2025 Oregon Entrepreneurship Awards
Description
In entrepreneurship every decision leads down a new path, filled with unexpected twists, challenges, and opportunities. Founders start with a vision but must make bold choices at every turn, often without knowing exactly what the next page holds.
There are moments of risk, detours, and triumphs, and no two journeys look the same. Just the classic books, entrepreneurs are the authors of their own story—navigating uncertainty with creativity, courage, and the belief that the best chapter is still ahead.
Oregon Entrepreneurs Network and Presenting Sponsors Columbia Bank and Cushman & Wakefield invite you to step into a night of daring decisions and bold business moves at the 2025 Oregon Entrepreneurship Awards – Choose Your Own Adventure on Thursday, November 13th.
Navigate a dynamic ceremony where each twist and turn leads to unexpected surprises and inspiring stories. Honoring innovators who’ve blazed their own trails, each award reveals the unique journey behind the hustle.
Get ready to celebrate visionaries who didn’t follow the map — they drew their own.
2025 Oregon Entrepreneurship Awards
Thursday, November 13th
5:00 – 11:00 pm
D.A. Davidson invites you to join them in the Atrium for a vibrant welcome reception designed for networking, idea-sharing, and making connections that spark new journeys starting at 5:00 pm.
The Awards Ceremony will take place in the Pavillion starting at 6:30 pm featuring a dynamic awards ceremony honoring trailblazing founders and visionary leaders across industries.
Early Stage
Accent Innovations | Dr. Katie Pierson, Founder
Ahead Computing | Debbie Marr, Jonathan Pearce, Srikanth Srinivasan, and Mark Dechene, Co-Founders
HER (Hormonal Exams Reimagined) | Rylee Ramsey, Founder
Development Stage
Birch Biosciences | Johan Kers, and Emily Duncan, Co-Founders
Caravel Bio | Trevor Nicks, Founder
Neurosom | Viral Sheth, Corin Tucker, and Dr Don Tucker, Co-Founders
Growth Stage
Digs | Ryan Fink, and Ty Frackiewicz, Co-Founders
Hemex Health | Patti White, and Peter Galen, Co-Founders
ZincFive | Tim Hysell, and Dan Sisson, Co-Founders
Trailblazer
Graze Social | Devin Gaffney, and Andrew Lisowski, Co-Founders
OneApp | Tyrone Poole, Founder
Photon Marine | Marcelino Alvarez and Nick Schoeps, Co-Founders
Entrepreneurial Achievement
Kristy Athens | Founder, Good Groceries
Jenny Nguyen | Founder, The Sports Bra
Nathan Wildfire | Founder, Missing Middle Housing Fund
Tom Holce Community Catalyst Winners
The Community Catalyst Award recognizes an individual or community organization that creates opportunities for connection, education and services in support of founders and entrepreneurs.
Dave Barcos | North Bank Innovations | Born in Silicon Valley, Dave Barcos co-founded his first digital-design startup at 23 before relocating to the Pacific Northwest in 1990. Throughout the 1990s, he led creative work for Nike, Intel, ESPN, Whole Foods, and Adidas, collaborating with agencies such as Wieden+Kennedy and Cole & Weber. In 2017, he founded North Bank Innovations, an independent incubator based in Vancouver, WA. Supported by a strong network of founders, operators, and investors, North Bank offers hands-on programs, mentorship, and capital connections. Its flagship meetups, Vantechy and Startup Conversations in the Couve, have supported more than 1,200 entrepreneurs and drawn thousands of attendees.Dave is focused on expanding the North Bank Incubator and connecting Seattle’s founder community with the Portland–Vancouver region to create a unified market for talent, capital, and ideas.
High Desert Partnership | Based in Hines, Oregon in Harney County, the High Desert Partnership is a mature-stage nonprofit that brings people together to address rural challenges through collaboration. Their distinctive approach invites diverse stakeholders to engage openly and respectfully, emphasizing inclusion and the value of differing opinions to create positive community impact. Through the Biz Harney Opportunity Collaborative which exists to help frontier Harney County businesses start, grow and succeed while also helping to build a thriving business environment, over 60 entrepreneurs have participated in *CO.STARTERS, supported the High Desert Biomass Cooperative in partnership with the Forest Service, and developed the Shop Harney program which has over 70 participating businesses with over $125,000 spent with frontier rural Harney County small businesses.
Jon Maroney | Formerly Oregon Venture Fund | Jon Maroney is a former General Partner at Oregon Venture Fund (OVF), Oregon’s largest early-stage venture capital firm. For a decade, Jon focused on identifying and supporting the next generation of world-class companies in the region. Before joining OVF, he founded, led, and exited two pioneering mobile phone software companies.Jon serves on the boards of several rapidly scaling startups including Honey Mama’s and OneApp. His expertise spans team building, early go-to-market strategy, product strategy, and bridging the gap between entrepreneurs and investors. His impact on the state’s startup ecosystem is unparalleled and every entrepreneur has pitched to him during his time at OVF.
Don’t rush off right after the awards!
Biotech Collective invite you to join them for a lively celebration of all the finalists, winners and our amazing OEN community back in the Atrium following the Awards Ceremony.
2025 Oregon Entrepreneurship Awards
Thursday, November 13th
5:00 – 11:00 pm
2025 Emcee
Oregon Entrepreneurs Network is delighted to welcome Dr. Kim Freeze Ecosystem Steward at Southern Oregon Innovation Hub, Professor at Rogue Community College, and Founder of The Seed Collective Catalyst.
With a unique blend of experience as an entrepreneur, clinical psychologist, and educator, Kim Freeze empowers audiences to connect purpose with action. Her work centers on transforming mindsets, building resilient communities, and advocating for mental wellness through the lens of entrepreneurship. Known for her engaging presence and practical insights, she inspires individuals to unlock their potential and lead with clarity, confidence, and compassion.
As a psychology professor at a community college, Kim integrates entrepreneurial thinking into education, helping students develop the skills and mindset needed to thrive. Outside the classroom, she leads initiatives such as 1 Million Cups, ideation workshops, and pitch events—creating platforms that equip entrepreneurs with the tools and connections to bring their ideas to life. Her holistic approach blends innovation with emotional intelligence, making her a trusted mentor and catalyst for change.
Through her work with The Seed Collective Catalyst, she explores the intersection of mental health and entrepreneurship, guiding startups and communities toward growth and healing. Whether she’s speaking to aspiring founders, educators, or community leaders, her message is clear: resilience, purpose, and connection are the foundations of sustainable success.
Ticketing Information
Individual Tickets
The 2025 OEN Entrepreneurship Awards will include a Welcome Reception and After Party with heavy hors d’oeuvres, desserts, alcoholic and non-alcoholic drinks. There will be no sit-down dinner.
- OEN Member: $125
- Non-Member $150
Underwriting Tickets
Help underwrite the Oregon Entrepreneurship Awards as a Community Builder or by purchasing a Party Pack. Contact Sarah Norris (sarah@oen.org) to coordinate your Awards engagement.
- Community Builder: $2,000
Includes eight (8) tickets to the Awards, complimentary tickets gifted to regional entrepreneurs on your behalf, and recognition on the website, in the event program, and on signage at the Awards. - Party Pack: $1,500
This opportunity includes eight (8) tickets to the Awards and recognition in the event program.
Thank You Sponsors
Community Builders
Bank of America
KeyBank
Merrill Lynch
Miller Nash
Perkins Coie
Riverview Bank
Tonkon Torp
University of Portland