OEN News2026 Angel Oregon Technology Investment Announced
Oregon Entrepreneurs Network (OEN) announced today that Yak Tech, founded by Shannon Smith, has been selected as the winner of the 2026 Angel Oregon Technology (AOTech) program, receiving a $155,000 equity investment from the AOTech angel investor syndicate.
The announcement was made during the Angel Oregon Technology Investment Announcement Mixer at McMenamins Mission Theater in Portland, where five technology companies took the stage to pitch their businesses to investors and the broader entrepreneurial community.
“We are so appreciative of Oregon Entrepreneurs Network and the local investors and organizations supporting founders in Portland,” said founder Shannon Smith. “This investment allows us to continue modernizing the accounting industry and saving auditors time and money. We are so glad to be building this in Oregon and excited to make it big for everyone that has believed in us.”
AOTech is OEN’s Capital & Funding Literacy program for early-stage technology founders across Oregon and Southwest Washington. The program combines founder education, mentorship, pitch preparation, and investor engagement to help entrepreneurs build the knowledge and confidence needed to navigate fundraising and grow their companies.
The 2026 AOTech finalists represented a diverse range of technology innovation, including:
- BreezyFile: Co-Founders – Matt Campbell, Melody Caron, Jonathan Hinkle, and Tom Spang
- Harmonee AI: Co-Founders – Zach Brown, Anthony Jewell and Marcio Nunes
- Positron Charging: Co-Founders – Brian Breniser and Tyler Hughes, PE
- Stageworks: Founder – Chris Brantley
- Yak Tech: Founder – Shannon Smith, CISA
In addition to the $155,000 investment in Yak Tech, AOTech investors also committed a $30,000 sidecar investment in Klamath Falls based Harmonee AI, bringing the total capital committed through this year’s AOTech investment process to $185,000.
“Angel Oregon is about more than writing a check,” said Cara Turano, President & Executive Director of Oregon Entrepreneurs Network. “It’s about creating a pathway for founders to build relationships with investors, sharpen their businesses, and become more confident in navigating the fundraising process. This year’s AOTech finalists demonstrated the incredible breadth of technology innovation happening across our region, and we’re thrilled to see that momentum continue with these investments. Congratulations to Shannon, Marcio, and all the AOTech Finalists!”
“This year, 71 technology companies went through the Angel Oregon Technology program, with 32 applying for investment consideration and five ultimately making it to the stage,” said Yalda Moshiri, Fund & Program Director at Oregon Entrepreneurs Network. “Shannon’s journey is especially exciting. After becoming a top-five finalist and receiving a sidecar investment in 2025, she returned this year with a year of meaningful traction behind her. That progress was evident to investors and ultimately earned Yak Tech the top investment.”
The 2026 AOTech program reflects OEN’s continued commitment to strengthening Oregon’s early-stage funding ecosystem and helping founders build the skills, networks, and investor relationships needed to grow.
The Investment Announcement Mixer brought together founders, investors, and members of Oregon’s entrepreneurial community to celebrate the companies participating in AOTech and the role of angel capital in helping early-stage technology companies grow. The evening also highlighted the collaborative nature of Oregon’s startup ecosystem, with investors coming together not only to select this year’s AOTech investment, but to identify additional opportunities to support promising founders through sidecar investment.
OEN’s Angel Oregon Capital & Funding Literacy programs are part of a broader initiative for supporting early-stage founders across Oregon and Southwest Washington. In addition to AOTech, OEN operates Angel Oregon Consumer Packaged Goods (AOCPG) and Angel Oregon Life & Bioscience (AOBIO), providing sector-specific education and pathways to angel investment.
Oregon Entrepreneurs Network (OEN) is a 501(c)3 nonprofit organization dedicated to helping entrepreneurs start up and scale up. The organization hosts a mix of sector-specific Angel Oregon entrepreneur education and angel investment programs each year, including Angel Oregon Life & Bioscience (AOBIO), Oregon Tech (AOTech) and Angel Oregon Consumer Packaged Goods (AOCPG), as well as the annual OEN Entrepreneurship Awards. Learn more at www.oen.org.
