Fun in the sun with start-ups!

Come expand your network with the local start-up community over a pint of Ninkasi’s award winning beers.  In addition to the drink tickets, Ninkasi will be giving Smart-ups attendees an extra $1 off beers. Networking challenges and a tour of Ninkasi’s operations are scheduled. 

When: July 28th 5 – 8PM

Where: Ninkasi Tasting Room (map)

Register Now!

($20 if you pre-register; $25 at the door; $15 for Eugene Chamber, Corvallis Chamber and SAO members, $10 for students (present ID at the door)

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$200,000 investment prize will be awarded to one Oregon start-up company!

Location: CH2M Hill Alumni Center, Corvallis, OR

Purchase your ticket to attend the conference BEFORE April 29th and save $50.

Afternoon Keynote Speaker

Pamela Slim

Author of Escape from Cubicle Nation.

Pamela Slim is a seasoned coach and writer who helps frustrated employees incorporate jobs break out and start their own business. Her blog, Escape from Cubicle Nation, is one of the top career and marketing blogs on the web.  A former corporate manager and entrepreneur herself for more than a decade, she deeply understands the questions and concerns faced by first-time entrepreneurs.  Her expertise in personal and business change was developed through many years consulting inside corporations such as Cisco Systems, Hewlett-Packard and Charles Schwab, where she coached thousands of executives, managers and employees.

Click here to read more about Pamela.

Purchase your ticket to attend the conference BEFORE April 29th and save $50.

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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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

# # #

5 Minutes of free advice from Start-up Experts!

Location: CH2M HILL Alumni Center, Oregon State University, Corvallis

Register: This is a FREE event, but you should RSVP on the WiN networking site so they can track the number of attendees (food will be provided + cash bar)

*** Visit the Willamette Innovators Night Web site for more information ***

Smart-ups “Speed Start-up Networking“: Visit the Smart-ups Booth at the WiN event between 4:30 – 6:00pm to participate in a speed networking opportunity and get 5 minutes of free advice from from each the following emerging growth company experts:

Dean Hansen: Pacific Continental Bank, active angel investor, and coaches emerging growth companies for growth

Joacim Trybom: Moss Adams – specialty working with emerging growth companies

Marci Hansen: Palo Alto Software, awarded the “Guerrilla Marketer of the Year Award” from Brandweek Magazine

David Brabender/Katherine Moyer: Endeavor Law Group, specializing in legal work emerging growth companies – including securities law

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

TITLE SPONSOR:

SUPPORTING SPONSORS:

“Wolves and Angels”

Location: Oregon Electric Station, Eugene | directions

Register: Online registration is closed [$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! ***

Rich 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! ***

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

TITLE SPONSOR:

SUPPORTING SPONSORS:

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

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:

SUPPORTING SPONSORS:

SAVE THIS DATE!

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

Click here to register to attend

Larry Kaplowitz (co-founder of of Luna and Larry’s Coconut Bliss) will share his personal story about how he and his co-founder (Luna Marcus) started, grew and sold their business in less than 6 years. Hear how they started the business with just $10,000, how they quickly became cash-flow positive, how they built their team, marketed their business, hit their first million, explored partnerships — and ultimately sold  their business.

Larry has truly come full-circle. He’s now excited to become an angel investor and share his knowledge and skills with other local start-up companies. Larry is a member of the Willamette Angel Conference investor LLC. You won’t want to miss hearing his amazing story!

Following Larry’s talk we’ll begin the “Speed Pitch” competition (where Larry is one of the investor panelists – see other investors below…).

Calling Oregon-based Start-up Companies to Deliver a Speed Pitch! There’s no fee to submit, no fee to present and presenting companies do not pay a fee to attend — so you have nothing to loose and a lot to gain!

Location: Oregon Electric Station  Directions

27 East 5th Avenue
Eugene, OR 97401-2616

Time: 5 – 8pm

Fee: $20 if you pre-register ($25 at the door); $15 for Eugene and Corvallis Chamber and SAO members, $10 for students

Register to attend by clicking here

Includes food and beverages   |    Note: Seats are limited! 

Speed Pitches: 3 minutes each to pitch, 3 minutes of real investor feedback

The audience will vote for the winner – and the one winner will receive a free hour of coaching from the Executive Team for the Willamette Angel Conference (includes investors, entrepreneurs, and lawyers). Note: Any start-up in Oregon is eligible to submit to pitch at Smart-ups — including those who submitted to pitch at the WAC and those who have not submitted to pitch at the WAC. All investors from the WAC will be invited to attend this event, and the investor panel are members of the WAC Investor LLC – so this allows for a great educational and networking opportunity.

Investor Panelists Include:

Tim Berry | president and founder of Palo Alto Software

Investor in the 2009 and 2010 Willamette Angel Conference LLC

Scott Larson | Bend Venture Catalyst at EDCO

Founder of Vashon Partners | Seasoned Entrepreneur

Larry Kaplowitz | Co-founder of Luna and Larry’s Coconut Bliss

Investor in the 2010 Willamette Angel Conference LLC

Entrepreneurs Wanting to Pitch at This Event:

• Create a single slide (slide should include your company logo, tag line, and no more than 7 bullets describing what’s unique about your business)
• Submit your single slide to Smart-ups by clicking here – you will be contacted if selected to deliver a speed pitch at the pub-talk. Note: Up to 10 companies be be selected to deliver Speed Pitches
• Deadline to submit is 5pm, April 9th.
• If selected to deliver a Speed Pitch you will be given 3 minutes to pitch your business (you will be timed).
• Tips for what to say in your 3 minutes include: your name/title, the problem in the market you’re product is addressing, 2-3 sentences that describes your business, your target market, how you will generate revenue, your competitive advantage/value proposition, and key team members/advisers

• The investor panel will take 3 minutes to ask you questions/share suggestions.
• The audience will vote for the company they feel delivered the best pitch. The winner will receive one free hour of coaching from the WAC Executive Team
• Rehearse! Rehearse! Rehearse!

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

TITLE SPONSOR:

SUPPORTING SPONSORS:

We all know that starting a business is very difficult —- well dissolving one is even more challenging! This panel is going to be one of the most educational events of the year. You’ll get to hear the good, bad and ugly from a panel of your peers. These entrepreneurs will share the valuable lessons they learned in their respective start-ups. They each have a very different story to share, and these lessons could change how you start, run and grow your start-up.

Location: Oregon Electric Station | directions

Fee: $20 if you pre-register; $25 at the door, $15 for Eugene and Corvallis Chamber and SAO members; $10 for students (present valid ID at the door)

Click Here to Register

Panelists:

LUKE SONTAG

co-founder of Vidoop

password-based authentication system

PETER VOMOCIL

co-founder of TakeShape (body scanning technology)

dissolved in December 2008

CAROLINE CUMMINGS

co-founder of OsoEco (Web 2.0/healthy social shopping)

dissolved in December 2008

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

TITLE SPONSOR:

SUPPORTING SPONSORS:

At the October 1^st 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.