After the dust the settled from all the big checks flying around the Bend Venture Conference, I found myself thinking that it seems like quite a few Bend startups raised money this year. So I cracked a beer and made a spreadsheet (because I know how to party).

As it turns out, Bend startups have pulled in more than $21 million $19 million in 2016. There are more announcements to come before year’s end. Now granted more than half of this figure is from Kollective’s Series C, which was $12.25 million. However, the rest was seed and Series A funding for Central Oregon’s latest batch of promising startups.

CushCore founders on stage at BVC. The pair received $18,000 in funding this fall.

First a few caveats: This is not an exhaustive list. Instead it’s the funding that was publicly announced this year so far, cross checked with Crunchbase data. There are probably some companies I’ve missed — and perhaps some in this list have gone on to raise more.

Still it’s a pretty solid representation of what’s happening here. As startup founders know, getting funded is just the start of a lot more hard work. But these dollars make a not only real difference in how fast these companies can build and grow, they’re often put to work in Bend from fueling new hires and paying for office space to supporting other professional services.

Startup

Money raised 2016

Sources
Kollective $12,250,000 Series C, multiple VCs
OnBoard Dynamics $3,000,000 ARPA-E, Portland Seed Fund, NW Natural, utilities and investors
KrowdFit $2,450,000 Led by Ryan Finley, Survey Monkey founder
Cairn $2,000,000 Multiple sources
ZeroTransform $500,000* *Aiming to close end of November, per The Bulletin. Cascade Angels has invested an undisclosed amount.
Droplr $400,000 Seed from Cascade Angels, Seven Peaks, etc.
Hueya $260,000 Undisclosed sources
Cascade Wellness Technologies $100,000 Oregon Best via BVC
SnoPlanks $100,000 Venture Out
CushCore $18,000 BVC Early Stage, Venture Out Festival
Amplion Not available Cascade Angels
TOTAL $21,328,000
Kelly Kearsley

Kelly Kearsley

Kelly Kearsley, the co-founder of StartupBend.com, is passionate about startups, entrepreneurship and Bend. In addition to writing this blog, she creates content and manages content projects for global financial companies, tech firms and startups. She began her career as a newspaper journalist and later worked as a freelance writer. Her work has appeared in WSJ.com, Money Magazine, CNNMoney, MSNBC and Runner's World. See her work at kellykearsley.contently.com or kellykearsley.com.

You can reach Kelly by email at [email protected].
Kelly Kearsley

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