RAIN @ UO Winter 2017 Update

Entrepreneurs with ties to the University of Oregon have spent the winter working very hard toward their startup goals. Here are some of their highlights:

• Trail Supply Co., founded by junior business major, Spencer Holton, officially launched in January 2017. Spencer was also the youngest founder to be invited into Oregon’s Starve Ups organization, the state’s first startup accelerator and only scalerator

• The Technology Association of Oregon and UO teamed up for another sold out Experience Oregon Tech tour. A charter bus filled with UO students, mostly from Computer and Information Science, visited three Eugene-based technology companies to learn about career possibilities and the growing Eugene tech scene.

• Sypht (founded by UO undergraduate business majors Logan Dix, Devin Santamaria, and Jason Stofiel, and MBA student Kim Nguyen) presented at Princeton University’s 2017 TigerLaunch West Coast Regional competition in Seattle in February

• The UO HackTown team of T.J. LaGrow, Joseph Yaconelli, Matt Almenshad (Computer and Information Science majors) and Nick Capaldini (Product Design major) took first place at the NYC Media Lab and MLBAM Sports Fan Hackathon in New York City in February

• Six UO student or recent alum companies have been accepted into the UO Duck Store’s 2017 Oregon Incubator cohort:
  •  Bluprint Bike – UO Alums: Thomas Blasé, Alex Reinhardt and Siobhan Mead
  • Fan Mits – UO Computer Information and Science majors: Liz Olson, Joseph Yaconelli (overall Fan Engagement winner from QuackCon, the Sports/Tech Hackathon)
  • Yoga Mats– Dimitri Miles: Sports Product Development graduate student
  • Spirit Slaps – UO Product Design major, Sam Piva
  • Wildwood Towers – UO Alum, Keenan Hoar
  • Duck Feet –UO Alum, Leila Mozaffarian (Continuation from 2016 Program)

• Kaheawai J. Kaonohi, a freshman pre-business major, and Hunter Sudek, a junior business major, joined the most recent class of University Innovation Fellows in February. A highly-selective national program run out of Stanford, the University Innovation Fellows program empowers students to become agents of change at their schools. Fellows work to ensure that their peers gain the knowledge, skills and attitudes required to compete in the economy of the future and make a positive impact on the world.

• On February 25, the UO Women in Computer Science club (WiCS) hosted the first TechTogether, an all-day women-in-tech conference focused on mentoring and inclusivity. The event featured Shelmina Abji, former IBA Vice-President and board member of the United Nations Girl Up program.

• Sypht and UO alum company, Wildwood Towers, have been selected to present at TechFest NW’s PitchFest on March 23-24 in Portland.

• Two teams composed of chemistry and physics PhD students celebrated the completion of Stage 2 of the Lens of the Market (LoM) program with presentations and a reception on February 13. Lens of the Market is a professional development program structured around an exploration of the commercial potential for participating scientists’ research. SulfaSense (Sean Fontenot, Matt Hartle, Adam Jansons) is investigating H2S sensors for the oil and gas processor industry. Fracret (Kara Zappitelli, Bill Waterson, Saba Moslehi) is exploring retinal implants for patients with debilitating retinal diseases.

• Oregon MBA startups have tackled competitions in Bangkok, Thailand and Louisville, Kentucky so far this year. Another competition in Winnipeg, Manitoba is just around the corner.

• UO startup and RAIN Eugene Accelerator graduate Animosa raised over $14k to launch their product — 40% over their $10k goal.