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!

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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.

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.

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

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!

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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