Type of Event: Pitch Event

Do you have a food and beverage business that you want to promote and celebrate? Are you looking for an opportunity to promote your food & beverage startup? Now is your chance!

The OEN Food & Beverage Showcase & Pitch Program is a series of workshops and events dedicated to supporting F&B entrepreneurs in Oregon and SW Washington. This program is perfect for entrepreneurs who want to better tell their story, whether it’s getting products on shelves, engaging distributors, seeking investment, hiring talent, or getting a new customer.

Your application fee includes:

1. Admission to Learn to Pitch Workshop on August 20th ($50 value)
2. Access to Palo Alto Software’s Live Plan platform ($60 value) for 3 months to create your one-page pitch page
3. Admission to Hone Your Pitch Interactive Session with industry experts during the week of September 17th (attendance required—judges will select the top 12 presenters to compete at the October 3rd F&B Showcase)
4. Admission to the October 3rd F&B Showcase ($85 value)
5. A table to sample your product at the October 3rd F&B Showcase (first 50 applicants only)
6. Prizes! Read below for details.

Applying is quick and easy! Just click the button on the right to apply.

See below for event details.

Event #1: Learn to Pitch

Taught by executive training and development consultant Dave Underhill and Sabrina Parsons, CEO of Palo Alto Software, this workshop will teach you how to craft a clear, concise, and compelling story regardless of your audience, whether talking to someone in line at the supermarket or pitching your business to a VC.

When: Monday, August 20th | 11:30 AM-2:30 PM

Where: Portland State Business Accelerator, Portland, or via webcast.

Event #2: Hone Your Pitch

This workshop will help you take your presentation to the next level with input from experts in the food and beverage industry, including entrepreneurs, mentors, and seasoned investors. You will have an opportunity to practice your presentation in front of F&B industry experts and hone your presentation throughout the day through personalized feedback. These experts will pick the top presenters to move on to the F&B Showcase on October 3rd. 

When: Week of September 17th

Where: To be announced

Event #3: F&B Showcase

This is it—the main event. First, you learned how to craft a clear, concise, and compelling story regardless of your audience at Learn Your Pitch. Then, you improved your presentation based on personalized feedback from industry experts at Hone Your Pitch.

At the F&B Showcase, you get:

• A table to sample your awesome product (first 50 applicants only)
• Stellar networking with F&B industry stakeholders from across the state
• Top 12 applicants get a chance to strut their stuff on stage and compete for awesome prizes
• Insight from successful F&B entrepreneurs (stay tuned for Fireside Chat participant list)
• Inspiration from a conversation about thoughtfulness and social justice in the F&B industry

Prizes include:

• Shelf space at Green Zebra
• Financial and accounting services
• Legal services from Tonkon Torp
• Financial forecasting consulting from Palo Alto Software
• Branding and packaging consulting
• Risk assessment advising
• Distribution counseling

The F&B Showcase will bring together diverse channels within the food and beverage industry to celebrate, promote, and inspire one another to success.

When: Wednesday, October 3rd

Where: Left Bank Annex, Portland

Not yet an OEN member? Contact Marissa at marissa@oen.org to get 25% off your first year of membership!