(Photo | Courtesy of EDCO)
Economic Development for Central Oregon (EDCO) announced the eight semifinalist companies advancing in the Early-Stage competition for the 19th Annual Bend Venture Conference (BVC) on Thursday, October 20-Friday, October 21, 2022. This group of companies is one step closer to presenting at BVC.
The following Early-Stage semifinalists will pitch against each other at the September 22 PubTalk: Road to BVC. This high-energy entrepreneurial event showcases the BVC Early-Stage semifinalists as they deliver fast-paced, three-minute pitches to a live and virtual crowd. The audience, along with an expert panel of judges, will vote to decide which companies advance to present at BVC, where finalists will compete for a minimum investment of $30,000 from Portland Seed Fund.
In alphabetical order, the BVC Early-Stage semifinalists that will compete at the September 22 PubTalk are:
- DailyChela.com (Portland, Oregon) — An OTT app for Latinos that solves the problem of the lack of Latino news, opinion and sports on Roku, IOS and Android.
- Glassbuilding (Bend) — A document agnostic AI platform that democratizes negotiation of a commercial lease while promoting industry transparency, authenticity and trust.
- GoCrew Health (Portland, Oregon) — A white labeled, HIPAA compliant communications platform that allows healthcare providers and patients to communicate easily and effectively.
- Instinct Environmental Company (Hillsboro, Oregon) — Wireless sensor networks that detect wildfires and bring real-time environmental monitoring to the fingertips of forest and natural resource managers.
- Osheru (Bend) — A device that simplifies upper eyelid surgery to make this vision and appearance enhancing procedure available to anyone.
- qChange (Bend) — A real-time technology that objectively measures and grows soft skills in the flow of work.
- Range Revolution (Madras) — The world’s first leather luggage company using only traceable and regenerative hides.
- TapeDeck (Tigard, Oregon) — A mobile app that connects people online through conversation.
- Tough Cutie (Austin, Texas) — A women’s outdoor brand dedicated to helping women and people of color step into their authority in the outdoors.
PubTalk Agenda:
4-5pm — Networking, drinks and appetizers
5:30-7:45pm — Early-Stage company pitches, audience vote, winner announcement
PubTalk Cost and Registration:
In-Person: $26 EDCO and OEN Members (become a member here); $36 Non-Members
Virtual: $10 EDCO and OEN Members; $15 Non-Members
In-person attendance includes appetizers and a free beverage (choice of beer, wine or soda).
Bend Venture Conference (BVC):
Now in its 19th year, BVC, hosted by EDCO, is one of the largest angel conferences in the country. Over the past five years, more than $10 million has been invested in 45 companies as a result of the conference. This year’s conference will take place October 20-21, 2022, gathering entrepreneurs, investors and business leaders. Tickets to the 19th Annual Bend Venture Conference are on sale now.
About Economic Development for Central Oregon (EDCO):
EDCO is a nonprofit 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.
