The Bend Venture Conference (BVC) is seeking innovative entrepreneurs with promising businesses to submit applications to present at the 9th Annual Bend Venture Conference. BVC occurs this year on Friday, October 19 and is managed by Economic Development for Central Oregon (EDCO).
The benefits of applying to the Bend Venture Conference are numerous. All applying companies receive preliminary feedback and, if selected as a finalist, receive more detailed business feedback and presentation coaching. Many past finalists who did not win have nonetheless secured funding and/or attracted managerial talent to their startup. For early entrepreneurs, BVC offers an excellent opportunity to learn from topic experts, angel investors, prior BVC prize winners, and a wide variety of fellow entrepreneurs.
2012 Competition Format Has Two Levels
- Launch Stage refers to a company where a complete business plan has been developed and technology issues have been largely overcome. A pre-revenue Launch Company may have had beta testing or a limited rollout and is ready for market launch. A post-revenue Launch Company may need growth capital.
- Concept Stage refers to a startup where a business concept has been developed. The entrepreneurs may still be working on technology and/or proof of concept. The company is typically pre-revenue.
2012 Targeted Prize Amounts
There are two levels of competition and associated awards:
- The Launch Phase prize is targeted to meet or exceed the $250,000 raised in 2011.
- BendBroadband Concept Stage Award. This category of competition was added in 2011 to level the playing field. It’s for startups in the very early stages. The Concept Stage prize winner must be from Central Oregon and will receive a $10K grant in cash and in-kind services.
Key Information
- Applying companies have until August 10, 2012 to submit their business plan and associated materials (such as a video) on Gust, which is the global platform for startup funding and early stage investments.
- The charge for applying to BVC is $99 and covers the extensive feedback (as well as tailored coaching if selected as a finalist) from startup experts, conference staff, and the BVC, LLC investors.
- The Bend Venture Conference website can answer most entrepreneurs’ questions about submitting. If not, please call EDCO’s office at 541-388-3236.
Economic Development for Central Oregon (EDCO) is a private non-profit corporation founded over 30 years ago and dedicated to building a vibrant and thriving regional economy by attracting new investment and traded-sector jobs (manufacturing, professional, headquarters and high technology businesses) through marketing, recruitment and substantive assistance to existing companies. Learn more about EDCO at www.edcoinfo.com.
Bend Venture Conference is the major regional event connecting seed and early stage companies with investment opportunities and attracting the Northwest’s top entrepreneurs, investors, and service providers. Visit www.bendvc.com for more BVC 2011 information.
