A chapter of OEN.org Oregon Entrepreneurs Network

Media Advisory: Meet Our Region’s Super Entrepreneurs

For Immediate Release

Contact:

Caroline Cummings, Smart-ups Co-founder | Director of  Entrepreneurial Development at the Eugene Chamber of Commerce

carolineineugene@gmail.com | 541-968-2982

DM via Twitter @iamcarolina

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superman-E on chest

First-Ever Start-up Expo in Eugene, Oregon

The hottest/hippest super entrepreneurs will be showcasing their cool innovations on Aug 26th

 

Smart-ups, a program of the Eugene Chamber of Commerce, is hosting its first-ever Start-up Expo at the Valley River Inn on August 26, 2010 from 5:00 – 8:00 PM. Don’t miss the opportunity to meet our region’s coolest and hippest Super Entrepreneurs as they come out of their garages, back offices, home offices and university research labs, to showcase their start-up super powers.

WHO

Entrepreneurs — showcase their start-up companies, and share their entrepreneurial Super Powers with their peers, investors, service providers and the media. Industries represented include: software, clean/green tech, Internet-based, biotechnology and consumer goods.

Exhibiting Companies Currently Registered:

Arcimoto (electric vehicle)

Dune Sciences (nano technology)

Elements Naturals (natural, compostable baby wipes)

Floragenex (bio technology/planet genomics)

Forward Thinking (internet media and hardware)

Good Clean Love (consumer goods/natural intimacy products)

IDX, Inc (internet/real estate technology market)

Incisive (spreadsheet analysis solutions)

Investing Ventures (factor services/alternative commercial finance solutions)

Moonshadow Mobile (content management system/mobile-optimized Web site and mobile apps)

One Click Sports Now (internet/sports news advertising platform)

Opa Cove (consumer goods/fun-themed life jackets for kids)

Pharmacopia Herbals (consumer goods/herbal extracts)

Planet Verde (internet/sustainable e-commerce)

Precision Plant Systems (technology/agriculture field measurement hardware and software)

Rainwild Rehabilitation (medical devices/robotic-assisted fine-motor therapy device)

Restaurant Tech (internet/restaurant training software)

Sipping Dreams (consumer goods/drinkable chocolate)

UGo Furniture (consumer goods/easy-to-move and assemble furniture)

VizMe (social media)

Investors, Service Providers and the Media — meet the hottest/hippest start-up companies in our region and the Superhero Entrepreneurs starting, running and growing them. 

Sponsors of this event include: Title (Endeavor Law Group); Supporting (Palo Alto Software, Moss Adams LLP, and Pacific Continental Bank).

WHAT:  

Smart-ups is a program of the Eugene Chamber of Commerce, and a chapter of the Oregon Entrepreneurs Network headquartered in Portland.  Smart-ups was started by two entrepreneurs in Feb 2008. Smart-ups hosts eight “pub-talks” a year where the focus is to provide emerging growth/traded sector start-up companies with education, access to capital and networking.  This Start-up Expo is our first event of this type and we will be featuring up to 20 start-up companies from our region.

WHERE:  

Valley River Inn, McKenzie Ballroom | 1000 Valley River Way, Eugene, OR 97401-2115

WHEN:  

Thursday, August 26, 2010 | 5 – 8PM

WHY:  

The Willamette Valley has numerous emerging growth start-up companies, but most people are not aware of these companies and/or the entrepreneurs starting, running and growing them. Many of these companies are started in garages, back offices, home-based offices and university labs – so they are under the radar of most people in the community. You may remember the Willamette Angel Conference that was hosted in Eugene for the first-time this past May – where Eugene-based start-up Good Clean Love walked away with a $165,000 seed investment prize. There are many “firsts” happening in our community related to supporting entrepreneurship. Don’t miss this next first!

This Start-up Expo will give people the opportunity to mingle with these Super Entrepreneurs and see the exciting new innovations coming out of our region. Investors, entrepreneurs, lawyers, bankers, accountants, educators, politicians, students, and people from the media are encouraged to attend this event.

