Any student of business history knows that all great companies have evolved, sometimes radically, from their initial ideas and products. With software businesses , especially web based services, the ability to evolve is much more rapid, and coupled with the availability of quantifiable user feedback.

What are some of the development methodologies that actually work in the real world? How do you tie product iteration to tangible revenue opportunities? What kind of feedback should you seek from your customers? How do you listen to what your disinterested consumers are not telling you? How have other people approached this problem, where have they failed, and how have they succeeded?

Join us for a moderated discussion on this topic and bring your questions and insights.

Speaker(s) Contact & Others

Event Host Dhananjay Keskar Panelist Kanth Gopalpur, CEO, Monsoon Works Milind Pandit, Director of Product Management, Iovation

An Open Source company landing $5million in venture funding from one of the nation's leading venture capital firms?

That's a story in itself. But when you realize it's a Portland firm - Puppet Labs, and that the investment was lead by Kleiner Perkins Caulfield, you will want to hear the story straight from the horse's mouth - CEO Luke Kanies of Puppet Labs, the makers of a leading open source data center automation and configuration management framework.

Joining him to talk about the opportunities and challenges of an open source start-up will be Stuart Cohen, CEO of CSI (Collaborative Software Initiative), a company that introduces a process for companies to collaboratively build software applications.

Open Source has typically been associated with altruism - software that is given away free and is open to modification by users. The concept became a household word when Portlander Linus Torvalds developed the Linux operating system. Now the list of Open Source and Free Software today includes cutting edge solutions to large scale problems in multiple domains. From languages to runtimes, cloud infrastructure to databases, the best solutions are open-sourced. Leading companies are building on top of open-source components, while giving back to the community. But open source is not just about being cost-effective,it is becoming the key to innovation.

How do open source start-ups thrive in this eco-system? Come and learn from the founders of two innovative start-ups!

Register Now: Limited capacity for this event! Event will be on the 19th Floor.

Registration and Cancellation Policy: Registration: Online Registration closes at 12:00 Noon of the day of the event. Cancellation: All Registration Fees are Non-Refundable and No Credit is offered for cancellations.

Speakers Stuart Cohen, CEO, Collaborative Software Initiative Luke Kanies, CEO, Puppet Labs

Contact & Others Lakshmi Jagannathan 503 226 8677 [email protected]

Program Details 02/24/2011 06:00 PM Registration/Networking/Reception 02/24/2011 07:00 PM Panel Discussion 02/24/2011 08:00 PM Q & A

Registration Fees Type Online Onsite Member USD15 USD20 Student USD15 USD20 Guest USD25 USD30

Please join us as we kick off the Fall Mentor Connect program at the TiE Pearl Incubator! Mingle and meet TiE mentors, hear a keynote from TiE Oregon President Nitin Rai, sign up for mentoring sessions on our new Fall schedule, and discuss startup and entrepreneurial issues over refreshments.

This mixer event is open to all TiE Members (free), as well as the public ($25).

Join TiE Oregon Pitch Club! First in a series of sessions where you can practice your pitching skills.

The TiE Oregon Pitch Club is designed as a supportive environment in which to try out your presentation - in front of a group of peers, including established entrepreneurs, and others just getting their start.

Bring your pitches, with or without slides (bring your laptop to plug into the A/V system), and walk away with valuable feedback and coaching.

Following the Pitch Club session we will offer drinks and refreshments at the TiE Pearl Incubator, while we discuss feedback and mingle.

The Pitch Club event is open to all TiE Members (free), as well as the public ($25).

Join TiE Pearl Pitch Club, a series of sessions where you can practice your pitching skills.

At the start of this session, TiE Charter Member Jeff Smith of NY investment banking firm Berkery Noyes & Co., will speak on the topic: How to add value to a business for a successful exit.

TiE Pearl Pitch Club is designed as a supportive environment in which to try out your presentation - in front of a group of peers, including established entrepreneurs, and others just getting their start. Bring your pitches, with or without slides (bring your laptop to plug into the A/V system), and walk away with valuable feedback and coaching.

Following the Pitch Club session we will offer drinks and refreshments at the TiE Pearl Incubator, while we discuss feedback and mingle.

