OEN Blog

Save the Date! Come network on Wednesday, December 17 at the OEN SwapMeet.

sarenar — Mon, 24 Nov 2008 18:12:28 GMT

Wednesday, December 17 - SwapMeetDrop by the OEN SwapMeet, a networking program specifically for people looking to connect with entrepreneurs, early-stage companies, and the people who help them both grow.

As the Oregon economy continues to develop, there will be more and more opportunity to work with, work for, or start new companies in growing industries. SwapMeet is a great way to get connected to the people making it all happen.

There's no entrance fee, and no pressure. Just networking, connecting, and a no-host happy hour!

Date and Time: Dec. 17th, 2008; 5:00 pm
Where: Someday Lounge - 125 NW 5th Ave, Portland
Cost: None! There is no fee to attend this event

Social Networking 101 with Rick Turoczy

sarenar — Thu, 06 Nov 2008 19:56:13 GMT

Rick Turoczy provided a handy primer on today's OEN Webinar: Social Networking 101. He broke the whole web 2.0 Social Networking world down into manageable bits and gave participants a place to start.

First you need to know the rules of the road:

1) Jump in. - Get over your fear and go for it.

2) Be polite. - Be nice and ethical.

3) Have fun. - This is fun, there is a lot of interesting things you are about to learn.

4) Listen more than you talk. - It will help you find something interesting to say.

5) Give more than you get. - In that spirit here is the link to his presentation & links: http://twurl.cc/70n

Now for some suggestions:

Don't start with blogging. It is just too much pressure. Boy is he right there. Rick suggest to start slowly and with one thing at a time. Give yourself time to get the hang of things before moving on to the next step. There is always time to add more as you get more involved.

Step 1: Say it. - Start commenting on other people's/ organizations' blogs such as this one. Or visit news sites such as the Portland Business Journal or The Oregonian

to get your opinions out there. It is still not super social but it is a start.

Step 2: Learn to share. - Start tagging things you like. Try a social bookmarks manager like delicious. Share photos on Flickr.

Or look for and share events on Upcoming. There's much more you can do but you're still getting your feet wet.

Step 3: Be yourself. - Get social and start networking. Join Linkedin, or get a profie on Facebook. You will be surprised who you find and who finds you. There are conversations to be had. Information to be shared and questions to be answered. These are all opportunities for you to get involved and share your expertise as well as learn from other experts.

Step 4: Get involved. - Set up an account on Twitter, a micro blogging site. Start following people and listen to what they say. You can use the search function on twitter to search out topics of interest and you can use Twellow to help you find people to follow. You will find they share interesting bits of news and information that can be very useful to business communication. You can share information about your organization or just interesting articles and information you come across. As your network grows you will find it to be a handy way to interact with customers or colleagues.

Thanks again to Rick Turoczy for sharing his insights. Perhaps you all could take an opportunity to get your feet wet and write a comment on this blog post. All you have to do is log in or set up an account and you're on your way.

The fight to raise money

sarenar — Fri, 31 Oct 2008 17:51:36 GMT

Yesterday at OEN's Venture Northwest we saw 14 companies present their companies before an audience of potential investors. It was a day that Oregon could be proud of because there was a lot of talent in that room. Nonetheless, with the current economic crisis in full swing, it is impossible to overlook at a conference like this that the road will be a tough fight for startups for the forseeable future.

A couple key takeaway's from yesterday's conference were that sustainable ventures will be instrumental in spurring innovation and rebuilding the economy. There is a sense that the election could have significant impact in the scale of the opportunity with governmental policy supporting the expansion of renewable energy investment. The other main takeaway was that start ups will have challenges in raising funds but that it is still possible and that they will have to focus their efforts, conserve their cash and potentially seek alternative funding sources to help them survive the credit void.

We would appreciate hearing your insights. To provide a comment, log in or set up your account.

OEN's Venture Northwest 2008 featured in discussion on OPB's Think Out Loud

sarenar — Fri, 31 Oct 2008 00:15:12 GMT

Visit the OPB to read/add to the discussion. http://action.publicbroadcasting.net/opb/posts/list/1797812.page

Or listen to the show by clicking this link. http://stream1.opb.org:9000/tol/episodes/2008/1030.mp3

Kent Lewis Webinar - Next week!

admin — Thu, 16 Oct 2008 23:46:21 GMT

There's only a few days left to sign up for the next OEN webinar - Building Brands and Managing Reputations via Social Media, with Kent Lewis of Anvil Media. The webinar takes place on Tuesday, Oct. 21, at 10 AM.

