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The Biggest Small Business Competitions

Forbes recently came out with an article about “The Biggest Small Business Competitions” across the country. The article gives insight to the 15 biggest university-sponsored events. Granted, some competitions are only open to students and/or alumni of the hosting university, but it’s not the situation for all. Some competitions are even right here in Eugene, like the New Venture Championship at the University of Oregon. Hey, the article even has some tips from our very own Tim Berry, president of Palo Alto Software…which I advise you to pay attention to since he’s a judge at three of the competitions listed. 

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Business Plan Competition Guide

Just in case you weren’t aware, the Small Business section of the New York Times Online has a handy-dandy guide to business plan competitions around the world: Business Plan Competition Guide. If your start-up is seeking capital, I highly recommend you check this out!

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Congrats to ShopDragon – Smart-ups Pitch Winner!

smallBusiness2.0Congratulations to Josh Bradley (president/co-founder) of Medford-based start-up, ShopDragon, for winning the Smart-ups Ignite-style business plan competition on November 19th. ShopDragon is an evolutionary software company developing a hosted e-commerce platform designed to empower small businesses. 

 

ShopDragon was awarded a waived entrance fee (valued at $199) into the May 13, 2010 Willamette Angel Conference taking place in Eugene at the McDonald Theatre. The company also receives 20 free hours (valued at $4500) of financial consulting from Moss Adams LLP.

 

“Each of the companies that participated gave a strong presentation. We feel fortunate to have had the vote of confidence from the people in the audience to go forward and participate in the Willamette Angel Conference next spring,” said ShopDragon’s president, Josh Bradley.

 

Competiting companies included:

 

Thank you to all of the presenting companies – and thank you to our great sponsors for continuing to support entrepreneurship and innovation in our community…

 

TITLE SPONSOR:

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SUPPORTING SPONSORS:

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Willamette Angel Conference

May 13, 2010
8:00 amto4:30 pm

SAVE THIS DATE!

 

This will be held at the McDonald Theatre in Eugene. Visit www.willametteconference.com for more info…

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Posted in B-Plan Competition, Competition, Events, Investors, Networking, Panel, Willamette Angel Conference, eugene, pitch competition | Comments Off

ABC’s Shark Tank: real or drama?

Shark Tank is a new show on ABC that launched this past week. It’s very dramatic – of course, but somewhat entertaining. And I don’t know about you, but I don’t think this is a real company. I think it’s ABC’s way of adding drama to the show. What do you think?

 

The Latest in Bluetooth Technology on ABC’s Shark Tank – Watch more Funny Videos

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Winner of the first annual WAC Announced…

Thanks to Craig Gray for filming the conference and sharing these video clips – more to come…Find more videos like this on Smart-ups

CenterSpace (Corvallis-based) wins the $125K

centersapce-wins-wac-2009


 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

CORVALLIS, Ore. – May 14, 2009 — The Willamette Angel Conference announced today that CenterSpace Software was selected as the winner of its inaugural 2009 investment competition, held in Corvallis. Corvallis-based CenterSpace Software, which provides numerical software components for financial, engineering, and scientific applications, will receive the $125,000 angel award investment prize.

 

Floragenex, a Eugene based firm that develops and delivers innovative, flexible applications of emerging genomic tools and technology, received a non-monetary vote of confidence, as the winner of  audience balloting for the best presentation.

 

“We are excited to bring a spotlight on to the breadth and depth of Willamette Valley Start-ups, and to expose these entrepreneurs to investors from around the Pacific Northwest,” said John Sechrest, Economic Development Director of the Corvallis-Benton Chamber Coalition, and Chair of the Willamette Angel Conference. “The  quality of the business plans, and the support from the investor community show how vibrant the entrepreneurial economy is here in the valley.  The collaboration between Corvallis and Eugene on this event, with the support of OSU and U of O, creates a strong center for  turning the innovations into commercial successes. “

 

This year’s finalist companies were selected from over  40 companies based throughout Oregon and Southwest Washington that applied to compete at the Willamette Angel Conference 2009. A rigorous selection process was undertaken by the 25-member panel of active angel investors to select the winning company. Each investor staked $5,000 to create the $125,000 investment award for this year’s event.

 

This was the first annual Willamette Angel Conference, which is modeled after successful similar events run by the Oregon Entrepreneurs Network, and the Bend Venture Conference.   Next year the conference will be run by The Eugene Area Chamber of Commerce, and will be held in Eugene.

 

About the Willamette Angel Conference

The Willamette Angel Conference is an investors conference, connecting early stage and seed businesses with angel and venture investors in the Willamette Valley.  Their mission is to encourage, accelerate and showcase start-up companies in the Willamette Valley and  across Oregon. The competition is expected to have real economic impact in the Willamette Valley, generating new business and jobs using local entrepreneurs, talent and intellectual property. For more information see www.willametteconference.com.

 

Special thanks to all the great sponsors!

Title Organizers:

cbcc-logo-color          eugene-area-chamber-horiz-logo

Premiere Sponsor

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Organizational Sponsors

osu            uo

Grand Sponsors

pas-small            davies-grp

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Posted in B-Plan Competition, CEOs, Investors, Networking, Presentation, Willamette Angel Conference, pitch competition | 2 Comments »

Willamette Angel Conference

May 14, 2009
7:30 amto6:00 pm

wac-logo

The first-ever business plan competition of its kind is coming to the Willamette Valley. Calling all entrepreneurs, investors and service providers to attend this inaugural event! We received 44 business plans – six of which will be selected to deliver their pitch at the May 14 conference. One company will be awarded the estimated $150,000 in seed funding. Don’t miss this exciting event…

 

LOCATION | CH2MHill Alumni Center, Oregon State University Campus, Corvallis, Oregon | map

Regular Registration: $199 for all registrations received after March 13th, 2009

Student Registration: $75 with current Student ID

Register Now

The Willamette Angel Conference is an investors conference, connecting early stage and seed businesses with Angel and venture investors.  Entrepreneurs and Start-ups can submit their business plans for review, improvement, and ultimately vying for a $150,000 investment

 

Connecting Start up Businesses with Qualified Investors.

Qualified Investors interested in learning more about participating in this conference should contact Nick Fowler (Fund Manager).

 

 The Willamette Valley boasts a high number of businesses that highlight the rugged individuality, forward thinking, technology and entrepreneurship that are part of Oregon’s proud heritage.

Keynote:  Dave Hersch, CEO Jive Software

 

 Attendees will include members of organized angel groups, individual angels, prospective angels, and early-stage investment firms as well as entrepreneurial ventures and start ups interested in obtaining angel funding.

Who should attend

Inventors/Researchers/IP Holders: To learn more about the start up development and funding process, and to network to meet entrepreneurs and service providers.

Entrepreneurs: To get recognition and possibly funding for your business. To develop and hone your business plan and pitch with top quality preparation sessions. To network with investors, and begin conversations that will benefit your company down the line. To network with inventors, and other early stage professionals.

Investors:  To have access to some great business investment opportunities. For new investors, to learn how to invest in early stage deals, and how to feed deals to venture capitalists.

Venture Capitalists: To identify top quality and up and coming early stage businesses in the Willamette Valley, to meet seed investors and stay connected to other venture capitalists, to learn more about commercialization from OSU, UofO and Onami.

Service Providers: To introduce your business to companies making early decisions about the direction of their company.
Politicians: To help build economic development for the local and state government.

The Conference will be held at theCH2MHill Alumni Center at Oregon State University on May 14, 2009. Links provide the Agenda and  directions to the conference.

Register Now

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