BEND, Ore. -- Economic Development for Central Oregon announced Monday the Growth Industries and Growth Tech Stage finalists who will compete at the 2026 Bend Venture Conference (BVC), taking place Thursday and Friday, Oct. 15–16 at the Tower Theatre in downtown Bend.

Here's the full announcement:

In just a few days, these exceptional finalists will take to the main stage. The Growth Industries and Growth Tech Stage competitions at BVC highlight companies that have demonstrated significant traction and are poised for rapid expansion. Following considerable due diligence, companies in these categories have historically been awarded funding ranging from $100,000 to $2.5 million from the BVC LLC and partner venture capital (VC) funds.

Growth Industries is for companies whose core differentiation is brand, physical products, science, or engineering. This includes outdoor and lifestyle brands, food and agriculture, consumer products, biotech and life sciences, hardware, and climate-focused hardware and physical solutions.

Growth Tech is for companies whose core differentiation is technology. This includes software, AI and platform-driven companies across climate, health, finance, education, enterprise, and other sectors.

In alphabetical order, the finalists for Growth Industries are:

• Aquagga (Tacoma, WA) - Destroys deadly forever chemicals (PFAS) from industrial waste streams and groundwater.

• Looptworks (Gresham, OR) - The only operational U.S. textile-to-textile recycling platform to help brands/states with policy compliance and circularity with certified recycled fiber.

• Osheru, Inc. (Bend, OR) - Opening eyes beautifully! Crafts innovative medical devices for surgeons to delight patients with outstanding outcomes as they grow their practices.

• Penderia Technologies (Eugene, OR) - Believes data from sensors improves clinical care and have developed implantable sensors from University of Oregon research for use in orthopedic procedures.

In alphabetical order, the finalists for Growth Tech are:

• Caravel Bio (Portland, OR) - The world's best protein engineering platform.

• CleanHaus (Portland, OR) - Coordinates short-term rental cleaning and maintenance operations end-to-end: dispatching and confirming cleaners and contractors, solving any issue.

• Permeta (Lake Oswego, OR) - Uses proprietary AI to transform permitting and regulatory operations for the energy industry.

• Zing Drone Solutions (Pendleton, OR) - Specializes in drone threat detection and remote ID compliance solutions.

“What stands out about this year’s Growth Stage finalists is the progress they’ve already made and the scale of the opportunity in front of them,” said Jon Stark, CEO of EDCO. “These are founders who have moved beyond proving the concept and are now focused on building durable, growing companies. We’re excited to give them a platform to connect with the capital and expertise to support that growth.”

Now in its 23rd year, the Bend Venture Conference is the Pacific Northwest’s largest angel investment conference and a hub for entrepreneurship in the region. Since its inception, BVC investors have awarded more than $14 million to startups.

The event is the cornerstone of the High Desert Innovation Week, happening October 13-16 in Bend, a multi-day program that brings together local entrepreneurs, innovators and investors to showcase the region’s startup resources and celebrate its collaborative culture.

The Bend Venture Conference cannot guarantee that investments will be awarded in any specific amount. The final amounts to be distributed depend on the investment commitments received from third-party investors, as well as the ability of the winning companies and investors to agree on the terms and conditions of the investment.

Tickets for the 2026 Bend Venture Conference are available at bendvc.com.

Accredited investors can learn more about how to be involved at bendvcfund.com

About Bend Venture Conference (BVC)
The annual BVC, hosted by EDCO, is one of the largest angel conferences in the country. Over the past 23 years, BVC has served to evolve and grow the startup ecosystem throughout Central Oregon and beyond. Since its inception, more than $14 million has been invested in 67 companies as a result of the conference. This year’s conference will gather entrepreneurs, investors, business leaders, and students at the Tower Theatre in Bend, Oregon on October 15-16, 2026. bendvc.com

About Economic Development for Central Oregon

Founded in 1981, EDCO is a non-profit organization supported by private and public members and stakeholders. Its mission is to strengthen communities by creating opportunities that generate new revenue and family-wage jobs. Guided by its vision to be the catalyst for economic prosperity for all, EDCO works to recruit new employers to Central Oregon, support entrepreneurs in starting new, scalable businesses, and help existing companies grow and expand. www.edcoinfo.com

About High Desert Innovation Week

High Desert Innovation Week is an annual celebration of Oregon’s entrepreneurial spirit, held each October in Central Oregon. Organized by Cultivate Bend, Bend Outdoor Worx and Economic Development for Central Oregon (EDCO), the week brings together organizations, startups and innovators from across the region to showcase the unique resources, collaborative culture and diverse industries that make Oregon a hub for innovation. Over four days, events highlight craft, technology and community, spanning sectors from consumer products to outdoor recreation. hdinnovationweek.com