Contact: Caroline Cummings, Oregon RAIN Executive Director, [email protected], 541-968-2982 (cell)

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

May 7, 2019

Come Celebrate the Coast’s Rising Startup Companies

Oregon RAIN’s Annual Coastal Startup Showcase to be held in Newport on May 22, all welcome/no fee

Newport, Oregon – May 7, 2019 – Oregon Regional Accelerator & Innovation Network (Oregon RAIN) is celebrating its second annual Coastal Startup Showcase on May 22 from 5:30 PM – 8:30 PM at Rogue Ales & Spirits in Newport. The Coastal Startup Showcase is a celebration of entrepreneurs from Oregon’s Mid-Coast region who are launching and growing their startups.  

At the Coastal Startup Showcase, entrepreneurs from Lincoln City to Florence will pitch their startups to the community, talk about the support and coaching Oregon RAIN and the SBDC (and others) have given to them, and let everyone know “what’s next” for them. Attendees will be able to visit each startup’s display table to learn more about their products and services and even make purchases.

Several organizations have provided funding to support Oregon RAIN’s roll-out of their Rural Entrepreneurial Development Model on Oregon’s Mid-Coast since 2016: City of Florence, City of Toledo, City of Newport, Lincoln City, Lane County, Lincoln County, the U.S. Department of Agriculture, the State of Oregon, The Ford Family Foundation, the Oregon Community Foundation, and several private corporations.

“It takes a community to raise an entrepreneur,” said Caroline Cummings, Oregon RAIN’s Executive Director. “To succeed, entrepreneurs need countless influences and supporters along the way. We’ve been told by many coastal entrepreneurs that we’ve given them permission to think big and to take the leap into entrepreneurship, and that’s a beautiful thing to help catalyze.”

The Coastal Startup Showcase is the culminating event for 12 startups that participated in entrepreneurial education programs led by Oregon RAIN and the Oregon Coast Community College’s Small Business Development Center (SBDC). These startups are focusing on various industries: technology, food and beverage, consumer products, sustainability, and service-based.

  1. Adair Technology (Ron Andrews), Newport
  2. Andre Casey Designs (Andre Casey), Newport
  3. BC Orchards (Carol Nolte), Siletz
  4. Dragon Arts Studio (Kassy Keppol), Florence
  5. Elk City Coffee (Jim Salisbury), Elk City
  6. Florence MakerSpace (Patrick Looney), Florence
  7. Great Life by Lucinda (Lucinda Whitacre), Depoe Bay
  8. NatureSavvy (Patricia Immel & Sarah Butte), Florence
  9. New Products Engineering (Maria Love’ll), Florence
  10. Precious Plastics (Ivy Meadow), Florence
  11. PureOrganicEnergy (Levi Tompkins), Florence
  12. Trezur Bags (Riley Hoagland), Lincoln City

“The coastal entrepreneurs who are featured in this Coastal Startup Showcase have been extremely busy these last several months honing their ideas, building their products, testing their markets, and determining how much funding they need to launch and/or scale their ventures on Oregon’s beautiful Mid-Coast,” said Ariel Ruben, Oregon RAIN’s newest Rural Venture Catalyst. “So, it’s motivating for them to see people from their community show up, celebrate their successes, and cheer them on.”

Other Event Features:

An Expo: Coastal startups will also be showcasing their products and services at the event, so this is a great opportunity to “shop local!” Show your support of these risk-takers working hard to build the coastal economy. 

A Panel: The event will include a panel, “The Role of Entrepreneurship & Innovation on the Coastal Economy,” that will feature leaders from the region’s entrepreneurial ecosystem: Hatfield Marine Science Center, the Small Business Development Center, the Economic Development Alliance of Lincoln County, Pacific Seafood, and a local food entrepreneur.

What: Oregon RAIN’s 2nd Annual Coastal Startup Showcase (Food + Beverages Provided)

When: Wednesday, May 22, 2019. Doors open at 5:30 PM. Program kicks off at 6:00 PM

Where: Rogue Ales & Spirits, 2320 OSU Drive (Newport)

Cost: Free, but registration is required

How: Register Here

Sponsors:

Title Sponsor: First Interstate Bank

Event Sponsor: Economic Development Alliance of Lincoln County

Thank you to community partners and funders:

Lincoln County, Lane County, The City of Florence, The Ford Family Foundation, Oregon Community Foundation, Greater Newport Area Chamber of Commerce, Lincoln County Chamber of Commerce, Hatfield Marine Science Center, Oregon Pacific Bank, Pacific Northwest News, the Small Business Development Center (SBDC) at Oregon Coast Community College, the SBDC at Lane Community College, and Business Oregon.

About Oregon RAIN

Oregon RAIN is a 501(c)3 non-profit organization that builds entrepreneurial ecosystems and innovation economies in rural communities by helping entrepreneurs turn their ideas into companies that generate jobs, wealth, and opportunities in Oregon. Run by experienced entrepreneurs and angel investors, Oregon RAIN connects overlooked entrepreneurs to people (mentors & talent), programs (workshops & accelerators), physical assets (space & equipment), and capital (loans, grants, & equity). Oregon RAIN applies an investigative—not prescriptive—approach, developing community-informed strategies and programming. As part of the entrepreneurial ecosystem, Oregon RAIN partners with cities, counties, the state, the federal government, foundations, and private funders. To learn more, visit www.oregonrain.org.

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