Listening to Kent speak about branding, marketing and social media is a real treat. If you haven't heard him speak on any of those topics, you should definitely consider signing up for this webinar!

You can sign up for this webinar by visiting the OEN Event Calendar.

88, Inc. wins round one of Seed Oregon!

admin — Thu, 09 Oct 2008 16:39:14 GMT

Congrats to 88, Inc. for winning the first round of Seed Oregon! The votes were close, but 88, Inc. was selected to move to the Championship Round of Seed Oregon, which will take place in February, 2009.

Stay tuned for more information regarding the next round of Seed Oregon, the presenting companies, and Angel Oregon 2009!

Last Night's Featured Presentations:

88, Inc.

88, Inc. is breaking boundaries by creating of a line of jewelry that seamlessly integrates technology and design. Their products leverage the spark between technology and timeless materials and craft, created by women with a woman's reality in mind. The brand represents beauty, empowerment, self-expression, and connection. Contact: Robin Jones, Phone: 415-254-2650

Golden Signals, Inc. - http://www.goldensignals.com/

Golden Signals creates innovative software & hardware technologies in the field of mobile wireless connectivity. Their first product, DisplayShare^TM (patents pending) enables wireless integration of home theaters / conference rooms / classrooms with a notebook or desktop PC. DisplayShare^TM is the only solution available to provide easy viewing of any type of digital media - be it photos, HD video, audio, PC games, web pages or PowerPoint slides onto any type of large screen. This is achieved without navigating complex interfaces or trying to overcome file format issues. Subsequent products build upon the DisplayShare^TM platform and address sizeable opportunities for a multi-user education product and a TV receiver (cable, satellite, digital converter box) solution.

Ninkasi Inc. -http://www.vinemasters.com/
Ninkasi Inc. is a Digital Media Advertising company with one product currently in development. VineMasters^TM is an interactive, consumer driven, food and wine pairing kiosk for the wine departments of grocery stores. In conjunction with the food and wine pairing software, the kiosks will also serve as digital media screens for co-op advertising.

Contact: Marty Fouts, President and CEO; Phone: 503-349-0363

Oregon Entrepreneurs Network Announces Presenting Companies for Venture Northwest 2008

sarenar — Thu, 09 Oct 2008 02:00:35 GMT

Fourteen emerging and growing companies to present to venture investors from across the US on October 30 at event in Portland

October 8, 2008, Portland, Ore. — The Oregon Entrepreneurs Network (OEN) today announced the selection of 14 companies that will present at Venture Northwest 2008 to be held October 30, 2008, at The Marriott Waterfront in Portland. The companies selected to present at OEN’s Venture Northwest in the past have gone on to raise over $1.3 billion in venture funding the since 1997.

“The companies presenting at the conference represent some of the most innovative and creative companies from across the Northwest,” said John Hull, chair of the OEN Venture Northwest 2008 and managing director at OVP Venture Partners. “Some of these companies are seeking their first institutional venture financing while others have already received first rounds of capital from top-tier venture firms. In total, this list of companies represents well the broad spectrum of investment opportunities that flourish in our region”

The companies were selected from a group of 44 companies that applied to present at the conference, and were chosen by a panel of venture capitalists, investment bankers, institutional and angel investors and professional service providers chaired by Brent Bullock, a partner at Perkins Coie LLP in Portland.

Registration information is available at www.oen.org or call the office at 503-222-2270.

The companies selected to present at OEN’s Venture Northwest are:

AboutUs – www.aboutus.org

Tagging and summarizing every website. AboutUs aggregates website information and captures UGC with the goal of creating the most current and comprehensive guide to the Internet and presenting it in a clear, consistent and summarized format. You’ll find different, interesting and useful information at AboutUs.

Advanced Inquiry Systems -[www.advancedinquiry.com|http://www.advancedinquiry.com/]

Advanced Inquiry Systems, Inc. (AISI) is revolutionizing semiconductor test, helping our customers combat rising costs in the midst of falling product prices. Our unique solutions enhance flexibility for device design, greatly reduce test floor WIP, and nearly eliminate pad scrub, enabling at speed wafer test for flash, DRAM and logic devices.

