Nearly $300,000 Invested in Pacific Northwest Startups at Bend Venture Conference
Bend, OR – A total of $278,000 in investment was committed to six companies at the 2025 Bend Venture Conference, which concluded yesterday at the Tower Theatre in downtown Bend, Oregon.
Now in its 22nd year, the conference connects investors with early and growth-stage startups, driving funding and relationships that bolster Central Oregon’s economy. This year’s event saw ten finalists pitch their business models to hundreds of investors and business leaders. In addition to the direct investment, $25,700 was awarded in cash prizes to two Central Oregon-based companies. The influx of capital is expected to create new jobs and stimulate economic growth in the region.
Toast Wear Inc., a Bend-based company developing a personal thermostat for jackets, received a $25,000 cash award. Other companies securing investment included Yak Incorporated, an AI-powered platform automating audits for accounting firms, and SokoLife, revolutionizing cardiac care with non-toxic patches. Growth-stage companies like Rapta, focused on U.S. manufacturing efficiency, and Photon Marine, building an electric fleet, also received significant funding. “For more than two decades, the Bend Venture Conference has been a cornerstone of Central Oregon’s entrepreneurial ecosystem,” said Jon Stark, CEO of Economic Development for Central Oregon. “Each year, we see extraordinary innovation and dedication from the companies that take the stage.”
A $700 cash award was also presented to Levi Waters, a student from Caldera High School and founder of ClimbGrade, a platform standardizing climbing route grading. The Bend Venture Conference has facilitated over $14 million in investment into 59 companies since its inception, according to conference organizers.
EDCO officials noted that final investment amounts are subject to due diligence and agreement between companies and investors, and further deals are still being finalized.
