12th Annual Launch Pad (Planned for September 2023 - Dates TBD)

12th Annual Launch Pad (Planned for September 2023 - Dates TBD)

Portland | PUBLIC EVENT


The Starve Ups Launch Pad event has been described as the most valuable event you can attend as a founder. It is 2.5 days, it has 5 peer panels and 1 goal.

This is the 12th year of the premiere Starve Ups Launch Pad event which has been described by founders as, “the most valuable event you can attend as a new startup”.  It is 2.5 days, 5 panels, 2 keynotes, and 1 goal. It is highly intensive, it is insanely effective, it is just for founders and their early stage teams, and it is free.  It is the one event you wished you had known about last year. We provide everything solely to our startup founder peers.

Simply sign up and be there as you will learn from your expert founder peers about the 5 key elements to building your startup, and you will learn why “proven peer mentoring for founders” is the missing link in startup success. You will learn more in one weekend than in years as a founder, you will build a founder network of your own, you will be motivated beyond belief, and you may even qualify to win thousands of dollars of product prizes from other Oregon startup companies.

So, sign up here now as seats are limited and as we have to cap the participation. Ask anyone that has ever been to Launch Pad and they will say it was amazing for them and their team.

Sign up through Eventbrite at: Launch Pad XII

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OVERVIEW

Starve Ups Launch Pad is an annual event where as many as 75 new startups, from all around the Pacific Northwest go through a 2.5 day intensive event run by founders, solely for founders. This event has been refined over 12 years and is the go to event for early stage startup founders. The event is free, all meals are provided and no equity is taken.

BENEFITS

  • How to find the right co-founder
  • How to build an effective board
  • How to attract an initial team
  • How to pitch to investors
  • How to raise capital
  • How to negotiate
  • How to network
  • How to market
  • How to sell

NIGHT 1

The event begins with dinner, an overview of the event, and then the founder attendees are split into teams.  Next, we have an amazing keynote speaker who has been highly successful in the startup ecosystem.  Finally, we go through 20 second pitches by all of the founders in attendance.

DAY 2

We start day two with networking over breakfast and then we move into the first three of five founder panels.  Each panel discusses an area of building startups critical to new founders (i.e. Team Building, Fundraising, Sales & Marketing). Then, between each panel is an interactive team exercise where the panels' feedback is put to the test.

DAY 3

We begin day three again with another networking breakfast and then the final two panels and interactive team exercises. We wrap up the event with one more keynote and with feedback from each of the founders/teams in attendance around the impact the event had on them.

Finally, the winning team takes home a ton of products from local Starve Ups companies and other local startups. Over the course of the 2.5 days founders build knowledge, refine skills, build networks and learn about proven peer mentoring in a way they never have before. It is simply invaluable and will get founders stoked for the ventures they have founded.

Sign up through Eventbrite at: Launch Pad XII

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FRIDAY, September 15TH

EVENT INTRODUCTION - 5:30pm - 7:30pm

Launch Pad companies are initiated into the event via an overview presentation, then via quick pitches and team selections

OPENING KEYNOTE - 7:30pm - 8:30pm

With keynote speaker Kelly Oriard & Callie Christensen
Co-Founders of Slumberkins & Starve Ups Members


SATURDAY, September 16th

ARRIVALS & BREAKFAST - 8:30am - 9:15am

Launch Pad companies are provided with their events packets and team assignments

PANEL ONE: FLIGHT CREW - 9:30am - 11:00am

Identifying Co-Founders, Advisory Board, Team Building & Directors

Panelists & Moderator:

Jerry Carleton (Keen Healthcare & Immix)
Eli Alford-Jones (Paydici)
Ray King (AboutUs & Top Level Design)
Kevin DeWhitt (Agilyx & PDO Technologies)

PANEL TWO: SPACE WALK - 11:15am - 12:45pm 

Building The Brand, Vision, Purpose & Corporate Culture 

Panelists & Moderator: 

Carrie Atkinson (Sock It To Me)
Ben West (ecozoom & Spark Grills)
Mike Shur (Shurky Jurky & Own What You Eat)
Mark Friess (wired.MD & WelVU)

LUNCH & SPEED DATING - 1:00pm - 2:15pm

Launch Pad companies network with their new peer mentors & the Starve Ups Strategic Partners

PANEL THREE: TAKE OFF - 2:30pm - 4:00pm 

Effective Product Development, Prototyping & Go To Market Strategy 

Panelists & Moderator: 

Brad Gauthier (Sitecast)
Garza Wooton (GearFC)
Mark Frohnmayer (Arcimoto)
Milos Jovanovic (Spaceview)

TEAM TOTALS RECAP - 4:15pm - 4:30pm

Launch Pad companies will see where their teams stand in regards to point totals


SUNDAY, September 17th

ARRIVALS & BREAKFAST - 8:30am - 9:15am

Launch Pad companies network with their peer mentors and get an update on the day

PANEL FOUR: ROCKET FUEL - 9:30am - 11:00am

Best Practices For Fundraising, Crowdfunding & Capital Structure 

Panelists & Moderator: 

Travis Rush (Sightbox)
Kevin DeWhitt (Agilyx & PDO Technologies)
John Friess (wired.MD & journey gym)
Milos Jovanovic (Spaceview)

PANEL FIVE: SPACESHIP ONE - 11:15am - 12:45pm 

Launching The Marketing, Sales & Business Development Plans

Panelists & Moderator: 

Rob Coons (Scout Military Discounts)
Scott Fouser (Gruntworks & House Happy)
Phil Fraser (Gathry & IDT)
Brian Flick (Pitch Dark Chocolate)
Willie Koo (Asset Exchange)

CLOSING KEYNOTE - 1:00pm - 1:45pm

With speaker Greg Hartle, Co-Founder of Sitecast, a Starve Ups membership company

EVENT RECAP & AWARDS - 1:45pm - 2:15pm

Launch Pad will conclude with thoughts on the event by each of the participant companies, and their founders, and then with a final awards ceremony

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