Collaborative Software Initiative - www.csinitiative.com

Collaborative Software Initiative brings together like minded companies to build software applications at a fraction of the cost of traditional methods. CSI introduces this market-changing process to build software for an implementation of a defined standard, an application for regulatory compliance, or a system to provide leverage for multiple companies.

DepotPoint – www.depotpoint.com

DepotPoint is a technology company that deploys a suite of web based workflow and marketplace applications that are designed to accelerate disposal of distressed properties. The company’s solutions are delivered to lenders, trustees/attorneys, REO asset managers, real estate agents, and property buyers resulting in greater processing and transaction efficiency.

END Outdoor – www.endoutdoor.com

END exists to bring affordable, sustainable, high performance footwear to our athletes. Through a powerful design ethos, END will employ a groundbreaking sustainable design and manufacturing process that raises the bar in the industry. Our goal is to only create high performance, sustainable running product that has outstanding fit, comfort and stability.

M-Six - www.m-six.com

M-SIX is building a Software-as-a-Service platform for 3D design visualization, analysis, and collaboration. Our simplified workflow reduces designers' costs by >10x while significantly increasing their freedom to invent and collaborate. We’re currently administering a private beta with world-renowned design firms that will enable a revenue stream of $40M within 3 years.

NuScale Power - www.nuscalepower.com

NuScale Power is commercializing a modular, pre-fabricated 45 MWe nuclear power plant. The plant can be scaled to any size by grouping modules together. It will be safer and will improve economics by moving to mass manufacturing off-site, simplifying refueling, and permitting units to be added to match demand growth.

RallyPoint – [www.rallypoint.tv|http://www.rallypoint.tv/]

Rallypoint builds and operates the “TV App Store” that delivers web-based services and advertising over the broadband pipe to Internet-enabled television sets without using a set-top box. Rallypoint is seeking to generate $40 to $200 of revenue per Internet-enabled HDTV per year. Rallypoint has developed distribution relationships with the #1 HDTV chipset maker, the #2 and #4 TV OEMs, and the #1 retailer that will ensure general availability of its software and key applications by mid 2009. Rallypoint is raising $3.5M.

Revelation – www.revelationglobal.com

Revelation creates cutting edge web applications for qualitative market research. Launched in 2007, Revelation dramatically extend the reach of qualitative research, enabling companies to collect more data, faster and at a fraction of the cost - while providing a truer picture of the consumer experience. Already generating revenue, Revelation is poised to become the end-to-end platform for qualitative customer understanding and knowledge management.

RNA Networks - www.rnanetworks.com

RNA networks is the pioneer of collaborative cache technology for the enterprise data center. A core architectural building block for the data center, RNAcache provides companies in high-volume transaction and content delivery industries with large-scale cache resources to reach microsecond latency, eliminate performance bottlenecks and achieve high-speed certified messaging.

SplashCast - www.splashcastmedia.com

SplashCast is the leading content syndication service for emerging media. It enables brands to engage with typically elusive audiences by creating micro-channels of continuously-refreshed content consumers value, interact with, and can share with other people. SplashCast syndicates content to emerging media including online social networks, mobile devices, IPTV and desktops.

Tamarac, Inc. - www.tamaracinc.com

Tamarac Advisor™ is the leading portfolio rebalancing and trading platform used by hundreds of advisory firms to dramatically scale their business more profitably. Tamarac’s web-based software automates portfolio construction and maintenance, portfolio monitoring and analysis, cash management, rebalancing, tax management, trading, post-trade reconciliation.

Topaz Bridge - www.topazbridge.com

Topaz Bridge makes enterprise-class HR software applications that combine the power and flexibility of Microsoft SharePoint with the strength and control of SAP. We realize true strategic impact for large companies by saving millions of dollars, while dramatically improving employee satisfaction and maintaining the security and structure of corporate data.

Wi-Chi – www.wi-chi.com

Wi-Chi designs, manufacturers, and markets highly reliable and efficient nano-inverters for solar PV systems. Driven by a highly experienced team of innovators, Wi-Chi’s proprietary and miniaturized inverters achieve 25 year reliability at significantly reduced cost. Wi-Chi is focused on simplifying installation and enabling solar technologies to achieve grid parity for broad market adoption.

About Oregon Entrepreneurs Network

Founded in 1991, the Oregon Entrepreneurs Network is a not-for-profit corporation dedicated to providing opportunities for Oregon entrepreneurs and improving the business climate for emerging, growth-oriented companies statewide. The organization has members throughout Oregon and southwest Washington. For more information about the OEN, visit its website at www.oen.org.