HOW:  Online registration is closed – you can pay at the door…

Fees:

$20 if you pre-registered ($25 at the door)

$15 for Eugene and Corvallis Chamber and SAO members

$10 for students

Table Space to Showcase Company: + $29 (when you display you get an extra free ticket into the event)

The following individuals are also available for interviews:

Dave Hauser | president of the Eugene Chamber of Commerce

Caroline Cummings | co-founder of Smart-ups, and leader of the Eugene Chamber’s entrepreneurial efforts; regional representative for the Oregon Entrepreneurs Network

Don Gerhart | associate vice president for research and innovation, UO, and member of the Eugene Chamber’s Entrepreneurial Advisory Board

Tim Berry | founder/president of Palo Alto Software, sponsor of Smart-ups, member of the Smart-ups Committee, and local angel investor

 

# # #

Mini Pub-Talk at WiN in Corvallis

November 11, 2010
4:00 pmto7:00 pm

Smart-ups usually hosts an Ignite-Style pitch competition in November. This year we are hosting a mini Pub-Talk event with the Oregon Entrepreneurs Network November 11th at the Willamette Innovators Night in Corvallis.

 

More info soon to come…

Fall Pub-Talk: Opa Cove’s Start-up Story

September 23, 2010
9:00 amto3:00 pm

“Wolves and Angels”

Location: Oregon Electric Station, Eugene | directions

Register: Click here [$20 - includes food and bev | $15 for Eugene Chamber, Corvallis Chamber and SAO members | $10 for students | $25 at the door]

*** And bring your business cards because we’re bringing back the “5 Minutes of Start-up Fame” – where you can enter into a drawing for an opportunity to deliver a 5 minute pitch about your start-up company! ***

opacove logo

 

 

 

Rich-BarbisRich Barbis – CEO and founder of Opa Cove™ will share his story about starting, running and growing his emerging growth company – including how to know the difference between the “Wolves” and the “Angels” out there!

One of the best learning opportunities is listening to other entrepreneurs share their stories – learn from their successes and their mistakes. Rich will talk about the importance of his business plan, deciding on the right way to structure his company (LLC v. C-Corp, v S-Corp) – including why this is so important, the manufacturing of his prototype, the importance of the right attorney at the right time – and ultimately – launching his product into the market. Visit www.opacove.com for more information.

 

Opa Cove creates Neoprene water safety products that are safe and fun for kids ages 2-7.

*** And bring your business cards because we’re bringing back the “5 Minutes of Start-up Fame” – where you can enter into a drawing for an opportunity to deliver a 5 minute pitch about your start-up company! ***

opa cove-kid in vestopacove-kid2

 

Thanks to our great sponsors for supporting entrepreneurship in our community!

TITLE SPONSOR:

endeavorlawlogo

 

SUPPORTING SPONSORS:

pas-small

moss-adams-logo

pcb-logo

 

Smart-ups Summer Social – Start-up Expo

August 26, 2010
5:00 pmto8:00 pm

Entrepreneurs — showcase your start-up company, and share your entrepreneurial Super Powers with your peers, investors, service providers and the media!

superhero-E file

 

Investors, Service Providers and the Media — meet the hottest/hippest start-up companies in our region and the Superhero Entrepreneurs starting, running and growing them. 

Location: Valley River Inn, McKenzie Ballroom

Save the Date: Aug 26th (5-8pm)

 

Registration: Online registration closed | Pay at the Door (see Fees below). 

Fees:

$20 if you pre-registered ($25 at the door)

$15 for Eugene and Corvallis Chamber and SAO members

$10 for students

Thanks to our great sponsors for supporting entrepreneurship in our community!

TITLE SPONSOR:

endeavorlawlogo

 

SUPPORTING SPONSORS:

pas-small

moss-adams-logo

pcb-logo

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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…

The New Rules of Angel Investing

I found this great article in the Small Business section of the New York Times website; “The New Rules of Angel Investing.” If your start-up is currently looking for capital I highly recommend this article! Even though times are tough, angel investing is still increasing. However, investors are “…picky and less tolerant of risk,” thus contributing less money. Get to reading so you learn how to secure some funding for your company!

Here are some quick tips from the article:

“Bootstrap as long as you can. Finding early ways to get revenue.”

“Get to break even quickly and remember that VC financing has gotten harder to obtain.”

“Be realistic about valuations. Be coachable.”

“Practice pitching and be prepared to make your case to dozens or hundreds of angels.”

“Look for angels who complement your strengths and can help you with more than money.”