"How to Pitch to an Angel or VC." Talk by Jim Huston, Managing Director, Portland Seed Fund and TiE Oregon Charter Member.

Attend TiE Pearl Pitch Club, a series of sessions where you can practice your pitching skills. Network with TiE members, mentors and other entrepreneurs. You are welcome to attend even if you don't plan to pitch.

TiE Pearl Pitch Club is designed as a supportive environment in which to try out your presentation - in front of a group of peers, including established entrepreneurs, and others just getting their start. Bring your pitches, with or without slides (bring your laptop to plug into the A/V system), and walk away with valuable feedback and coaching.

Following the Pitch Club session we will offer drinks and refreshments at the TiE Pearl Incubator, while we discuss feedback and mingle.

Practice at Pitch Club. Then compete at PitchFest.

Special edition of TiE Pearl Pitch Club. Come by to get information about, and practice for, the upcoming PitchFest event on December 10th.

Practice your pitch Ravi Sinha, experienced entrepreneur and former instructor at Oregon State University and Portland State University, will provide guidance on pitching technique. This is sure to be of use whether you decide to apply for PitchFest or not!

Get informed about PitchFest Want to find out more about TiE Oregon PitchFest, before you sign up? Then come by Pitch Club on November 21st, and talk to Gene Ehrbar, Manager of the TiE Pearl Incubator, and Shashi Jain, TiE Angel Program Manager. Find out more about what PitchFest is all about and what you can win. If you decide you want to compete, you can put in your application right then and there.

Did you already submit your application for TiE Oregon PitchFest? Are you looking for an opportunity to really fine-tune your pitch? TiE Pearl Pitch Club on November 21st is going to be a big practice session for TiE Oregon PitchFest! We will pay special attention to the pitch format for the upcoming PitchFest event (limited time pitch andl Q&A), so that you can practice to become pitch perfect. TiE Mentors and peers will provide feedback and help you get it spot on!

If you're not going to be pitching, then come to hear others and provide them with your insights and feedback.

Free for TiE Members and public.

Please Note:

Applications for Pitching are now closed. 

This event is now sold to capacity. Late registrants may be directed to an overflow space to follow the event on monitors. We will also be live streaming the event on the night, URL: http://www.ustream.tv/channel/tiepitchfest
Register to attend

The following companies have been selected to pitch to a panel of investors at TiE Oregon's annual PitchFest.:
Concept Stage:

• Forget MNot

• EcoValuate

• StoryBulbs

• Bubblr

• iConduct

Seed/Bootstrap Stage:

• Rescue Datum

• TheDigits

• Pacific NorthWest Kale Chips

Mature/Growth Stage:

• Syndical

• Drink Tanks Corporation

Awards, such as cash prizes, legal services etc. will be made available to winners in the following categories:
- Concept Stage
- Seed/Bootstrap Stage
- Mature/Growth Stage

Alan Wizemann is our keynote speaker for the evening:
Retail is changing. The way consumers are shopping is changing. From smart phones, to tablets, to physical stores, enterprise retailers are battling for their bottom line. These problems are difficult and expensive to solve internally. New, innovative technologies from startups are now at the forefront to drive those solutions and create massive revenue in the process.  Hear from Alan Wizemann on how you can position your startup to solve these problems, sell and scale to the needs of the enterprise. As Executive Product Leader and Mentor and a consultant for Target, Alan has led several select social media and mobile efforts to help Target save millions of dollars in operating expenses while driving significant sales and revenue across Target's retail channels. Alan has helped launch several products including Cartwheel, Target's innovative savings application.

Due to Inclement Weather Conditions, TiE Pearl Pitch Club with Vanessa Van Edwards is cancelled.

We will be rescheduling it for next week. Please stay tuned for details.

Join TiE Pearl Pitch Club, a series of sessions where you can practice your pitching skills.

In this edition, Vanessa Van Edwards, author and behavorioral investigator, will present a talk on body language and non-verbal communications for entrepreneurs, after which she will hear pitches, and help you work on yours.

TiE Pearl Pitch Club is designed as a supportive environment in which to try out your presentation - in front of a group of peers, including established entrepreneurs, and others just getting their start.

