SIUSLAW NEWS |BUSINESS QUARTERLY | JULY 25, 2018
Business Quarterly Greater Florence Area
Hi, my name is ENTREPRENEUR Local entrepreneurs make their pitch in the first-ever Startup Weekend Oregon Coast
“Hi,
I’m Brad,” said Brad Attig, who provides alternative financing guidance to early-stage companies through the Oregon Regional Accelerator and Innovation Network’s (RAIN) Venture Catalyst Program. He stood before a packed house of entrepreneurs from up and down the coast and points inland. They were there for the first-ever Startup Weekend Oregon Coast, a production of Oregon RAIN, Lane SBDC, Techstars, City of Florence and Pure Organic Energy. “I call myself an ecosystem activist,” Attig explained. “That means I believe in doing as much as possible to help create innovative entrepreneurial ecosystems in towns and cities, in particular rural communities here in Oregon.” The event, which was held July 13 and 14 at Lane Community College Florence Center, brought together entrepreneurs and mentors to pitch initial ideas, form teams and see where their business creativity took them. The weekend, originally developed by Techstars, is similar to the TV show “Shark Tank,” but without the big startup cash and melodrama. “We’re going to be sharing a lot of ideas,” Attig said. “We’ll be working with each other, saying ‘How do we try this?’ There are no bad ideas. Be understanding that a lot of different ideas are going to come. We all have different backgrounds and ways of solving problems.” The importance of the weekend was driven home by Oregon State Sen. Arnie Roblan, who started off the program on Friday night. “The only hope we have is that we grow our own people who are entrepreneurial enough to hire one, two or three people,” Roblan said. “That’s where most of the jobs are in this country, and almost all of the jobs on the south coast. We need people who want to live in these wonderful places and have a vision and idea about building something.” And that something is a business, which the event looked to foster and, possibly, grow into an actual, thriving enterprise. “Good luck with this weekend, enjoy the learning opportunities and recognize that it’s never easy,” Roblan said.
Stupid Ideas Attig began the weekend with an icebreaker. He asked the audience to shout out adjectives and nouns. Ubiquitous, influential, engaging and cannabis were some of the word suggestions. Then Attig requested the audience break into small groups. Only one rule: participants couldn’t already know someone else in the group. This was about networking. The game was for the groups to make up a “half-baked, absurd” business idea with the shout out words. They had about two minutes to do so. The results? “Overstock for bridges.” Does your city manager want to buy the London Bridge, but can’t afford it? Come on over to Overstock Bridges, where we have the best deals on factory warranted bridges to help your city needs. “Lost cannabis.” Smoke too much premium kush and forget where you
Attig said. “Always be pitching.” The entrepreneurs began signing up to be a part of teams. Six out of the 12 pitches were chosen. They then worked for the next 24 hours on their project, market research and defining the business’ Minimum Viable Product (MVP). Attig defined that as, “What is the simplest thing you can go after a customer with, and say, ‘If this does this, will you buy it?’” The teams would learn how to go to market, what type of business model to make, how to make a pitch and, finally, pitch their idea in front of judges.
Story By Jared Anderson Siuslaw News
Final Presentation
PHOTOS BY (ABOVE) JOSH PURVIS AND JARED ANDERSON/SIUSLAW NEWS
Above, Oregon RAIN’s Brad Attig led the Startup Weekend Oregon Coast at Lane Community College Florence Center July 13 and 14. “I believe in doing as much as possible to help create innovative entrepreneurial ecosystems in towns and cities, in particular rural communities here in Oregon,” he said.
Entrepreneurs from RAIN’s coastal communitities in Lane and Lincoln counties attended the event, as did people from the Willamette Valley and other areas in Oregon. Groups formed over the weekend to take an idea and launch it into a full-fledged startup, complete with professional pitch and next steps for these new businesses. put your weed? We train dogs to sniff out and find lost marijuana so you can keep the high going all night long. “What did we learn from this?” Attig asked. “We made some new friends, we connected with people we didn’t know an hour ago. We realized that some ideas might really seem stupid to begin with, but there are ways to take a look at the market and the needs of people and come up with ideas that, actually, aren’t too bad, on the surface.” He didn’t suggest anyone plop down $5K to start one of these, but the problems that those stupid ideas solved may hold the seed to something greater. Next, the entrepreneurs were invited to pitch their real ideas to the room. The pitches with the most votes would move onto further development the next day.
