(Ashley Mears of Washington Trust Bank presents the audience favorite award to Rose City Robotics | Photo courtesy of EDCO)
Last Thursday, hundreds of attendees packed the outdoor patio at Worthy Brewing for Central Oregon PubTalk, where ten semifinalists competing to pitch at the Bend Venture Conference (BVC) delivered three-minute pitches to a lively crowd. The energy was palpable as both the audience and a panel of expert judges voted to determine which five startups would advance to the BVC, happening on October 17-18, 2024, at the Tower Theatre.
Rose City Robotics, the audience favorite, walked away with a $3,000 award courtesy of Washington Trust Bank, to support the scale of their autonomous robotic disassembly technology for recycling lithium-ion EV batteries.
Economic Development for Central Oregon (EDCO) is excited to announce the five BVC Early Stage finalists who will pitch at the Tower Theatre on Thursday, October 17th. In alphabetical order, the companies are:
Fordje (Portland, Oregon) — An AI software platform helping construction developers and cities clarify city codes, enabling faster builds the first time around.
Howl at the Spoon (Beaverton, Oregon) — Portable, flavor-packed, single-serve artisan sauces for every meal.
The Offer Haus (Eugene, Oregon) — A simplified online platform that allows buyers to purchase a home without a realtor.
Prophetic (Portland, Oregon) — A SaaS platform that finds and analyzes real estate development opportunities in seconds, not hours.
Rose City Robotics (Portland, Oregon) — Autonomous robotic disassembly that enables direct recycling of lithium-ion EV batteries.
Reflecting on the event, Jon Stark, CEO of EDCO, said, “The energy at PubTalk was incredible, and it was amazing to see such innovation and drive from these entrepreneurs. We can’t wait to see them take the stage at BVC and showcase the transformative potential of their companies.”
Tickets to the 21st Annual BVC are on sale now. This highly anticipated event will gather entrepreneurs, investors, business leaders, and students in Bend, Oregon for a two-day celebration of ingenuity and progress. Don’t miss the opportunity to witness these groundbreaking startups and learn about the latest industry innovations. Tickets and more information are available at bendvc.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.
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.
