Tickets are on sale for the big fall finale of Oregon Entrepreneurs Network’s food and beverage-based angel investment program.
Oregon Angel Food, or Oregon AF, is an educational and investment program that started earlier this summer with workshops for founders. It culminates Sept. 17 with an in-person marketplace and pitch finale. The finalists will pitch for angel investment that is expected to be around $200,000.
The investment committee is in the due diligence process and finalists will be announced Aug. 3, according to OEN.
The marketplace will likely feature around 50 companies sampling their products. OEN expects around 500 people to attend. The finale is at The Redd on Salmon event space in Southeast Portland.
“Oregon is known for food. Creativity in food and beverage is a core talent here, going back to Oregon’s roots as a farm-to-table innovator,” said OEN Executive Director Amanda Oborne in a written statement. “We see craft food and beverage as a rallying point for post-pandemic economic development in the state — it’s what we’re good at, and playing to our strengths matters more than ever in tough economic times.”
Events such as OregonAF, and its predecessor programming at OEN, that bring together makers, investors, retail buyers and consumers are important for the ecosystem. Entrepreneurs are able to share their stories and make industry connections to get products on store shelves or find resources to get to the next step. Plus, consumers get a chance to taste items and make their own buying decisions.
A newer element of this year’s program is a number of restaurants participating. As businesses pivoted during the onset of the Covid-19 pandemic and in-person dining was halted, several restaurants turned to making their own packaged products.
Italian restaurant Renata created a frozen version of its wood-fired pizza for grocers; Mexican restaurant Xico started bagging and selling its handmade chips; and ping pong bar and restaurant Pips and Bounce launched small-batch roaster Skaut Coffee. All three are participating in OregonAF.
The OregonAF investment vehicle consists of individual contributions between $5,000 to $10,000 from local angels. In the past those investment shave been matched by the Oregon Growth Fund.
Last year’s winner was Puffworks, a plant-based snack maker. The company received a $225,000 investment.
This is the fourth year for OregonAF and the first fully in-person event in two years. Last year, the final pitches were virtual but the marketplace was in person. In 2020, the entire event was virtual.
Jovani Prince, founder and CEO of gluten-free cracker maker Cracker King, will be the emcee this year. In 2020, his business received the Taster’s Champ Award, an audience choice award.
General tickets are $15 and limited Taster’s Tickets are $75. Doors open at 1 p.m. and finale pitching begins at 2 p.m. The event ends at 6 p.m.
