Applications are open for a program that's designed to help young companies.
The Beaverton Startup Challenge, selects five startups to receive $25,000 in cash and services and office space. The program is funded through the West Side Fund and the city of Beaverton. Since 2016 the challenge has invested in 35 companies and 75% are still in business, according to organizers.
Founders can apply online for the program.
The 2022 cohort included food and beverage, software and retail startups. Applicants should be beyond the "idea" phase of a startup and have already completed customer-need validation, according to organizers.
The program is part of the Oregon Startup Center, which until recently was known as the Oregon Technology Business Center. The name change better reflects the work the group does to incubate startups across industry verticals.
The Beaverton Startup Challenge has awarded $900,000 since it started. Those companies have gone on to raise more than $95 million from investors. The event's alum include identity authentication startup Cozera, children’s apparel maker GoumiKids, travel startup TrovaTrip and material startup Liquid Wire.
Ten to 12 semi-finalists will be selected by late October to pitch to the West Side Fund investors, who'll choose the five winners along with OSC. The overall winners will be selected by mid-November.