Bring your pitches, with or without slides (bring your laptop to plug into the A/V system), and walk away with valuable feedback and coaching. Or come to see others pitch, and provide feedback to and/or learn from others. Before and during the Pitch Club session we will offer drinks and refreshments at the TiE Pearl Incubator, network, discuss feedback and mingle.

We often see headlines like these:

• "Verizon Investments Leads Funding Round in MobileRQ"
• "OpenSesame Lands $8M"
• "OnTheGo Raises 700K Seed Funding from Foundry Group's AngelList Syndicate"
• "AppThwack gets backing from In-Q-Tel"

If you are an entrepreneur pitching at pitch competitions and to groups of investors, an outcome like that can often seem like a pipe dream. You might think it's just a question of luck, or that you just have to have a lot of passion for your idea; but it takes the right combination of factors to make such deals happen.

The basic premise is obvious: investors want a return on their investment. But how do you get introduced to the right investor for your company? What is going to convince them that they will get a return on the investment? How do you negotiate the deal?

One great way to get answers to some of these questions is by hearing the stories of founders who have received funding in the last 6 months.

Join us for a panel discussion on closing a round of funding with the founders of the very same companies that featured in the headlines above! Don't miss this opportunity to learn from these entrepreneurs' experience and meet and ask them your questions!

Our panelists are

• Tyler McKinley (CEO/Founder of MobileRQ,
• Josh Blank (SVP/Founder of OpenSesame),
• Ryan Fink (CEO/Founder of OnTheGo Platforms),
• Trent Peterson (Co-Founder of AppThwack)

The discussion will be moderated by Monica Enand (Founder/CEO of Zapproved, TiE Charter Member).

Join TiE Oregon Pitch Club! A series of sessions where you can practice your pitching skills.

The TiE Pearl Pitch Club is designed as a supportive environment in which to try out your presentation - in front of a group of peers, including established entrepreneurs, and others just getting their start.

Bring your pitches, with or without slides (bring your laptop to plug into the A/V system), and walk away with valuable feedback and coaching.

We will offer refreshments at the TiE Pearl Incubator before and during our session, while we network, discuss feedback and mingle.

The Pitch Club event is open to all TiE Members (free), as well as the public ($25).

Join TiE Pearl Pitch Club

TiE Pearl Pitch Club is a supportive environment in which you can practice your pitch.

This can be a concept or idea pitch (for instance to find a co-founder or for Portland Startup Weekend), a sales pitch, a pitch to investors, or any other type of pitch where you need to convince someone that your idea, business or product is worth their time.

Bring your laptop if you want to use a slide deck for your pitch, or provide feedback and learn from others.

Join TiE Pearl Pitch Club! A series of sessions where you can practice your pitching skills.

The TiE Pearl Pitch Club is designed as a supportive environment in which to try out your presentation - in front of a group of peers, including established entrepreneurs, and others just getting their start.

Bring your pitches, with or without slides (bring your laptop to plug into the A/V system), and walk away with valuable feedback and coaching.

We will offer refreshments at the TiE Pearl Incubator before and during our session, while we network, discuss feedback and mingle.

The Pitch Club event is open to all TiE Members (free), as well as the public ($25).

Join us for TiE Pearl Pitch Club - a series of sessions where you can practice your pitching skills.

TiE Pearl Pitch Club is designed as a supportive environment to try out your presentation - in front of a group of peers, including established entrepreneurs, and others just getting their start. TiE Mentors also regularly look in.

Bring your pitches, with or without slides (bring your laptop to plug into the A/V system), and walk away with valuable feedback and coaching.

We will offer refreshments at the TiE Pearl Incubator before and during our session, while we network, discuss feedback and mingle.

Pitch Club is open to all TiE Members (free), as well as the public ($25). 

Come celebrate the first anniversary of the TiE Pearl Incubator with us and hear the stories of several successful startups who are or have been tenants.

Meet them, ask them your questions and learn from their experiences in an extra festive edition of our Tips from the Trenches!

Panelists:

• Kevin Stone - CEO and co-founder of EdCaliber
• Eric Anderson - CEO and co-founder of Wearshare
• Luis Hernandez - CEO and co-founder of Cultiva, LLC
• Skip Rotter - Lead Developer of GlobeSherpa

Moderator: Gene Ehrbar - Managing Partner, Emerging Technology at ISITE Design and Manager of the TiE Pearl Incubator

Price: TiE Members: FREE Public: $25

Join us for TiE Pearl Pitch Club - a series of sessions where you can practice your pitching skills.

TiE Pearl Pitch Club is designed as a supportive environment to try out your presentation - in front of a group of peers, including established entrepreneurs, and others just getting their start. TiE Mentors also regularly look in.

Bring your pitches, with or without slides (bring your laptop to plug into the A/V system), and walk away with valuable feedback and coaching.

We will offer refreshments at the TiE Pearl Incubator before and during our session, while we network, discuss feedback and mingle.

Pitch Club is open to all TiE Members (free), as well as the public ($25). 

TiE Pearl Pitch Club is designed as a supportive environment in which to try out your presentation - in front of a group of peers, including established entrepreneurs, and others just getting their start.

Use this opportunity to practice pitches, for instance for Startup Weekend, PitchFest, the PDC Startup PDX Challenge, or to sell to customers, attract co-founders or raise funds for your startup.

Bring your pitches, with or without slides (bring your laptop to plug into the A/V system), and walk away with valuable feedback and coaching. Or come to provide feedback and learn from others.

TiE Pearl Pitch Club is here for you! Let us know what you would like to practice.

We provide refreshments, while we network, discuss feedback and mingle.

It's time for another Pitch Club!

TiE Pearl Pitch Club is designed as a supportive environment in which to try out your presentation - in front of a group of peers, including established entrepreneurs, and others just getting their start.

Use this opportunity to practice pitches, for instance for Startup Weekend, PitchFest, the PDC Startup PDX Challenge, or to sell to customers, attract co-founders or raise funds for your startup.

Bring your pitches, with or without slides (bring your laptop to plug into the A/V system), and walk away with valuable feedback and coaching. Or come to provide feedback and learn from others.

TiE Pearl Pitch Club is here for you! Let us know what you would like to practice.

We provide refreshments, while we network, discuss feedback and mingle.

Please register through website link above. TiE Members: FREE; public: $25

It's the last TiE Pearl Pitch Club of the summer!

For this event, we feature a presentation by Robin Wang: "10 Tips for Launching Sales".
Robin Wang is a serial entrepreneur, startup veteran and business coach, who is dedicated to helping entrepreneurs achieve "sales happiness".
Whether you’re just starting to think about sales or have already closed some deals, many entrepreneurs approach sales with misconceptions, hesitation, and perhaps even uneasiness.
As a result, you may have a hard time reaching your sales goals and risk jeopardizing your business.
In this presentation, designed for those who perhaps feel that they're not "natural born" salespeople, you will learn 10 tips that you can use to help launch your sales.
Topics covered include: demystifying sales, breaking sales into manageable steps, leveraging your emotions, doing sales if you are an introvert, and much more. Everyone is sure to get some useful take-aways!

Then join us to practice your pitch in a supportive environment and get constructive feedback.
Our unique event format allows you to practice your sales pitch, your VC pitch, your elevator pitch or your pitch to find a co-founder for your startup business or -idea.

You can bring a laptop to plug into the A/V system or pitch without a presentation.

Join others who have gotten a lot of useful tips and pointers on the structure of their story, slide deck, presentation style etc.

Get actionable feedback and suggestions from peers and TiE mentors, and enjoy networking and refreshments.

Please register through the website link above. Event cost:

• TiE Members: FREE
• Public: $25

TYE (TiE Young Entrepreneurs) Oregon is a unique program that helps high school students (grades 9-12) learn about the challenges and rewards of entrepreneurship.
More than 23 TiE Chapters world-wide are already running a TYE program and now Oregon will have its own version!

