one of the largest angel 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 on October 17-18, 2024.
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.
About High Desert Innovation Week:
This October, organizations from across Oregon are gathering to showcase the unique startup resources and collaborative culture that make Oregon a hub for entrepreneurship as part of High Desert Innovation Week, October 14-18, 2024, a collaborative effort organized by Bend Startup Central, Cultivate Bend, Bend Outdoor Worx, and Economic Development for Central Oregon (EDCO). The week features five days of celebration of craft, innovation and community that will offer opportunities across industries, ranging from consumer product goods to climate tech and outdoors.