 

 

“Meet the Investors” Pub-talk

At the October 1st Smart-ups “Meet Investors” Pub-talk at the Oregon Electric Station, attendees were able to gain insight from three Willamette Angel Conference investors.  Those investors were Tim Berry, founder of Palo Alto Software; Nick Fowler, founder of Orion Ventures, LCC and CEO of Perpetua Power Source Technologies; and Christopher Klemm, director of OSU’s Austin Entrepreneurship Program. Anne Carney Nelson, having experience in investing in young technology companies, was a great moderator in asking the investors why certain companies were chosen for (or won) the WAC and why some were not.

 

Some of the most helpful pieces of advice?

·      Tim: A thorough and to the point executive summary and a great pitch are essential.

·      Steve: Go where the venture capitalists aren’t; the markets where people aren’t begging for money. Market research is key and do your due diligence!

·      Chris: Get experience!

 

The business card selected at the end of the pub-talk to give a five-minute elevator pitch was that of Keern Haslem, founder of Hogan’s Angle.

 

On a side note, local start-up Acrimoto was a an exhibitor at last week’s Lane County Home Show and will be a vendor at next month’s Seattle Auto Show.

 

 

 

Announcing Launch of a Portal for OR Research Universities

ico-logoI just heard last week that Innovate | Collaborate | Oregon has launched. ICO features  that innovations and opportunities from four of Oregon’s premier research universities: Oregon Health & Science University, Oregon State University, Portland State University & University of Oregon.

You can search available technologies, researchers or other fields. Each technology or project summary provides a specific contact at the respective institution.

 

They also have a University Venture Development Fund.

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

endeavorlawlogo

 

 

 

Organizational Sponsors

osu            uo

Grand Sponsors

pas-small            davies-grp

Smart-ups “Meet Investors” Pub-Talk

October 1, 2009
5:00 pmto7:30 pm

Meet and Ask Willamette Angel Conference Investors Questions…

Panel Moderator:            Investors Sitting on the Panel:

ann-carney-nelson-photo1

            tim-berry nick-cropped klemm1

Location: Oregon Electric Station | 27 E. 5th Ave, Eugene | directions

Time: 5 – 8pm

Register: $20 if your pre-register; $25 at the door; $15 for Eugene and Corvallis Chamber members; $10 for students

Click here to register

If you’ve ever wondered why investors choose to invest in one company over another, or why the companies in the recent Willamette Angel Conference were chosen, or why the winner was awarded the $125,000 investment prize, or why certain companies were not selected – this is the Smart-ups Pub-Talk for you! We are hosting a panel of investors from the May 2009 Willamette Angel Conference. They are looking forward to hearing your questions and sharing the qualities of “investor-ready” business plans. Whether your raising funds for your business or not – this is going to be a valuable conversation you won’t want to miss…

ann-carney-nelson-photoAnn Carney Nelson will be the panel moderator. Ann has over 11 years of experience investing in and supporting young and innovative technology companies.

 

Previously, Ann was the Senior Associate at Menlo Ventures, an early-stage high-technology venture capital firm based in Menlo Park, CA.

 

Also – don’t forget to bring your business cards – as we’ll be doing the “10 Minutes of Start-up Fame” after the panel. These are fun and offer great experience about how to pitch your business opportunity in 5 minutes. And who knows – maybe you’ll even get some live feedback from investors! It’s also great practice to prepare for the Nov 19th Smart-ups Ignite Pitch competition.

Panelists include:

tim-berry

Tim Berry

Founder, Palo Alto Software

Angel Investor

Invested in the May 09 Willamette Angel Conference

Judge of several Venture Competitions

Click here to read Tim’s full bio

 

 

 

nff-photo

Nick Fowler

Founder, Orion Ventures, LLC

CEO, Perpetua Power Source Technologies

Angel Investor

Fund Manager of May 09 Willamette Angel Conference’s Investor LLC

Click here to read Nick’s full bio

 

 

 

klemm

Christopher Klemm

Director, OSU Austin Entrepreneurship Program

Angel Investor

Invested in the May 09 Willamette Angel Conference

Click here to read Christopher’s full bio

 

 

 

 

 

Thanks to our great sponsors for continuing to support entrepreneurship in our community!

TITLE SPONSOR:

endeavorlawlogo

 

 

 

SUPPORTING SPONSORS:

pas-small


 

moss-adams-logo

 

 

pcb-logo1