EDCO Announces the Final Four Social Impact Companies to Advance to the Bend Venture Conference

EDCO ANNOUNCES THE FINAL FOUR SOCIAL IMPACT COMPANIES TO ADVANCE TO THE 2017 BEND VENTURE CONFERENCE To Present on the Tower Theatre Stage Thursday, October 19

BEND, OR (October 4, 2017) – Economic Development for Central Oregon (EDCO) announced the Final Four Social Impact Companies to advance to the 14^th Annual Bend Venture Conference (BVC) in Downtown Bend on Thursday, October 19 - Friday, October 20, 2017. Last year, companies in the Social Impact category won prizes ranging from $50,000 to $100,000.

The Social Impact Competition, which includes for-profit companies whose business models are integrated with a social or environmental mission, will take place at the Tower Theatre Thursday, October 19. Tickets can be purchased for the Social Impact Competition only, or for the entire conference, here.

In alphabetical order, the Four Social Impact finalists are:

1. Diatomix (Beaverton, OR) – A bioengineered photocatalytic technology that actively and continuously improves indoor air quality.
2. eWind Solutions (Beaverton, OR) – A renewable airborne wind energy company utilizing a rigid wing kite to produce energy.
3. Green Theme International (Portland, OR) – The next generation in textile performance in durability, value and environmental sustainability with their clean chemistry and water free solution.
4. InPipe Energy (Portland, OR) – Creates a new source of clean electricity, helps improve the economics of water management and reduces carbon emissions.

“We’re entering our second year of the Social Impact Competition, and are looking forward to seeing what these Oregon companies bring to the stage,” said Brian Vierra, EDCO’s Venture Catalyst. “They are solid, investable companies in a wide range of industries, all looking to make a social impact in their respective fields.”

Hosted by Economic Development for Central Oregon (EDCO), this year’s BVC will once again feature three competition categories: Growth Stage, Early Stage, and Social Impact. Last year, nearly $4 million in funding was awarded to ten companies.

Tickets to the 14^th Annual Bend Venture Conference are on sale now and are available here.

About Bend Venture Conference (BVC) BVC, hosted by EDCO, is one of the largest angel conferences in the country. More than 600 attendees, six funds, 32 prominent investors, and 89 companies participated in 2016’s conference, where nearly $4 million was invested in 10 companies.

About Economic Development for Central Oregon (EDCO) EDCO is a non-profit corporation supported by private and public members and stakeholders, whose mission is to create middle-class jobs in Central Oregon by: recruiting new employers to move to the region; helping entrepreneurs start new, scalable businesses; and working with businesses that are already here to grow their operations. For more information, visit www.edcoinfo.com.

2017 Title Sponsors: