A Vancouver-based nut butter maker walked away with the Emerge Initiative Award at this year’s Oregon Angel Food event.
The award, which is a partnership between Oregon Entrepreneurs Network and the BFM Fund, was part of the annual food and beverage event organized by OEN. This year, the event was a marketplace of 50 vendors held in Salem.
In past years OEN has raised an investment fund as part of OregonAF and a vetted set of companies competed for investment. However, this year the fundraising aspect was paused, said Cara Turano, OEN executive director.
Companies who participated in the education aspect of OrgonAF will be invited to apply for equity investment next spring, she said. About 40 companies that participated in the marketplace also took part in eight weeks of education around growing a food and beverage business.
The education sessions were in partnership with SEDCOR and the group Xcelerate Women. Participants were able to meet peers, local investors and local retailers.
The Emerge Award winner was Nut-Tritious Foods. The 10-year-old company makes roasted nut butters blended with sunflower, flax, quinoa, hemp and chia seed. The award includes a $5,000 unrestricted grant. It’s part of an ongoing program between OEN and BFM to support early stage companies led by Black, Indigenous and people of color founders.
“This recognition validates the hard work and dedication of our team and makes it possible for Nut-Tritious Foods to continue delivering healthy and nutritious food choices to our community,” said Veronica Palazzo, owner of Nut-Tritious in a written statement.
This was the first year that OEN took the final OregonAF food and beverage marketplace on the road. The Salem event drew 250 people to meet with makers and try products.
“The food and beverage companies starting around the state are quite impressive,” said Turano in a written statement. “Selecting one winner for the Emerge Initiative is challenging as there are so many delicious and innovative concept stage companies. Congratulations to Veronica and the Nut-Tritious Foods team and thank you to The BFM Fund for the continued partnership on this program.”
In addition to OregonAF, OEN also hosts other angel investment conferences aimed at other sectors including Angel Oregon Life & Bioscience and Angel Oregon Tech.
