Concept Stage Companies Chosen to Participate in New Venture Launch Program
VentureBox, a new Central Oregon startup accelerator that will apply mentorships, infrastructure and a milestone-based program to help startups get investment ready, has announced the seven concept stage companies chosen to participate in the organization’s first Venture Launch program. Original applicants included 37 companies who began submitting applications in November 2011.
VentureBox announced the chosen companies last week at the Economic Development For Central Oregon (EDCO) PubTalk, a popular local forum where business leaders, investors, entrepreneurs and advisors can network.
Participating companies include:
CiviData, LLC, a data aggregation service that allows users to make informed decisions on water and other utility rates more efficiently and effectively;
Customers-Say, LLC, a service that assists companies in creatively sharing the perspectives of their existing customers;
JettStream, a new way to deliver nebulized medication to children with asthma and chronic breathing conditions;
Pocket Bounty, a business that creates the best experience for guests at resorts, concerts and other public events, using mobile offers and alerts;
The Social Business (goodpeeple.com), a business referral system for Facebook;
Vizme, a SaaS-based digital marketing platform that enables businesses to drive profitable consumer action with engaging experiences;
ziPede, a web-based video education service for parents and clinicians who see kids.
These companies will all participate in the Venture Launch bootcamp. an intensive 12-week curriculum with a process that will help startups effectively structure, plan, develop and prepare to launch their businesses. The first class in the curriculum begins February 15th, 2012. The final component will be an Investor’s Day event where companies will engage with members of a partnering investment fund for the purpose of obtaining seed level funding to launch their businesses.
The key resources contributing to the program’s success will be the high quality of mentors who will work with the chosen companies throughout the process, as well as the integration of established events like the monthly PubTalks and the annual Bend Venture Conference.
“We are so excited to kick off our inaugural Venture Launch bootcamp and very impressed with the quality of companies who have been selected,” said Jim Boeddeker, VentureBox Executive Director.
“We are also thrilled with the response from amazing business leaders who have joined our mentor team, and committed to facilitating high-level collaboration that will result in turning good ideas into great companies.”
VentureBox is a key element of the entrepreneurial ecosystem initiative developed by Economic Development for Central Oregon (EDCO) in partnership with the Oregon Entrepreneurs Network (OEN) and other statewide resources in an effort that will integrate and sustain programs to provide local and regional support to businesses.
www.venturebox.org.
James Boeddeker, jim@venturebox.org, 541-409-6560
