Meyer Memorial Trust has awarded the Oregon Entrepreneurs Network (OEN) a grant, but it’s a matching funds grant. That means OEN’s money is contingent on one small thing: their ability to raise $50,000 by June 30.
If you’re a startup in the Portland area, you’ve probably come into contact with the Oregon Entrepreneurs Network (OEN). And if you haven’t, you should. The OEN is a non-profit organization focused on helping your startup make it through the initial phases of building a business. From helping first-time entrepreneurs learn the ropes to giving startups the opportunity to practice their pitches to helping seasoned entrepreneurs find funding through events like Angel Oregon, the OEN uses its available resources to ensure that Oregon has a healthy entrepreneurial scene.
But all of that could be in jeopardy if we don’t act quickly. Read More
So, there are you are. Sitting there banging away on some code. Or working out your strategy for how you’re going to move that side project along just a little bit more. Or just trying to tweak that one blog post a little more.
And everyone’s bitching about the economy. Or how this is a bad time to do anything “risky.” Or about the time you’re wasting. Or how you should be doing something else.
But you know this is the right thing to do. And you know what? You’re right. And you will get there.Read More
My favorite thing about entrepreneurs? They’re scrappy.
So today, it came as a pleasant surprise that—even in light of the not-so-hot economic environment—our plucky local organization of entrepreneurs, the Oregon Entrepreneur Network (OEN), has chosen to unveil the presenters for the upcoming Venture Northwest 2008.
“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”
Not only that, but I’m happy to report that there are some Web startups—and at least one open-source-focused company—on the list.
And four out of 14 isn’t bad.
So which of the Silicon Florist crowd got a nod to present?
OEN’s Venture Northwest is the premier forum for new and emerging investment opportunities in exciting companies from Oregon, Washington, and throughout the Pacific Northwest. This annual conference draws institutional investors and investment bankers from across the western US who are interested in the emerging companies that the Northwest has to offer. Companies that have presented at Venture Oregon have raised over $1.3 billion in venture capital since 1996 and over $68 million in angel investment.
Founded You Software, a Portland company that adds features and functionality to the software you already use.
Spun Attensa out of You Software, creating a company focused on building an attention-based RSS management system that garnered $12 million in venture backing. (For more information, I recommend reading Marshall Kirkpatrick’s write-up on Attensa, back when he use to write for a little blog called TechCrunch.)
Now, Barnes has founded another startup. And much like the other companies he’s founded, it’s designed to help you deal with a glut of information by making the products you already use better.
But this time, it’s all about the Web.
Designed for bloggers, Panels uses a small panel to provide additional information about companies that are being covered, much in the vein of services like Snap’s Snap Shots:
Panels appear for any company or organization ranging from the biggest public companies such as Apple, Ford, AT&T, or WalMart to up and coming startups such as WebDiet (launched at the Demo Fall 08 technology conference this week) and Yammer (launched at TechCrunch50 this week and chosen as winner!) By the time we go live there will be millions of entities in the system with improvements and features appearing almost daily.
But to me, the most interesting thing about Panels is the depth of content that it provides.
Unlike traditional “additional information” popup services, Panels provides a multi-tab view of information, including:
“About” – Basic company and contact info, URL, logo, and summary [including details from Portland-based company-information wiki AboutUs]
“Site” – A full preview of the home page, stats, tags and other goodies about the actual web site/blog
“Map” – Beginning with Google Maps, and others to follow, a place for geographic data
“News” – Headlines, Blog posts, News, Press Releases and more from a variety of sources
“Jobs” – Employment listings across numerous providers such as monster and simplyhired
“Financial” – If a public company, real-time info and quotes appear in several sub-categories
So why use Panels? Primarily, to provide a much richer set of information on the companies to which you’re linking—while keeping people on your site.
Basically, you’re eliminating the blind clicks that tend to draw the attention-deficient Web surfers away from what you’re trying to convey.
Also interesting? The inspiration behind the development?
Panels were inspired by the nutritional panels found on food that are mandated by the federal government. Like nutritional panels, our panels have a standard text-centric user interface that delivers consistent, predictable, detailed, real-time information from a variety of data sources across several categories.
Now, if I could only tell if the link was going to be nutritional or just so much Web junk food.
Panels is currently in closed beta. For more information or to see Panels in action, see Craig’s post introducing Panels. Or to request a beta account, visit Panels.
Are you the founder of a startup? Beer and Blog not exactly your speed?
No worries, gentle reader. We have a Friday afternoon activity for you, too.
Steve Morris out at OTBC is bringing back Founders’ Friday, a networking event for entrepreneurs that focuses on those folks who have had the opportunity to found their own startup.
The event is held at the OTBC offices in Beaverton, located just off Sunset Highway and NW 158th. Plan to arrive around 4:30. A $3 donation is requested to cover food and drink expenses.
Beaverton-based OTBC provides incubation services and entrepreneurship programs to help high-tech and biotech start-up ventures succeed. They can help you validate your market, develop your business plan, and help you understand what steps are required to get your company investor-ready.