The curriculum starts late September 2014 and will run through Spring 2015. Students will form teams and each team will work on creating a business concept while learning necessary skills through a progressive series of "Boot camp" sessions, lectures, discussions and hands-on activities in sessions on Sundays between Fall 2014 and Spring 2015. The program culminates in a Business Plan Competition in Spring 2015. Winners will go on to compete in the TYE Global Business Plan Competition in June!

For this launch and informational event we will serve dinner, feature speakers and information about the program, a hands-on activity, and there will be an opportunity to ask questions and sign up students for the curriculum as well.

This event is aimed at parents, interested high school students, sponsors, and interested members of the entrepreneurial community.

Admission is free but pre-registration is required.

Join us for a fun and educational event on the theme of Aerial Robotics, Unmanned Aerial Systems (UAS) or Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAV), otherwise know as drones.

Drones came into the public eye in recent years through the news about their military uses, but they are gaining some serious momentum in civil applications as well. Some regard this as a sweeping technical revolution, with far-reaching consequences and possibilities. Come find out what Oregon companies are doing in this new and exciting industry vertical!

Weather permitting, we're planning for a demonstration session of some drones outside the venue.

After the demo, we will have a panel discussion about the state of the industry, and where our panelists see things going. There will be plenty of opportunity for networking and Q&A!

Panelists include:

• Ryan Jenson - CEO/Founder of HoneyCombM
• Jonathan Evans - CEO/Co-founder of SkyWard
• Scott Edwards - founder of the @PDXDrones group and cofounder of Silicon Sky Meetup (and Director of Marketing and Customer Acquisition at Simple Finance by day)
• Wendie Kellington - Attorney specializing in regulated industries, such as unmanned flight and use of public airspace

The discussion will be moderated by Shashi Jain.

TiE Members: $10 (pre-registration, door $15) Non-members: $20 (pre-registration, door $25)

It's time to get the structure of your pitch right!

How can you best put together your story for a one-minute pitch, and how would it be different from say, a three minute pitch?

Ravi Sinha, entrepreneur and business coach, will facilitate a workshop where we practice one- and three minute pitches.
Come ready to deliver your pitch, with slides if you want, or with no A/V materials, and we will work on the structure and the best way to tell your story.

This session can be taken as part of a preparatory series for our annual pitch competition, TiE PitchFest, coming in December 2014 (watch this space)!

Please register through the website link above. Event cost:

• TiE Members: FREE
• Public: $25

Join us for a riveting panel discussion on the emerging opportunities in the health care field!

Entrepreneurial initiative, new technologies and the introduction of the Affordable Health Care Act have all contributed to massive changes and opportunities in the area of medicine and health care. How are our panelists taking advantage, what challenges have they experienced, and where do they see things going?

Get insights from:

• Joe Novello - CEO/Founder, NurseGrid
• Ray Costantini - CEO/Co-Founder, BrightMD
• Mohan Nair - SVP Cambia Health
• Bill Hersh - Professor and Director Medical Informatics & Clinilcal Epidemiology, OHSU

Before the panel discussion itself we will enjoy networking and refreshments.

Event cost:

• TiE Members: advance registration $10, door $15
• Student Members: advance registration $5, door $10
• Public: advance registration $20, door $25

You've worked hard on the structure of your pitch. You've practiced your delivery. But somehow your story is just not engaging people.

Could be it because your slide deck, ... well, kinda sucks?

You are not alone! A lot of entrepreneurs find it hard to resist putting too much information on their slides.

Design is more important than ever - and it's not limited to your product or your website. The last thing you want, is for your slide deck to be a hindrance instead of a help, in conveying your story in an engaging manner

Are you sure that your slide deck supports and reinforces your message? How about some insights from a consummate user experience and marketing expert?

Come and join us at TiE Pearl Pitch Club, this time featuring a presentation by Colin O'Neill of ISITE Design: "Slides That Don't Suck". As Vice President of User Experience, Colin is not only an impressive creative talent; he is also a passionate and deeply experienced marketer with a long career, working with customers like IBM, Kodak, Charles Schwab, LinkedIn and Adobe, who knows how to engage and connect.

So, bring your pitches (and your slides)!

We will start the evening with an opportunity to network while enjoying refreshments. Then we will listen to Colin's presentation, after which you can practice your pitches, with (or without) slide decks, to get actionable and valuable feedback from Colin, peers, TiE mentors and other attendees.

