The Oregon Entrepreneurs Network (OEN) announced the semi-finalists for OEN's Angel Oregon 2012 competition to take place April 18th at the Governor Hotel in Portland. The semi-finalists were chosen from over 60 Oregon and Southwest Washington start-up companies. These companies represent a broad range of industry categories including consumer products, technology, Web 2.0, and biotechnology.
There are two categories for companies in this year’s competition: the Launch Stage and the Concept Stage. Launch Stage companies are start-ups that are further along in their development. The 22 semi-finalist Launch companies are in the running for a target total investment of over $300,000, with the potential for a first and second place winner as selected by the Angel Oregon 2012 investors. The Angel Oregon investors who are part of this year’s conference will now engage in due diligence and research to determine which companies deserve the top prizes. This is an intensive process that gives entrepreneurs critical exposure to Portland’s investor community as well as important coaching and support.
Concept Stage companies are companies that are at the very early stages of their life cycle. These semi-finalists will compete for a several awards and will be eligible to participate in Upstart Day, a day-long immersion with the Angel Oregon investor group representing finance, sales, marketing, technical, distribution, and strategy expertise.
“In 2005, our company, Castor & Pollux Natural PetWorks won Angel Oregon. It was the first year that an actual cash investment was available and it was such an incredibly exciting moment for us. To be able to have come full circle and now be chairing this important program for angel investors and early stage companies is such an honor,” explained Shelley Gunton, Angel Oregon 2012 chair.
Since 2005 more than 56 companies have competed in the OEN’s Angel Oregon, many of which received subsequent funding and experienced later-stage growth. Some past conference participants who have successfully exited include: Castor & Pollux Petworks, Monsoon, and Second Porch among others.
The OEN Angel Oregon Conference continues to enjoy much support from the business and leadership community. As they did last year, the Oregon Growth Account (OGA) is committing funds to this year’s Launch Stage Company investment. The OGA will kick in a 25 percent match toward the total raised by the investors. Other key participants in this year’s investment pool include the University of Portland and the Willamette University Angel Fund.
The OEN Angel Conference has been a key catalyst in spurring Oregon’s angel investor activity. Other angel groups that have launched with the support of OEN, since the OEN Angel Conference began in 2000 include the Bend Venture Conference, Oregon Angel Fund, the Willamette Angel Conference, the Gorge Angel Conference, the Southern Oregon Angel Conference, and the Portland Seed Fund.
About Oregon Entrepreneurs Network
Founded in 1991, the Oregon Entrepreneurs Network (OEN) is a 501c3 non-profit corporation and the largest entrepreneur assistance organization in Oregon and Southwest Washington. OEN fosters the flow of entrepreneurial ideas, services, and capital to entrepreneurs and helps connect emerging Northwest businesses to growth-stimulating expertise and valuable resources.
OEN is a people-oriented network that helps cultivate, nurture and develop emerging businesses and entrepreneurs. Through a network of members and a breadth of services, OEN offers business education, access to capital networks, support and contacts who can mentor and nurture startup companies’ growth and development. OEN also helps small and mid-sized companies develop and implement strategies for community involvement that jointly meet the goals of the company, the passions of the employees and the needs of the community via its program, EFNW. For more information on OEN and its programs visit www.oen.org.
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Semi-Finalists for the OEN Angel Oregon 2012
Finalists will be announced in April
2012 Launch Stage Semi-finalist Companies:
• Alima Cosmetics, Inc. – www.alimacosmetics.com – Portland
• BikeTrak - www.biketrak.com - Portland
• Bowserwear - www.bowserwear.com - Vancouver, WA
• CafeGive - www.cafegive.com - Portland
• Chez Gourmet from Marie - www.chezgourmet.biz - Wilsonville
• CSD Nano - www.csdnano.com - Corvallis
• Cycle 6 Technology - www.cycle6technology.com - Gresham
• EdCaliber - www.edcaliber.com - Portland
• EnaCor, Inc. - www.enacor.com - Beaverton
• Feuerflex Corporation - www.feuerflex.com - Portland
• Homeschool Snowboarding - www.homeschoolsnowboarding.com - Portland
• Homestyle Fresh - www.homestylefresh.com - Portland
• Indow Windows - www.indowwindows.com - Portland
• Kudough - www.kudough.com - Portland
• Membean - www.membean.com - Portland
• Proxy - www.proxypeople.com - Portland
• RapidMade - www.rapidmade.com - Portland
• Sherwood Valley Juice Company - www.sherwoodvalleyjuice.com - Sherwood
• Soothie Suckers - www.soothiesuckers.com - Portland
• Tellagence - www.tellagence.com - Portland
• Wild Squirrel Nut Butter - www.wildsquirrelnutbutter.com - Eugene
• Zafirro - www.zafirro.com - Portland
2012 Concept Stage Semi-finalist Companies:
• Activate Hub.org - www.activatepdx.org - Portland
• Architectural Applications – www.architecturalapplications.com - Portland
• BeSpoke Biometrics – www.bespokebiometrics.com - Portland
• Blanketbooster, Inc. - www.blanketbooster.com - Tigard
• Comic Rocket - www.comic-rocket.com - Portland
• Conscious Commuter Corp. - www.consciouscommuter.com - Portland
• Earth Techling - www.earthtechling.com - Portland
• ERL Media - www.iamerl.com - Portland
• Grayson OmniMedia Publishing Group - Portland
• Liberty Financial Services Group - Portland
• Mad Mike's Food - www.madmikesfood.com - Hermiston
• myENGN.com - www.myENGN.com - Portland
• Nietzsche Sports - Albany
• PIVOT - Portland
• Pocket Bounty - www.pocketbounty.com - Bend
