EDCO announces six companies that won funding and recognition at the 21st annual Bend Venture Conference
BEND, Ore. (KTVZ) – Economic Development for Central Oregon held 21St Bend Venture’s annual conference for the past two days at venues throughout Bend. During the conference, the 14 winners presented their ideas and business models to a crowd of hundreds in hopes of getting investment from participating investors.
Of the finalists, six companies received recognition or financial aid, with a total of $500,000 awarded to four companies. Other investment deals are being finalized.
Jon Stark, CEO of EDCO, said, “It’s been amazing to see the industry collaboration and business power that has fueled High Desert Innovation Week. , Central Oregon Innovation Network, Cultivate Bend, and Bend Outdoor Worx It is truly inspiring to witness the economic strength of Central Oregon’s entrepreneurial community.
For more than two decades, the BVC has stood as Central Oregon’s premier business event. The program creates an opportunity to connect prominent investors with industry leaders and startup founders who want to grow.
With separate stages for growth, early stage and new economy companies, the BVC aims to get as much exposure for startups to participate as possible and acts as a source of funds that more for the portfolio of participating companies.
The visibility and connections made at BVC lay the foundation for the future of Central Oregon’s economy while connecting investors and promising startups from around the country to strengthen long-term relationships.
Brian Vierra, EDCO’s Venture Catalyst, added, “EDCO and the BVC ecosystem of partners are committed to growing these relationships, providing resources and support to encourage the continued growth of participating companies. We extend our thanks from the bottom of my heart to the donors, angel investors and participating funds, whose unwavering support makes this program possible.”
Step One:
The Early Stage Track consists of companies in the proof-of-concept stage or early stages of testing their products in the market. In addition to the audience’s choice for the best pitch, these companies are evaluated by judges based on financial opportunity, market proof, scalability, and the founder’s experience and grit.
- Prophecy (Portland, OR) received the Judges Award. Forecast is a SaaS platform that finds and analyzes real estate development opportunities in seconds, not hours.
- Rose City Robotics (Portland, OR) received the Audience Favorite Award. Rose City Robotics is an autonomous robotic disassembly of EV batteries to enable secondary life processes and maximize safety, value extraction and mass metal recovery.
The New Economy:
The New Economy Track, managed by The BFM Fund in collaboration with Venture Partners, provides a platform for start-ups that develop ambitious technologies with significant economic and social benefits. The song highlights inclusive innovation, supporting entrepreneurs from underrepresented communities.
The New Economy finalists who won this year’s investment awards are:
- Home Lending Pal (Orlando, FL) was awarded $125,000 by The BFM Fund. Home Lending Pal is an analytics platform that identifies key customers within the bank’s database, and uses a multilingual AI-agent to guide loan officers on access to information and messages.
- Hardcore Peanut Butter Co. (Minneapolis, MN) was awarded $75,000 by The BFM Fund. Hardcore Peanut Butter Co. uses the finest food ingredients, combined with allergen-free peanut butter, to provide all consumers with a better-for-you, safer product.
Big Step:
The Growth Stage track at BVC highlights companies that have demonstrated high performance and are poised for rapid expansion. Every year, a new BVC LLC Fund is raised to invest in top companies competing in this track.
“We saw incredible talent from this year’s finalists,” said Jenn Lynch, Fund Manager at BVC LLC. “We are excited to welcome the winners into the BVC portfolio and support them in their next steps of growth.”
This year’s Growth Stage winners of investment awards are:
- ProMedix Inc. (Portland, OR) was awarded $200,000 by BVC Fund LLC. ProMedix Inc. is a non-invasive medical device that accelerates the diagnosis of circulatory failure and sepsis.
- Health Elements AI (Bend, OR) was awarded $100,000 by BVC Fund LLC. Health Elements AI is a technology platform that uses AI to simplify the processing of health data.
All investments are awarded based on the maximum dedication of each of the finalists. The following investments and deals are being finalized.
About Economic Development for Central Oregon (EDCO)
EDCO is a non-profit organization 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 area; helping entrepreneurs start new, scalable businesses; and working with existing businesses to expand their operations. edcoinfo.com
About Bend Venture Conference (BVC)
The annual BVC, hosted by EDCO, is one of the largest angel conferences in the country. For more than two decades, BVC has served to transform and grow the startup ecosystem throughout Central Oregon and across the Pacific Northwest. Since its inception, more than $14.5 million has been invested in 63 companies as a result of this conference. Next year’s conference will bring together entrepreneurs, investors, business leaders, and students at the Tower Theater in Bend, Oregon on October 16-17, 2025. bendvc.com
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