60 Seconds “The anatomy of a 60-second pitch is, ‘Hi, I’m Brad. The problem I want to solve is ...” Attig said. After that, the entrepreneurs were to name the solution, then who or what they would need to get there, especially
someone to help market or engineer a product. They also had to mention the name of the business. The entrepreneurs began their pitches. “Hi, my name is Ivy. The problem I want to solve is caregiver burnout.” Her solution was adult day health centers, a place where those in need of care can temporarily stay to give the caregiver time to relax or to catch up on work. For those being cared for, they get a full day on their own. Her business, Second Home, needed help from caregivers and managerial experts. “My name is Randy. My problem is sidewalk advertising.” Randy said the sidewalk advertising industry is huge, with $9.6 billion in revenue in the last couple of years. But there are limits to how much physical space is available. “The problem is, it obstructs when it tries to attract,” he said. The solution? Airborne vehicles that travel on telephone wires from pole to pole with advertising, freeing up sidewalk space and enhancing the natural
atmosphere of the area. He was an engineer himself, but needed more to help develop the product, as well as people to make the products. One by one, a dozen entrepreneurs gave their pitch. A sigh of relief went across each face as they finished. For many in the group, it was their first time pitching an idea to a crowd. “How did that go?” Attig asked. “Nobody died, right?” In Attig’s mind, pitching is one of the cornerstones of an entrepreneur. “The more you pitch and talk about your idea, the easier it is to talk about it. You should be talking to people in line at the grocery store. Use it as market research,” he suggested. It also helps with networking. The more people you talk to, he suggested, the greater the possibility you’ll get someone interested in your idea and get them on board. “One of the biggest reasons a startup fails is because it doesn’t have the right team. They have the right idea, but they can’t get it going because they don’t have all the right pieces in place with a team,”
“Take a deep breath,” Attig said to the group as the entrepreneurs finally finished readying their presentations and prepared for the judges to walk in. The judges were Kate Harmon, program manager at the Lundquist Center for Entrepreneurship at the University of Oregon; Kimmy Gustafson, chapter manager for Eugene Starve Ups; and Jesse Dolin, central coast destination developer with the Oregon Coast Visitors Association. Reassuring the startups, Dolin said, “We’re like a big family here, so no stress.” He is himself an entrepreneur, with a business and new startup already under his belt. “What are the judges looking for?” Attig asked. “Validation. Did you get out and talk to customers? Are you actually solving a problem? Have you identified a target market? Who is in that market that has that problem?” They also looked for execution and design, and if the product is easy to use. Do the teams have a prototype? A brochure, a flier or a model? How would they market it? Of course, glamorous prizes awaited the winners of the day. Third place? The respect of being in the top half. Second place? A bag of coffee from Surftown Coffee Company. “It’s really good, from Newport,” said David Youngentob, Coastal Venture Catalyst for RAIN. The second-place team would also get feedback from the judges and would be automatically entered into one of two Coastal Pre-Accelerator programs in either Lane or Lincoln counties. “It’s a multi-week program to help you systematically refine everything,” Youngentob explained. “It will help with value propositions, business model, learning to build out team maps, how to think about going out to pitch on a more sophisticated level, and really have your A-game together.” First place? The pre-accelerator program, feedback from judges and a halfday deep-dive with the RAIN development team. The winner would also get coffee and a tie-dye hoodie. “It’s a good weekend for it, with the Oregon Country Fair,” Youngentob said. With the guidelines set, the final pitches began. See STARTUPS page 3
Final rate decisions released for Oregon 2019 health plans SALEM—Small businesses and individuals who buy their own health insurance can now see the Division of Financial Regulation’s final rate decisions for 2019 health insurance plans. The division reviews and approves rates through a detailed and transparent process before they can be charged to policyholders. The final decisions are based on the result of a rigorous review, which included public hearings and public comment. The division published preliminary decisions last month before the hearings. These hearings provided an opportunity for the public, health insurance companies, and the division to further review
and analyze the preliminary decisions. “Despite federal actions that continue to inject instability into our market, 2019 rates look to be even lower than initially requested,” said Insurance Commissioner Andrew Stolfi. “The positive effect of the Oregon Reinsurance Program provides relief for Oregonians and helps reverse some of the rate increases caused by actions at the federal level.” Open enrollment for 2019 plans is from Nov. 1 to Dec. 15, 2018.
