Summary:
$278,000 in investment committed to six companies at the 2025 Bend Venture Conference, with additional deals pending
$25,700 in cash awards given to two Central Oregon startups, including Toast Wear Inc. for their personal thermostat jacket innovation
Early Stage winners include Yak Incorporated and SokoLife, receiving investments to automate audits and revolutionize cardiac care
Growth Stage winners like Rapta and Photon Marine secured over $100,000 in funding to boost manufacturing and build electric fleets
The conference, in its 22nd year, has facilitated over $14 million in investments across 59 companies since inception
Bend Venture Conference 2025 Winners Announced
Economic Development for Central Oregon (EDCO) has revealed the winners and investment recipients from the 2025 Bend Venture Conference, held recently at the Tower Theatre in downtown Bend.
Now in its 22nd year, the Bend Venture Conference has established itself as one of the Pacific Northwest's premier events for entrepreneurship, innovation, and investment. Over two days, ten finalists pitched their ideas to hundreds of investors, business leaders, and community members, competing for investment and cash awards.
BVC connects investors with startup founders ready to scale, featuring separate tracks for early-stage and growth-stage companies. The conference drives exposure, funding, and long-term relationships that strengthen Central Oregon's economy.
Investment Highlights
This year, $278,000 in investment was committed across six companies, with additional deals still being finalized. An extra $25,700 in cash awards was given to two Central Oregon-based companies.
Jon Stark, CEO of EDCO, emphasized: "For more than two decades, the Bend Venture Conference has been a cornerstone of Central Oregon's entrepreneurial ecosystem. The connections and capital generated through BVC change the trajectory of these startups and strengthen our region's economic fabric."
Early Stage Winners
The Early Stage Track features companies in proof-of-concept or early-revenue stages, evaluated on revenue potential, market proof, scalability, and founder experience.
- Toast Wear Inc. (Bend, OR) – Received a $25,000 cash award from local community members. Toast creates a personal thermostat for jackets, making existing apparel your go-to for warmth.
- Yak Incorporated (Portland, OR) – Received a $15,000 investment from the Founder First fund. Yak is an AI-powered platform that automates audits for accounting firms, cutting admin work in half.
- SokoLife (Eugene, OR) – Received a $5,000 investment from the Founder First fund. SokoLife develops non-toxic patches for congenital heart defect repair, reducing reinterventions and healthcare costs.
Growth Stage Winners
The Growth Stage track highlights companies with significant traction poised for rapid expansion.
- Rapta (Tigard, OR) – Awarded a $110,500 investment by BVC investors. Rapta supercharges U.S. manufacturing by increasing capacity 30% and accelerating workflows 10x faster.
- Photon Marine (Portland, OR) – Awarded a $65,000 investment by BVC investors. Photon Marine is building the world's most capable electric fleet.
- Bold Reuse (Portland, OR) – Awarded a $50,000 investment by BVC investors. Bold Reuse reduces costs and waste from single-use packaging through reusable systems, supporting the circular economy.
- MarineSitu (Seattle, WA) – Awarded a $32,500 investment by BVC investors. MarineSitu provides marine infrastructure monitoring via an AI software platform, preventing costly interventions and increasing efficiency.
Additional Awards
The EDCO Board of Directors awarded a $700 cash award to BVC Future presenter Levi Waters from Caldera High School, founder of ClimbGrade. ClimbGrade standardizes climbing grades to help climbers track progress, setters design fair routes, and gyms maintain consistency.
Brian Vierra, EDCO’s Venture Catalyst Director, noted: "The quality and diversity of companies at BVC this year truly underscores the maturity of our startup ecosystem. Our investors are backing founders with the drive to build scalable, high-impact businesses."
All investments follow detailed due diligence, with final amounts depending on investor commitments and agreement on terms.
2025 BVC Title Sponsors
About Bend Venture Conference (BVC)
The annual BVC, hosted by EDCO, is one of the largest angel conferences in the country. Over 22 years, it has helped grow the startup ecosystem in Central Oregon and beyond. Since inception, over $14 million has been invested in 59 companies through the conference. For more information, visit bendvc.com.
About Economic Development for Central Oregon
EDCO is a non-profit focused on creating middle-class jobs in Central Oregon by recruiting new employers, helping entrepreneurs start scalable businesses, and supporting existing business growth. Learn more at www.edcoinfo.com.
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