Last week, Bend Venture Conference revealed its growth stage finalists. Not the folks guaranteed to take the stage in October, but a superset of potential candidates. Now, they’re doing the same thing for the early stage competition.
The 10 Early Stage semifinalists will face off at the September 25, 2025, Central Oregon PubTalk: Road to BVC, held at the outdoor Drink Up, Dream On stage at Worthy Brewing in Bend. At this high-energy event, each company will deliver a three-minute pitch to a live audience and a panel of judges, who will decide which companies move on to the main stage at the Bend Venture Conference next month. The audience vote will also award one Early Stage company a $3,000 cash prize, courtesy of Washington Trust Bank.
So who is in the running…? Only one Portland company. But they’re all from Oregon.
- 360 Sierra (Bend, OR) – All-in-one platform for vehicle-rental operations—powered by an AI master operator.
- GlowWell (Bend, OR) – GlowPrep is the companion kit to your colonoscopy prescription laxative—making prep clear and comfortable while increasing compliance to save lives.
- Goal 300 (Bend, OR) – Goal 300 supercharges natural CO2 removal to fight climate change, targeting 1M tons annually by 2035, with strong returns in the booming carbon credit market.
- Luxefly Basecamp (Eugene, OR) – Freeze-dried, refined, curated camp food, from duck confit with white bean cassoulet to chile rellenos with burrata cheese, these are not just for camping.
- Neurosom (Eugene, OR) – Neurosom is advancing a clinically validated, personalized neuromodulation therapy to reduce dementia risk by enhancing deep and REM sleep.
- Overpotential (Eugene, OR) – Overpotential improves the flavor profile of beverages by removing negative flavors with electrochemistry.
- SokoLife (Eugene, OR) – SokoLife is revolutionizing cardiac care with innovative, non-toxic patches for congenital heart defect repair, reducing reinterventions and healthcare costs.
- Toast Wear Inc. (Bend, OR) – Cold is universal. Your gear is personal. Toast solves both with a personal thermostat for your jacket, making existing apparel your go-to for warmth.
- Topsail (Bend, OR) – Conversation-led sales in one click. Human-led, AI-assisted outreach leads to 2-4x productivity, more meetings and more revenue.
- Yak Incorporated (Portland, OR) – Yak is the all-in-one, automation and AI-powered platform that automates audits for accounting firms, cutting admin work in half and ending auditor burnout.
To grab a spot at the semifinal pitch competition, head over to Central Oregon Pubtalks. For more information on the main event, visit Bend Venture Conference.
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