The third annual Beaverton Startup Challenge is now accepting applications from startups interested in taking their business to the next level. The challenge was first launched in 2016 by the City of Beaverton, the West Side Startup Fund and the Oregon Technology Business Center (OTBC). In 2018, five winning startups will be headquartered in OTBC and receive $20,000 or more along with incubation services and regular meetings with investors.
“We’ve seen great success from our two Beaverton Startup Challenge classes,” said Mayor Denny Doyle. “In just a year and a half, challenge winners have raised more than $1.5 million in additional funding. This is a great opportunity for startups in our area.”
For-profit, early-stage growth businesses with the ambition and potential to scale into national and international markets are encouraged to apply. Applicants must have a two to five member team with at least one team member working on the startup full-time. Applicants may be self-funded, grant-funded, and/or have investor funding of up to $250,000. Five startups will win:
- $20,000 or more cash convertible-note investment
- Regular meetings with active investors
- Discounted legal and accounting services
- HR and marketing assistance
- OTBC’s top-rated coaching and mentoring services
- OTBC entrepreneur workshops, and more
Past winners range from apparel, mobile technology, to digital health and drone technology.
To learn more and apply, visit www.otbc.org/BeavertonChallenge. Applications are due Monday, Oct. 1. Finalists will be selected Dec. 5. If you have questions, contact Steve Morris at smorris@otbc.org.
ABOUT OTBC
The Oregon Technology Business Center (OTBC) is a nonprofit startup incubator that helps entrepreneurs start and grow companies. OTBC provides coaching, networking events, entrepreneurship programs with shared office space in Beaverton, and "virtual incubation" programs (workshops and mentoring) delivered using interactive video to help entrepreneurs throughout Oregon. In 10 years, OTBC has helped hundreds of entrepreneurs, and OTBC companies have raised more than $60 million in funding and created more than 200 family-wage jobs. For more information, visit www.otbc.org.
The city of Beaverton is home to more than 95,000 residents and is Oregon’s sixth largest city. We are a friendly, active, and responsible city well-known for our exceptional community services and amenities, helping Beaverton residents enjoy a high quality of life. Ranked in the top ten of Money magazine’s 50 Best Small Cities in America for 2016, Beaverton truly is “The Best of Oregon.”