---
title: 'Which early stage startups are pitching to get the chance to pitch at Bend Venture Conference…?'
date: '2026-09-15T09:29:12-07:00'
type: post
word_count: 514
char_count: 3654
tokens: 669
categories:
  - Portland
---

# Which early stage startups are pitching to get the chance to pitch at Bend Venture Conference…?

I’m glad you asked. Because I can actually answer that question. You see, [Bend Venture Conference just announced the early stage candidates for BVC 2026](https://www.bendvc.com/news/bend-venture-conference-announces-2026-early-stage-semifinalists). But don’t get to celebrating just yet. They still have one more hurdle before they can take the main stage.

> The 10 Early Stage semifinalists will take the stage at the September 24, 2026, Central Oregon PubTalk: Road to BVC, held at Worthy Brewing’s outdoor Drink Up, Dream On stage in Bend. Each company will deliver a three-minute pitch to a live audience and panel of judges, with both playing a role in determining which companies advance to the main stage at the Bend Venture Conference in October. The audience will also select one Early Stage company to receive a $5,000 cash award, courtesy of Washington Trust Bank.

So who is competing…? It’s a very Bend heavy crew:

- [Closeoutdoor](https://www.closeoutdoor.com/) (Bend, OR) – Revolutionizing the way that brands deal with excess inventory.
- [Core Defender AI](https://coredefender.ai/) (Hillsboro, OR) – Empowering the Future with AIR (AI & Robotics).
- [Ebb Health, Inc.](https://ebbhealth.com/) (Portland, OR) – Developing a platform for durable relief of neuropathic pain.
- [EYEONIZE](https://www.eyeonize.com/) (Bend, OR) – Energize Your Eyes!
- [Hungry Hound](https://www.gethungryhound.com/) (Bend, OR) – A fresh, human-grade dog food subscription that wins the $41B market on trust, using community-led acquisition to scale from Oregon to national.
- [Lateral Systems](https://lateral.systems/) (Lake Oswego, OR) – Automated monitoring platform for commercial indoor farms watches out for what can go wrong 24/7 to reduce waste and improve farm efficiencies.
- [Quilld](https://quilld.ai/) (Bend, OR) – A strategy engine that builds undeniably distinct brands, giving founders the clarity to guide every AI tool and business decision.
- [Regen8](https://regen8.ai/) (Bend, OR) – Redesigns how companies work, then builds the systems that help them remember, coordinate, decide, and improve.
- [V4 Final, Inc.](https://www.v4final.com/) (Bend, OR) – AI for law firm clients that don’t want to give up their lawyer’s judgment.
- [VeriBuy](https://getveribuy.com/) (Bend, OR) – Turns a dealer’s phone walk-around into a defensible trade-in offer: an objective condition grade, a fair price and a report the seller can see.

For more information or to RSVP, visit “[Bend Venture Conference Announces 2026 Early Stage Semifinalists](https://www.bendvc.com/news/bend-venture-conference-announces-2026-early-stage-semifinalists).”


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