Don't miss this - your slide deck, and your pitch, will be all the better for it!

TiE Members: FREE Public: $25

Join us for a Startup Spectacular!!

• Are you an entrepreneur who has taken the leap of faith and created a company with your brilliant idea?
• Are you looking for seed or early stage funding?
• Do want validation of your idea?
• Do you have a product, customers and are you ready to grow? Then pitch to a panel of judges from the world of investment at TiE Oregon's annual PitchFest!

Present your company in front of an audience of investors, entrepreneurs, TiE Charter Members and other influencers, movers and shakers in Oregon entrepreneurship.

The application process for companies is open NOW! Anyone can buy a ticket to attend, but participation in the competition is available for TiE Members only: that is, each pitching company must have at least one TiE member at the time of the competition, in order to pitch at PitchFest. Note that TiE membership has many other benefits!

Awards will be made available to winners in each of three categories: Concept Stage Seed/Bootstrap Stage Mature/Growth Stage

TiE Pitch Club is back for 2015!

Join us for a talk by Nitin Rai about Cash Flow for your startup. How can you ensure that your available capital lasts you while building up your business and your revenues, and maybe in anticipation of outside funding; and what to do once you land that outside investment?

Nitin Rai, president of TiE Oregon is a successful entrepreneur and active angel investor.

After the talk from our speaker, we will continue with pitches by you! Any entrepreneur is invited to get up and present their pitch to the assembled group. This can be any type of pitch: an elevator pitch, a business concept pitch, a co-founder pitch, a sales pitch or an investor pitch. We will help you with timing you, being your chosen audience, and giving you feedback and input on your pitch, business and ideas. Just like many before you, you will come away with a lot of valuable and actionable feedback! People who do not want to pitch but are interested in finding out what Pitch Club is about, hearing new startup ideas, networking, and/or helping others are of course welcome!

TiE Members: FREE (members can also pre-register a non-member guest for $10) Public: $25

Founders: need insights into how to insulate your personal finance life from entrepreneurial risk? Then join us for a talk by Jason Saunders of SKA Wealth Management. What? You have no wealth to manage, I hear you say? There are definitely steps you can take to ensure you are financially positioned to take on the adventure of entrepreneurship, well before there is wealth to manage!

As a bonus, we will also be talking about Oregon's new crowdfunding law, courtesy of event sponsors Tonkon Torp.

And of course we will be practicing your pitches, and provide you with valuable feedback. Bring your elevator-, concept-, co-founder-, sales- or investor pitch, plug in your laptop with your slides (or present without a slide deck), and get actionable feedback and constructive criticism from an audience of your peers, investors, TiE Mentors, etc.

Check it all out at http://oregon.tie.org/?p=2469

Cost; TiE Members: FREE (and pre-register a non-member guest for $10), public/non-members: $25

Join us for another edition of TiE Oregon Pitch Club!

Kanth Gopalpur, longstanding TiE Charter member, Board member and experienced entrepreneur, has just been named "Entrepreneur In Residence" for Business Oregon. What do you know about this state agency, whose mission it is to promote business and communities in Oregon? Did you know that this organization provides millions in grant money to all kinds of initiatives every year? And do you know how you might engage and get assistance to develop your business? Come find out more, and bring your questions!

Then we practice pitches! Pitch Club offers an open, supportive environment for entrepreneurs to practice their pitches and get actionable and constructive feedback. Bring your presentation and plug into the A/V system, or pitch without a slide deck. Or, come check out new companies and ideas, and provide feedback to the presenters!

All kinds of pitches are welcome: elevator-, concept-, sales-, co-founder-, or investor pitches.

TIE Members: FREE (and you can bring a pre-registered guest for $10); Public: $25

TiE Oregon is truly delighted to host serial entrepreneur, angel investor and author David S. Rose for a special luncheon, Meet & Greet event. Join us for catered lunch and a presentation by David S. Rose, and get the opportunity to meet him in person, and network with angel investors.