News Media Inquiries, please contact:

Jeff Fishburn

OnPR for Oregon Entrepreneurs Network

503-802-4408

jefff@onpr.com

Three companies to compete in OEN's Seed Oregon PubTalk tonight

sarenar — Wed, 08 Oct 2008 14:44:57 GMT

Come to Bridgeport Brewpub 5pm tonight to see three companies compete in Round 1 of OEN's Seed Oregon PubTalk. The winning company will advance to the final in February and will get to compete for a chance to present at OEN's Angel Oregon 2009 held at the Governor Hotel on March 12th.

Tonight’s Featured Presentations:

88, Inc.

88, Inc. is breaking boundaries by creating of a line of jewelry that seamlessly integrates technology and design. Their products leverage the spark between technology and timeless materials and craft, created by women with a woman’s reality in mind. The brand represents beauty, empowerment, self-expression, and connection. Contact: Robin Jones, Phone: 415-254-2650

Golden Signals, Inc. – http://www.goldensignals.com

Golden Signals creates innovative software & hardware technologies in the field of mobile wireless connectivity. Their first product, DisplayShare™ (patents pending) enables wireless integration of home theaters / conference rooms / classrooms with a notebook or desktop PC. DisplayShare™ is the only solution available to provide easy viewing of any type of digital media - be it photos, HD video, audio, PC games, web pages or PowerPoint slides onto any type of large screen. This is achieved without navigating complex interfaces or trying to overcome file format issues. Subsequent products build upon the DisplayShare™ platform and address sizeable opportunities for a multi-user education product and a TV receiver (cable, satellite, digital converter box) solution.

Contact: Richard Biggs: Phone: 678 231 9195

Ninkasi Inc. –http://www.vinemasters.com/
Ninkasi Inc. is a Digital Media Advertising company with one product currently in development. VineMasters™ is an interactive, consumer driven, food and wine pairing kiosk for the wine departments of grocery stores. In conjunction with the food and wine pairing software, the kiosks will also serve as digital media screens for co-op advertising.

Contact: Marty Fouts, President and CEO; Phone: 503-349-0363

Community is coming soon to OEN's website

sarenar — Thu, 02 Oct 2008 23:39:37 GMT

OEN is getting ready to do a beta of the online community and wants your help. We would like to have you help us test it and contribute content to it. In general we want your help to get the conversation started. If you are interested in finding out more or getting involved, please contact Sarena Regazzoni sarenar@oen.org or call 503-222-2270.

Oregon Entrepreneurs Network Names Winners at the 15th Annual OEN Tom Holce Awards for Entrepreneurship

sarenar — Fri, 19 Sep 2008 04:00:38 GMT

Doug Fieldhouse of Vesta, ClearEdge Power, ID Experts, nLIGHT and BRING Recycling Are Selected as this Year’s Award Winners

Sept. 18, 2008, Portland, Ore. — The Oregon Entrepreneurs Network (OEN) announced the winners of the 2008 OEN Tom Holce Awards for Entrepreneurship during its 15^th annual awards ceremony on September 18, 2008. The ceremony, held at the Oregon Convention Center, honored finalists in four categories: Entrepreneurship Award for Individual Achievement; Development Stage Company of the year; Working capital Stage Company of the year; and the Growth Stage Company of the year.

Doug Fieldhouse of Vesta received the 2008 Entrepreneurship Award for Individual Achievement. “Doug exemplifies the entrepreneurial spirit that we celebrate with these awards,” said Bob Sternberg, judging chair for this year’s awards. “He thinks big and looks for ways to make a tremendous impact, and he has the ability to execute on those ideas in ways that scale up effectively. His success with Vesta is just one example of his ability to change and jump into new opportunities and persistently grow the business over time.” In addition, he has a long history of mentoring and coaching young entrepreneurs.

In the Development category, ClearEdge Power of Portland, Oregon is this year’s winner. ClearEdge Power is a pioneer and provider of ultra-clean and efficient on-site energy generation systems. They have a substantial market opportunity and are professionally managed, well funded and are making substantial progress with product development and early adoption customers.

ID Experts of Beaverton is the winner in the Working Capital Category. ID Experts provides identity theft protection services for individuals, corporations and the public sector. They have successfully adapted to the changing needs of the market when required. Their painstaking and labor intensive process to restore customers’ identities will make it difficult for other companies to compete successfully against them in this marketplace. Due to these efforts, they have a 100 percent success rate restoring identities.

