We all know that finding small office space in Bend is like finding a magical unicorn in your backyard or a parking space downtown during the summer. It’s a challenge. So here’s some good news on the office space front: Real Time Research is subletting a small office in its building, which is directly across from BendTECH and the 1001 Tech Center (and Thump, where I spend all my money).
I’ve been wanting to learn more about Kevin Hoffman’s startup, Vector Remote Care, since he moved into BendTECH a few months ago, and I recently had the chance. As it turns out, Kevin comes to Oregon from Los Angeles, and brought his company with him. Even better: He actually started his company so that could move here—but more on that in a minute.
Ignite TAO: Bend, a high-energy evening of 5-minute tech-related talks by locals, is currently accepting proposals from speakers. The event, scheduled for Thursday, August 17 from 5:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m., will feature fun presentations on all things tech-related, including new products, services, research or just generally interesting ideas.
Remember when we reported that new Bend startup Tribe Pilot had been selected as one of three early stage companies to pitch at the OUTFOUND festival in Hood River last weekend? They won. Matt Smith, the company’s founder, snagged the popular vote for his early-stage startup, a social app that helps plan group adventures.
Founder Zilaida Salgueiro first publicly pitched her startup idea, an online marketplace for personalized travel itineraries, at the unConference last October. That event was at The Capitol in downtown Bend, and Zilaida was back at the same place last night, hosting a launch party for her company, Locals Compass. What can we say? She moves fast.
As a long-time vegan, Ericka Rodriguez wasn’t pleased with her makeup options, especially when it came to lipstick. “There was no brand out there that represented what I wanted,” she says. “Nothing that was vegan was also hip or luxe and every time I put on a vegan, organic lipstick I didn’t get the result I wanted.”
You know what’s nice? Not having to leave town for great, informative, industry-related events. And it seems like there’s more of them here everyday. One of the most recent postings to the StartupBend events calendar — a Tech Talent Development Summit — is something that every local tech professional should check out.
Last week FoundersPad announced the formation of its new fund. This week that fund announced its first investment in ZeroTransform, a Bend-based virtual reality gaming startup. To quote our good friend Ferris Bueller, life moves pretty fast.