Photo above, courtesy of Venture Out Festival: (L-R) Ryan Holmes SnoPlanks, Bryan Azur Trigen Investments, James Nicol SnoPlanks
Bend Outdoor Worx (BOW) and the Oregon Outdoor Alliance (OOA) announced the winners of the Venture Out Festival, the first venture event focused solely on the outdoor industry, held last Wednesday at the Tower Theatre in Bend.
TOUGHER, women’s durable and functional work wear, won the $10,000 BreakOut Award presented by Bend Radio Group and HydroFlask; while SnoPlanks, handcrafted bamboo snowboards and skis, won the $100,000 Ready to Roll Investment Award presented by Trigen Investments. CushCore, innovators of an inner tire suspension system, picked up the Judges Award presented by BendBroadBand of $3,000.
Close to 400 outdoor enthusiasts attended the inaugural event to be a part of the growing outdoor company movement in Bend. The Venture Out Festival commenced with a slack line exhibition, hosted by Slacktech of Bend, outside the Tower Theatre. The demo featured professional trick liner, Mickey Wilson. During the event, founders from Bend companies including Cairn and Robert Axle Project emceed the award categories. Keynote speaker, former professional snowboarder and brain trauma survivor, Kevin Pearce, shared his inspirational story and HBO Documentary The Crash Reel.
Three early stage outdoor companies, including finalists Wedgis, emergency swimwear that fits in a tiny pouch, TOUGHER and CushCore, presented for the BreakOut Award and fielded questions from the audience. TOUGHER, women’s durable and functional work wear, was voted winner of the $10,000 BreakOut Award presented by Bend Radio Group and HydroFlask. Three growth stage finalists presented for the Investment award including Rip Clear, lens protectors for optics, SnoPlanks, handcrafted bamboo snowboards and skis and Zealios, performance personal care products for endurance athletes. Snoplanks was chosen to receive the $100,000 Ready to Roll investment award presented by Trigen Investments.
In a surprise announcement, a Judges Award presented by Bendbroadband was given to CushCore, innovators of an inner tire suspension system.
Venture Out Festival was sponsored by Trigen Investments, Bend Radio Group, HydroFlask, DrinkTanks, Northline Wealth Management, Bendbroadband, White Summers, US Bank, Hand in Hand Productions, Cairn and Black Strap.
BOW
After assessing common needs from outdoor industry businesses, Bend Outdoor Worx (BOW) was initially conceived in 2013 by Gary Bracelin, a long-time Bend resident and outdoor industry expert. BOW was officially launched in April 2014, when additional industry experts Eric Meade, Justin Rae, and Will Blount joined Bracelin, followed by Miki Keller, an outdoor professional who joined the group in 2015. The founders represent various skill sets and a multitude of experience with successful organizations. BOW also has a deep pool of extended mentors that lend their expertise periodically, as well as Winter Summers Law, the GB2 Agency and Price Fronk & Co, LLP. For additional information on BOW, contact Gary Bracelin at gbracelin@gmail.com.
BOW’s Manifesto
We’re dreamers, radicals, achievers, believers and vanguards with a shared belief and a common goal. We’re an independent organization with independent spirit – and we love the outdoors. We embrace the unpredictable nature and the grit it takes to navigate the hurdles and obstacles in our industry. In fact, we enjoy it. We’re fearless, but we value vulnerability. We encourage risk, but we support solid strategy. We’re not even remotely interested in the status quo. We’re interested in lending our expertise, our stories and our respect for the crazy-but-we-love-it volatility of the outdoor industry to help our companies adapt, adjust and achieve. WE’RE HERE TO LEAD OUTDOOR INDUSTRY ENTREPRENEURS.