The winner of the Growth Category is nLIGHT Corporationof Vancouver, Washington.

nLIGHTdevelops and manufactures photonics modules for industrial, defense, and medical applications. The company had the vision to intelligently re-invent itself in the early stages of the collapse of the telecom bubble and the temerity to implement that new strategy under extremely difficult circumstances. It applied its skills and ingenuity in the marketplace to create, shepherd and grow a novel mentoring program (MAPS—Mentoring for Advanced Program for Students) that is having a real impact on local education and the future of this community.

BRING Recycling is this year’s winner of the Non-profit Award. BRING Recycling collects and resells low-cost used building materials as well as provides deconstruction and recycling services. Revenues generated fund conservation and education programs about the best way to reuse and recycle. BRING Recycling was selected for its organizational and entrepreneurial strengths overall, and how the organization was able to change course to meet changing demands in the community. BRING Recycling received a $5,000 award from the Meyer Memorial Trust at the Awards Ceremony.

“The recipients of this year’s awards have been successful because of their determination, independent thinking, and their ability to change direction and chart their own course.” said Linda Weston, executive director and president of OEN. “From clean power to identity protection, these Oregon and Southwest Washington companies are making innovative contributions that make a difference in our communities and beyond.”

The winners were chosen from 14 finalists by the OEN award judging committee, chaired by Bob Sternberg. Companies from throughout Oregon and Southwest Washington were nominated for the Awards, and were narrowed to the 14 finalists after hundreds of hours of due diligence, including site visits and face-to-face interviews. A comprehensive list of winners and finalists follows this release.

List of Nominees and winners

Individual Category

Doug Fieldhouse, Vesta- Winner

Ray King, AboutUs.org

Susan Sokol Blosser, Sokol Blosser

Working Capital Category

ID Experts- Winner

Beaverton, OR

Pop Art, Inc.

Portland, Oregon

PV Powered

Bend, Oregon

Growth Category

nLIGHT Corporation- Winner

Vancouver, WA

HemCon Medical Technologies, Inc.

Portland, Oregon

Timbercon

Lake Oswego, WA

Development Category

ClearEdge Power- Winner

Portland, Oregon

AboutUs, Inc.

Portland, Oregon

Jama Software

Portland, Oregon

Plas2Fuel Corporation

Chris Ulum

Kelso, WA

About OEN

For more information, press only:

Jessica Foote

OnPR

503-802-4406

jessicaf@onpr.com

###

Start(it)up and Be the Leader of the Pack…. Zzzoom!

sarenar — Fri, 22 Aug 2008 20:20:37 GMT

Ready to Ride at the15th Annual OEN Tom Holce Awards for Entrepreneurship

Thursday, September 18, 2008, 5 PM - Oregon Convention Center - Portland Ballroom

OEN is raffling off a custom Triumph Speedmaster motorcycle as part of a fundraiser to support the organization’s programs and services. OEN supports the entrepreneurial community via mentoring, education and networking activities that foster business growth and employment opportunities in Oregon.

The Bike

Check out photos of the finished bike. The custom Speedmaster sports 865 CCs worth of power to blaze new trails whether you’re tearing up the Gorge or zooming around town. The bike was customized by Chuck Lange at Pat Clark Motorsports Pat Clark Motorsports and is a signed work of art by world-renowned pin striper Bob Spina.

How to Win

The drawing to win the bike will be held at the OEN Tom Holce Awards for Entrepreneurship at 7:30 pm on September 18, 2008 at the Oregon Convention Center. Winners need not be present to win. There are 500 tickets available; price for each ticket is $100. Retail market value is $16,000. Tickets will be sold at the event. Call the OEN office for more information at 503-222-2270.

Attend the event

We’re busting loose with the special 15th anniversary OEN Tom Holce Awards for Entrepreneurship dinner. Be there when we honor the best of Oregon’s rule-breaking, adventure-addicted entrepreneurs with a 15th anniversary blow-out.
Prices of the event are $195/ticket and $1950/table. No refunds after August 15, 2008.

http://www.memberservicecenter.org/irmweb/wc.dll/orporntw?id=orporntw&doc=events /event&kn=9

OEN Customized Triumph Speedmaster Photos

sarenar — Fri, 22 Aug 2008 20:11:03 GMT

OEN is raffling off a custom Triumph Speedmaster motorcycle as part of a fundraiser to support the organization’s programs and services. The custom Speedmaster sports 865 CCs worth of power to blaze new trails whether you’re tearing up the Gorge or zooming around town. The bike was customized by Chuck Lange at Pat Clark Motorsports Pat Clark Motorsports and is a signed work of art by world-renowned pin striper Bob Spina. See the photos below:

The OEN Customized 2008 Triumph Speedmaster

OEN customized 2008 Triumph Speedmaster from the rear view.

