Are you:
an inventor that needs help with your idea or invention?
an entrepreneur launching or growing your business?
a mentor, advisor, or consultant that wants to support businesses?
a student who is looking to create something new or find an internship opportunity?
an educator or economic development official looking to grow your impact?
Join our Community to Get Help or Give Back.
In August 2022, the Oregon Innovation Council awarded Central Oregon with an Innovation Hub Planning Grant to create a regional network of service providers and assist innovation-based companies.
As part of this project, we're growing an innovation hub to make it easier for innovators and entrepreneurs to connect and get the support they need.
For Innovators and Entrepreneurs
Join the network to discover:
upcoming networking events, mixers, and other fun ways to connect
educational workshops and online tools
mentors, free advisors, and mentorship programs that can help you.
funding opportunities
For Mentors, Advisors, and Consultants
Join the network to:
promote your upcoming events or workshops
easily connect with innovators and entrepreneurs
learn what others are doing
get access to shared resources like workbooks, discussions, and online tools
learn about new funding opportunities, online resources, or ways to help the entrepreneurs you advise
For Students
Join the network to:
learn about internship opportunities
connect with professional mentors
learn about innovation and entrepreneurship
find career-related workshops, clubs, and events
learn how you can create, fund, and launch a new product
For Those That Want to Grow the Economy and Build the Future of of Oregon.
Through this work, we will:
build stronger connections among our innovative community
identify the needs of innovators and entrepreneurs
find ways to help our innovators and entrepreneurs overcome obstacles
nurture ideas into new products or services
connect our innovators and entrepreneurs with funding opportunities
create high-wage jobs
drive economic growth and strengthen our state's economy.
Over 200 people have already joined the network.
Questions:
Do I need to live in Central Oregon to join?
Nope! We will be posting about resources to help innovators and entrepreneurs beyond our region.
Do I need to be an innovative entrepreneur? Is this just for tech?
Innovation goes beyond tech. Innovation is about taking a new idea and turning it into something that has an impact on the world. We welcome all who want to learn how to have a bigger impact: innovators, entrepreneurs, professionals, nonprofit founders, economic development officials, and more!
Hosts and Moderators
OSU-Cascades Innovation Co-Lab
Opportunity Knocks
Bend Chamber of Commerce
COCC Small Business Development Center (SBDC)
Central Oregon Intergovernmental Council (COIC)
EDCO
CEOx
Oregon State University Advantage Accelerator
Collective Pallet
Oregon RAIN
Oregon Bioscience Association
if you'd like to learn more about becoming a moderator, please email [email protected]