David is the founder of Gust, the platform for startup entrepreneurs to connect with accredited angel and startup investors, and the New York Times best-selling author of "Angel Investing: The Gust Guide to Making Money and Having Fun Investing in Startups"

Get your ticket now - TiE Members $20 / public $25

Join us at Quick Left for this month's Pitch Club! We are delighted to feature speaker Marcelino Alvarez. He is the CEO and Founder of Uncorked Studios, where his responsibilities include shaping the company's vision and strategy, business development, and community outreach.

Prior to Uncorked, Marcelino served as Executive Interactive Producer at Wieden+Kennedy Portland, where he worked on Old Spice, Electronic Arts, Laika, and Nike.

After Marcelino's talk. practice your pitches with us! Bring your VC-, concept-, angel-, sales-, cofounder- or elevator pitch! Come practice your pitch for your budding idea or your growing startup.

Pitch with a slide deck (bring a USB memory stick or laptop with VGA connector) or present without visuals. You will get a ton of actionable and useful feedback from the attendees.

At the basis of the transition from something that is a cool idea to an actual business, lies the question: what is the market for my intended product or service?

The answer to that question is many-faceted. What is the exact problem that you're addressing? Is the time right for your idea? Is the state of technology ready for your envisioned solution? Who are your intended customers and what do they look like? How many of them are there in your intended market area? How many are currently in the market for what you have to sell? And between you and your competition, how many will want to buy your solution instead of someone else's?

All of this is not an exact science - but the more realistic your estimates, the better your chances of gauging your chance of success, and the more credible you will be to a potential investor.

Come hear from Dave Shanley, new TiE Oregon Charter Member and CEO/Founder of Notion,who will speak about Market/ Opportunity Assessment.

After the talk, as always, we will be practicing pitches! Bring your presentations, with or without slide decks! Get up and pitch us on your concept, business, or idea, to sell, find co-founders, get funding or otherwise!

Cost: TiE Members: FREE (and you may pre-register a non-member guest for $10); Public: $25

For more information and to register please visit:

http://oregon.tie.org/event/tie-oregon-pitch-club-june-2015/?instance_id=403

During the forth installment of “The Perfect Pitch,” Tom Kingsley will discuss the 5th and 6th items to cover in the perfect investor pitch:

• How We Make Money – simple summary of product, price, and a typical order
• Market – TAM, segment SAMs, target segment and order of penetration

And as alway you, the participant will have the chance to stand and give your pitch too! Pitch Club is an ongoing series of events where entrepreneurs can practice their pitch in a supportive environment. This could be a sales pitch, concept pitch, investor pitch, etc. whatever kind of pitch you need feedback on! Come to Pitch Club regardless of the stage you are in.

Nat Parker is the CEO of moovel North America. moovel N.A. works to bring mobility solutions for public and alternative transportation options to North American cities through two distinctive but complementary products.

Prior to leading moovel N.A., Parker co-founded and served as CEO of GlobeSherpa, a market leader in mobile ticketing technology for public transportation. GlobeSherpa launched the nation’s first multimodal white-label mobile ticketing app, TriMet Tickets, in Portland, Oregon in September 2013. Under Parker’s leadership, GlobeSherpa grew to service 16 transit agency clients in eleven U.S. cities. Following the merger of GlobeSherpa and RideScout as moovel N.A., GlobeSherpa’s mobile ticketing platform evolved to become moovel transit.

Join us and learn how one of Oregon’s hottest startups was able to execute and grown their company from its inception, when Nat and his co-founder were still graduate students at Portland State University, to where they are now.

TiE program for Entrepreneurs. Schedule time with a professional to help you with an issue in your start-up. Rekesh Sridharan, President, Ledlenser Corporation a Division of Leatherman Tool Group, USA is this month's mentor.

Rakesh has over 20 years of experience as a global executive in growing consumer goods businesses, delivering sustainable growth, improving the bottom line and building strong organization. Rakesh is a big picture focused executive with expertise in strategy execution, market development, acquisition & integration, finance and operations. (Learn more about TIE Charter Member Rakesh Sridharan on our About Page @ oregon.tie.org)

Get an opportunity to pitch your company and get feedback from an Oregon investor and serial entrepreneur. Meet other local entrepreneurs in other industries. Perfect way to work on your pitch deck. Non-members pay $25, Join TiEOregon and pay only $5 You did not have to attend the previous parts of the series to attend.