OEN customized 2008 Triumph Speedmaster: Front fender view.

OEN customized 2008 Triumph Speedmaster signed by legendary pin striper Bob Spina.

OEN customized 2008 Triumph Speedmaster on the showroom floor. Think you might be in love? Call the OEN for details about how to purchase a ticket to win this sweet ride 503-222-2270. Drawing to win bike will be held at the OEN Tom Holce Awards for Entrepreneurship at 7:30pm on September 18, 2008 at the Oregon Convention Center. Winners need not be present to win. There are 500 tickets available; price for each ticket is $100. Retail market value is $16,000.

Mark your calendars for Wednesday, August 13th. - Oregon's Green Advantage

sarenar — Fri, 08 Aug 2008 23:33:51 GMT

+Logo by Morange Design+

Oregon's Green Advantage11:00 AM - Aug. 13thThe Governor Hotel - Downtown PortlandRegister today!

"Sustainability" and "being green" aren’t just overused buzzwords of today, they are buzzwords that describe how we will be doing business for the future. There are real business opportunities for Oregon’s entrepreneurs and investors to capitalize on.

Oregon’s Green Advantage gives you the opportunity to meet industry experts and learn what sustainability really is. Entrepreneurs and investors will learn where the new business opportunities are today and find out where the trends are headed for a sustainable future.

Following the event, network with Oregon Entrepreneurs at our special PubTalk where you will meet companies that are leveraging Oregon's Green Advantage.

“Rogues and Renegades” (aka entrepreneurs) for the 15th Annual OEN Tom Holce Awards for Entrepreneurial Achievement

sarenar — Fri, 27 Jun 2008 21:16:48 GMT

The Oregon Entrepreneurs Network has selected thirteen “Rogues and Renegades” (aka entrepreneurs) for the 15^th Annual OEN Tom Holce Awards for Entrepreneurial Achievement. Finalists and award winners will be recognized during the event at the Oregon Convention Center on September 18, 2008.

This year’s event theme “Rogues and Renegades” honors the independent spirit of Oregon’s entrepreneurs.

Congratulations to the ten companies and three individuals selected as the finalists for the following categories for the 15^th Annual OEN Tom Holce Awards for Entrepreneurial Achievement!

Development Category

AboutUs, Inc.

Portland, Oregon

CEO: Ray King

AboutUs–Discover, Research and Discuss the Web. AboutUs is a customizable directory of the web that you can participate in. AboutUs offers searchers current and comprehensive website data. Base records are generated algorithmically, wiki and social media technology empowers users to improve it, and a semantic overlay will drive significantly deeper meaning into the raw content. Because AboutUs describes all websites, its potential market is very large. Display advertising and lead generation are anticipated to be our primary sources of revenue. Overall Internet advertising in 2007 was a $21 billion industry which is growing by 26% a year.

ClearEdge Power

Portland, Oregon

CEO: Jon Slangerup

ClearEdge Power is a pioneer and leading provider of ultra-clean and efficient on-site energy generation systems. We manufacture and market the highly efficient CE5, a compact power and heat energy system for use in residential and small commercial buildings. Our corporate headquarters are located in Hillsboro, Oregon with sales offices in northern and southern California. Today, we are positioned at the center of clean energy technology innovation and market adoption and possess extensive knowledge of fuel cells, fuel processing and system integration. We employ a core team of engineers, scientists and veteran business executives who bring world-class experience and expertise to address growing energy demands with new clean technology solutions.

Jama Software

Portland, Oregon

CEO: Eric Winquist

Jama Software helps customers transform raw ideas into innovative products. Self-funded by an entrepreneurial team, Jama has created a simple and elegant application called Contour that delights customers and challenges larger vendors as the innovative newcomer within a $9 billion market. We will grow to over 100 customers this year. Culturally, we strive to build a successful business that makes a positive impact. We tie our marketing to charitable causes, 40% of our staff bikes to work and half of our leadership staff has had a baby in the past six months.

