Seed Oregon FAQ
What is Seed Oregon?
Seed Oregon is a unique competition for Oregon and Southwest Washington seed-stage companies who are seeking capital within the range of $100,000 to $2,000,000. One winner from each preliminary round will move on to a championship round, where a finalist will be selected to present at Angel Oregon, the premier angel investing event in the Northwest.
To apply for Seed Oregon, companies will want to visit the submission deadlines for the 2008/2009 rounds. Once an application and fee has been submitted there is no need to reapply for future rounds. The applying company is in the selection pool for the subsequent rounds of Seed Oregon.
What is Angel Oregon?
Angel Oregon is an angel investment conference, at which angel investors, who have pooled their investment dollars, will award an investment to the company they judge to be the best overall angel investment opportunity. Angel Oregon’s high quality presentations, panelists, keynote speakers, and resource material has made it the leading private equity conference in the Northwest. Angel investors of note from Seattle and Portland have led panels, and keynote speakers have included Keith Grinstein of Seattle (initial investor in Amazon.com) and Oliver Curme of Battery Ventures in Boston.
Is this only for technology companies?
Absolutely not. In fact, the 2005 winner was Pet Appeal Inc., a Clackamas company that makes natural and organic pet foods. In 2008, END//Outdoor, an environmentally conscious consumer company that makes shoes won the overall event.
Where is Seed Oregon held?
All Seed Oregon presentations will be held at Bridgeport Brewpub + Bakery (1313 NW Marshall St. in Portland), the 2nd Wednesday of the month during regular PubTalk events.
How do I apply for Seed Oregon?
Read the instructions here, and then apply via OEN at 503-222-2270 for information.
What are the benefits of presenting at Seed Oregon?
- The opportunity to win an investment in seed capital at Angel Oregon. Moreover, Angel Oregon finalists have gone on to raise additional capital as a result of exposure to the Portland angel and venture capital community.
- An opportunity to polish your business concept and investment pitch with personal coaching. See coaching dates for presenting companies.
- Written feedback from the audience on your business concept and presentation.
- Opportunity to meet potential colleagues and to learn from peers who may have relevant experiences to share. Additional contacts.
Coaching dates for presenting companies.
2008 – 2009 Seed Oregon Presentation Coaching Dates
|
|
Event date
|
Presentation Coaching Dates
|
|
Round 1: October 8, 2008
|
|
|
Round 2: November 12, 2008
|
|
|
Round 3: January 14, 2008
|
|
|
Round 4: February 11, 2008
|
|
|
*Please note the dates and block them out on your calendar. You will be contacted with a window of time on the dates mentioned above. If you can’t make it you will not receive the coaching. Coaching sessions will be recorded for greater learning opportunity and may with your permission, be posted on the website for educational purposes.
|
Can I apply for both Seed Oregon and Angel Oregon?
Yes.
How much time do I have to present?
Selected presenters will have 10 minutes to present their concept to the PubTalk audience, followed by 10 minutes of questions and answers. The audience (OEN members who include entrepreneurs, investors, service providers and community leaders) will vote for a winner and all presenters will receive written feedback from the audience. Note: Members of the Angel Oregon selection committee will help determine the winner of the Seed Oregon Championship.
Can I use audio/visual equipment for my presentation?
Yes. An LCD projector and screen will be available on-site for all companies to deliver a PowerPoint presentation. We will work with Seed Oregon presenters to accommodate presentation needs.
How do you decide which companies present at Seed Oregon?
The Seed Oregon selection committee will look at opportunities with good growth and profit potential and a clear exit strategy. Early stage deals are strongly preferred. Companies should be seeking capital within the range of $100,000 to $2,000,000. OEN seeks to diligently recruit and encourage applications from the largest number of companies in a broad spectrum of industry classes. Among OEN's goals for Seed Oregon are to provide an informative and relevant event; to attract the maximum number of investor attendees; and to provide value to the membership as a whole. As a result of the dynamic nature of the entrepreneur community, OEN reserves the right, in its exclusive discretion, to exclude applicants who submit applications after the deadline; to work with applicants who meet the deadline but provide incomplete data. In consideration of the opportunities provided by Seed Oregon, applicants are subject to and agree to all terms provided by OEN. All decisions shall be final and there is no mechanism for escalation or appeal.
Who can I contact for more information?
You may contact Seed Oregon screening committee at info@oen.org for more information.