Make an appointment for a 30-minute private meeting with Attorney Leon Simson of Tokon Torp LLP during Mentor Connect ‘office hours’. Trouble shoot with a professional a problem area in your start-up and get valuable advice and a plan.

8th in the Series, Tom Kingsley teaches the fundamentals of pitching your operational plan. Get an opportunity to pitch your company and get feedback from an Oregon investor and serial entrepreneur. Meet other local entrepreneurs in other industries. Perfect way to work on your pitch deck. Non-members pay $25, Join TiEOregon and pay only $5 You did not have to attend the previous parts of the series to attend.

Make an appointment for a 30-minute private meeting during Mentor Connect ‘office hours’. Troubleshoot any problem areas in your start-up with a professional and leave with a plan.

Tom Kingsley, TiE Charter Member and TiE Oregon Angel will cover The Founding Team in this 9th installment of Pitch Club.

Tom will answer questions like:

How do I determine what skills I need on my team?
Do I need a co-founder or full-fledged team in order to get funding?
How do I highlight the strengths of my team?
How do I determine what type of co-founder I need?
How do I tell the founding story to possible investors?
How much should I pay the initial team and/or co-founder?
What if my co-founder is not working out?

Pitch Club gives you get a chance to practice your pitch and get feedback from others in the room. Meet other local entrepreneurs in other industries. Perfect way to work on your pitch deck. This can be any kind of pitch - sales pitch, concept pitch, investor pitch, elevator pitch...Join us on October 11th!

Here's what one participant has said about Pitch Club -

“Pitch Club rocks! The real value to me hasn’t been the outline of a pitch or the focus on the specific pieces but rather the nuggets of wisdom that come up in the discussions from Tom and other’s in attendance. I’ve also found a lot of value in the feedback & discussion from all involved during the pitches.” – Jeremiah Church, C3 Backflow

Non-members pay $25, Join TiEOregon and pay only $5 You did not have to attend the previous parts of the series to attend.

TiE Oregon's quarterly series that allows entrepreneurs to hear the highs and lows of what it takes to build a successful company. Unfiltered and Off the record.

Eric started Vacasa in November 2009 after acquiring the responsibility of managing a family member’s vacation home. In six short years Vacasa has grown from 2 - 1,300 employees in the U.S., Europe, and Central and South America. And just this summer, Vacasa scored a $35M Series A (one of the industry’s largest to date and 3X times Airbnb's Series A). With Eric and his team experiencing rapid year over year growth including 11 acquisitions, this is sure to be a valuable discussion.

Purchase Tickets from TiE Oregon, Dinner provided (Beer, wine).

Make an appointment for a 30-minute private meeting during Mentor Connect ‘office hours’. Meet with a professional and troubleshoot any problem areas in your start-up. Free for TIE members. Join TIE for the privilege of this helpful monthly event.

The final part of the Pitch Club series Tom Kingsley explains how to close your pitch with a killer Ask/Exit. Get an opportunity to pitch your company and get feedback from an Oregon investor and serial entrepreneur. Meet other local entrepreneurs in other industries. Perfect way to work on your pitch deck.

Non-members pay $25, Join TiEOregon and pay only $5 You did not have to attend the previous parts of the series to attend.

Pitch Oregon is entering another year, showcasing the talent and innovation of Pacific Northwest and California founders. Each year, Pitch Oregon brings together entrepreneurs, investors, and mentors, creating a collaborative and dynamic environment for launching startups on their growth journeys.

Winners will receive investment through a special purpose vehicle (SPV). Last year, $620K was invested in five companies!

WHO SHOULD APPLY? We are interested in high-growth, traded-sector, technology, and/or tech-enabled companies looking for funding in three categories:

Pitch Oregon categories include:

• Pre-seed – companies who are raising generally less than $500k
• Seed – companies who are raising generally more than $500k
• Impact – companies that generate financial returns while also creating a positive social, health, or environmental global impact. Can be either pre-seed, or seed.