Plas2Fuel Corporation

Chris Ulum

Kelso, WA

Plas2Fuel Corporation is a clean technology company that has developed a unique, patent-pending system which recycles mixed waste plastic into sweet, synthetic crude oil. The company provides a full set of services, including turn-key operations, for clients in the industrial and municipal plastic recycling markets. Plas2Fuel’s total available market, just in the United States, is over 100 billion pounds of plastic, which yields over 250 million barrels of oil per year using our system. The company’s technology addresses a vexing environmental problem while creating clean, sustainable, local energy at extremely attractive profit margins.

Growth Category

Hemcon Medical Technologies, Inc.

Portland, Oregon

John W. Morgan

HemCon Medical Technologies, Inc. is a manufacturer of unique, premium medical devices that leverage both proprietary technology and a demonstrated skill set in research and development. The company’s to-date success is focused in the commercialization of chitosan-based products. With large scale manufacturing capabilities and a deep knowledge base in the complex area of lyophilization, HemCon will continue to rigorously deliver products into qualified markets where the company can offer significant, demonstrable improvements to the current standard of care.

nLight Corporation

Vancouver, WA

Scott Keeney

nLIGHT is a privately held company established in 2000 that develops and manufactures photonics modules for industrial, defense, and medical applications. With state-of-the-art manufacturing in over 100,000 sq. ft. of facilities in Vancouver, WA, Hillsboro, OR, Lohja, Finland and Shanghai, China, nLIGHT is a leader in key growth markets in photonics. nLIGHT has grown an average of 70% per year for the past five years and has been named the fastest growing technology company in the Pacific Northwest in Deloitte and Touche’s Rising Star category in 2005, 2006 and 2007, three years in a row.

Timbercon

Lake Oswego, OR

Eric Weslow

Timbercon, Inc. is a fiber optic products manufacturing company providing an array of connectivity solutions to the telecommunications, networking, data storage, military, medical, industrial and broadcast industries. Product lines include: pre-terminated cable assemblies, high density interconnects, ruggedized loopbacks, distribution cables, fiber management modules, coupler/splitters and polarization maintaining assemblies. In addition to optical test products, standard fiber optic patch cords and attenuated test cables, Timbercon has pioneered multiple new proprietary products, many of which are now considered to be an industry benchmark.

Working Capital Category

ID Experts

Beaverton, OR

John Davidson

ID Experts provides identity theft protection services for individuals, corporations and the public sector. Unlike other identity theft protection service providers that rely solely on credit monitoring, ID Experts takes a uniquely personal approach to identity protection—whether it’s a single individual or family, or up to the largest corporations, government agencies and universities, ID Experts ensures each and every individual receives protection and recovery assistance. Today, ID Experts protects more than 3 million individuals nationwide from identity theft. These customers benefit from ID Experts’ team of experienced identity recovery advocates who have a 100 percent success rate in restoring victims’ identities to pre-theft status.

Pop Art, Inc.

Portland, Oregon

Steve Rosenbaum

Pop Art is a full-service interactive solutions agency. We help companies use the online world to tell their brand story and to engage their customers. Our customers are some of the world's leading companies; these are companies who have the desire to use the web as a competitive advantage — not only as a marketing channel, but also as an operations platform and social network.

PV Powered

Bend, Oregon

Gregg Patterson

Founded in 2003 and headquartered in Bend, Oregon, PV Powered is a remarkable Oregon success story. The company has brought more than 20 UL listed solar power electronics products to market and installed more than 8,000 residential systems across the US. In the last 16 months under the leadership of a new CEO and senior management team, the company has doubled the employee base to more than 55, secured further investments from a loyal group of angel investors, created a compelling and highly disruptive business plan and is preparing to move from the current 13,500 square foot facility to over 100,000 square feet. The company is poised to close its first institutional round, targeting $15M of growth capital to enter the rapidly growing commercial solar market.

Individual Category

Ray King, AboutUs.org

Susan Sokol Blosser, Sokol Blosser

Doug Fieldhouse, Vesta

Meet. Greet. Repeat at the OEN Swapmeet!

sarenar — Tue, 24 Jun 2008 03:46:17 GMT

Come this Thursday, June 26 to Someday Lounge in Portland, OR at 5pm for the OEN Swapmeet. It is a great opportunity to network with entrepreneurs and other professionals that can help businesses grow!