Lessons from Oregon’s Innovative Founders, Live at Central Oregon PubTalk

This month’s Central Oregon PubTalk puts the spotlight on a decade of innovation as EDCO partners with InventOR to celebrate the program’s Tenth Annual Finals. Join us at OSU-Cascades for a special InventOR Alumni Panel featuring past winners and standout innovators sharing the entrepreneurial journeys, lessons learned and pivotal moments that helped shape their ventures.

The conversation will be facilitated by Juan Barraza, Executive Director of Latino Founders and the original steward of InventOR, whose leadership helped launch one of Oregon’s most impactful startup programs. Whether you’re an entrepreneur, investor, student, or community supporter, this is a unique opportunity to hear candid stories from founders, connect with Central Oregon’s innovation community and gain insight into what it takes to turn ideas into thriving businesses.

Keynote: InventOR Alumni Panel

Panel Facilitator:
Juan Barraza

Executive Director,
Latino Founders

Juan’s experience spans all facets of the startup trenches as a founder of a digital health startup, lead organizer of Portland Startup Weekend Latino, Co-Founder of Latino Founders, a professional organization empowering the next generation of Latino entrepreneurs, and former Director of Innovation and Entrepreneurship at VertueLab. His passion for growing entrepreneurs is infectious. Juan believes that entrepreneurship is a great equalizer in society and any individual with an idea or concept and a strong work ethic can create a great venture with a direct economic impact on family and community.