EDCO announces the four Early Stage finalists selected to present at the Bend Venture conference

BEND, Ore. (KTVZ) – Hundreds of attendees packed the outdoor patio at Worthy Brewing last Thursday for the Central Oregon PubTalk event, where the 10 semifinalists competing to speak at the Bend Venture Conference delivered three-minute speeches to a lively audience.

The energy was palpable as both the audience and the panel of expert judges voted to determine the five startups that would qualify for the BVC. It took place Thursday through Friday, October 17–18 at the Tower Theatre.

Rose City Robotics, a crowd favorite, received a $3,000 award courtesy of Washington Trust Bank to support the scale of their autonomous automatic disassembly technology for recycling lithium-ion electric vehicle batteries.

Economic Development for Central Oregon (EDCO) is excited to announce the five BVC Early Stage finalists who will perform at the Tower Theater on Thursday, October 17^vol. In alphabetical order, the companies are:

Fordje (Portland, OR) – AI software platform that helps construction developers and cities clarify city codes, enabling faster construction the first time.

Howl at the Spoon (Beaverton, OR) – Portable, flavor-packed, single-serve artisan sauces for every meal.

The Offer Haus (Eugene, OR) – A simplified online platform that allows buyers to purchase a home without a realtor.

Prophetic (Portland, OR) – SaaS platform that finds and analyzes real estate development opportunities in seconds, not hours.

Rose City Robotics (Portland, OR) – Autonomous, robotic disassembly that enables direct recycling of electric vehicle lithium-ion batteries.

Reflecting on the event, Jon Stark, CEO of EDCO, said: “The energy at PubTalk was amazing and it was great to see such innovation and commitment from these entrepreneurs. We can’t wait for them to take the stage at BVC and showcase the transformational potential of their companies.”

Tickets for the 21st Annual BVC are on sale now. This highly anticipated event will bring together entrepreneurs, investors, business leaders and students in Bend for a two-day celebration of ingenuity and progress. Don’t miss the opportunity to witness these disruptive start-ups and learn about the latest industry innovations. Tickets and more information can be found at Benvc.com.

About the Bend Venture Conference (BVC)
The annual BVC conference, hosted by EDCO, is one of the largest and longest-running business angel conferences in the country. Over the past 21 years, BVC has contributed to the evolution and growth of the startup ecosystem in Central Oregon and the Pacific Northwest. As a result of the conference, over $14 million has been invested in 59 companies since its inception. This year’s conference will bring together entrepreneurs, investors, business leaders and students at the Tower Theater in Bend, Oregon on October 17-18, 2024. Bendvc.com

About the Economic Development of Central Oregon (EDCO)
EDCO is a nonprofit corporation supported by private and public members and stakeholders whose mission is to create middle-class jobs in Central Oregon by recruiting new employers to relocate to the region; helping entrepreneurs launch new, scalable businesses; and working with companies that are already here to grow their businesses. edcoinfo.com