BEND, Ore. – Economic Development for Central Oregon announced Monday the five Early Stage finalists who will compete at the 2026 Bend Venture Conference, taking place October 15–16 at the Tower Theatre in downtown Bend.

Last Thursday, hundreds of attendees packed the outdoor patio at Worthy Brewing for Central Oregon PubTalk, where 10 Early Stage semifinalists pitched their companies in a fast-paced, three-minute format. The audience and a panel of expert judges selected the five finalists who will advance to the Early Stage competition at BVC.

In addition to advancing to the BVC main stage, EYEONIZE, the audience favorite at PubTalk, walked away with a $5,000 award, courtesy of Washington Trust Bank.

Central Oregon Early Stage finalists at BVC will also be eligible for an award of at least $40,000 to be announced during the conference thanks to generous local community members, among whom are Bend Wealth Advisors, Scott and Annie Allan, Horan MediaTech Advisors, Taylor Brooks, Rod Ray, and Hannah M. Austin and Peter Stewart Skei of The Auskei Charitable Fund.

In alphabetical order, the Early Stage finalists that will compete at the BVC are:

1. Closeoutdoor (Bend, OR) - Revolutionizing the way that brands deal with excess inventory.

2. Ebb Health, Inc. (Portland, OR) - Developing a platform for durable relief of neuropathic pain.

3. EYEONIZE (Bend, OR) - Energize Your Eyes!

4. Lateral Systems (Lake Oswego, OR) - Automated monitoring platform for commercial indoor farms watches out for what can go wrong 24/7 to reduce waste and improve farm efficiencies.

5. VeriBuy (Bend, OR) - Turns a dealer's phone walk-around into a defensible trade-in offer: an objective condition grade, a fair price and a report the seller can see.

Reflecting on this year’s Early Stage finalists, EDCO CEO Jon Stark said, “It’s exciting to see the range of ideas and businesses coming out of Oregon. These founders are tackling real problems, building interesting companies and taking big swings. We’re proud to bring them together at BVC and give them a chance to tell their stories to investors and the broader business community.”

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.

Early bird pricing for the 2026 Bend Venture Conference is available through September 30 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