the individual market with average rate changes ranging from a 9.6 percent decrease to a 10.1 percent increase. Under the decisions, Silver Standard Plan premiums for a 40-year-old in Portland would range from $415 to $486 a month. The final decisions include a 1.1 percent reduction of the preliminary approved rate of Providence, which was lowered from 10.6 percent to 9.5 percent due to updated loss experience data. Its initial rate request was 13.6 percent. The only other change was to Kaiser Foundation Health Plan. The inIndividual market dividual rate was adjusted slightly The division has issued final from an increase of 9.2 percent to decisions for seven companies in 9.4 percent. Kaiser’s initial rate re-
quest was 14.3 percent. The rate changes are company-wide averages based on premiums for plans before financial assistance through Oregon’s Health Insurance Marketplace is taken into account. All Oregonians who purchase their own insurance are encouraged to apply for assistance through the Marketplace for 2019, even if they did not qualify last year. In 2018, Oregonians who received help with the costs of their health insurance paid on average $138 a month.
the division has issued final decisions for nine companies with average rates ranging from a 4 percent decrease to a 7.2 percent increase. Under the decisions, Silver Standard Plan premiums for a 40-year-old in Portland would range from $295 to $387 a month. Final rates include significant reductions from the preliminary decisions for several plans based on updated loss experience data. Providence’s small group rates decreased from 8.2 percent to 3.9 percent. UnitedHealthCare Insurance Company changed from 9.4 percent to 7.2 percent, and UnitedHealthCare of Oregon was Small group market reduced from 8.9 percent to 6.7 In the small group market, percent.
In 2019, all carriers will maintain their current service area, and two insurers are expanding with Kaiser moving into Lane County and PacificSource moving into Lane and Yamhill counties. “We remain encouraged to see two carriers expanding into additional counties, and all carriers maintaining their current service areas,” said Stolfi. “We have done a lot of work to help steady the Oregon health insurance market, and continue to explore all avenues to help steady premium rates for Oregonians.” See HEALTH page 2
Siuslaw News’ Business Quarterly is a way to seasonally highlight local businesses and economic development updates. It will be published next in October. To advertise, call 541-997-3441. To submit, email pressreleases@thesiuslawnews.com.
2 SIUSLAW NEWS | BUSINESS QUARTERLY | WEDNESDAY, JULY 25, 2018
‘Home for the Holidays’ Tour of Homes announced OPB gives a Consolidated Statement of Condition F or the first time ever, the Florence community will be hosting an exclusive holiday event that is sure to be one of this holiday season’s biggest treats: “Home for the Holidays: A Community Christmas Tour of Homes,” is scheduled for the weekend of Dec. 14 to 16, 2018. The Community Christmas Tour of Homes is an exclusive holiday experience filled with the sights, sounds and savors of Christmas as participants partake in a tour of four Florence homes magically decorated for the season. Each tour group will board a special bus and be whisked away to four beautiful homes, each festooned in divine Christmas décor. While touring each home, savor a special beverage or treat, as well a unique entertainment to celebrate the season. For two weeks, take advantage of the special Christmas in July offer for an early discounted ticket purchase. From July 25 to August 8, tickets are $40 each. After August 8, tick-
ets will be available for $50 each and are available until they are sold out. One ticket will secure your spot in a tour group of your choice: Friday or Saturday night (Dec. 14 or 15) or Sunday afternoon (Dec. 16.). Spaces will be limited to
four tour groups per showing. All proceeds from this event will be generously donated to Children’s Repertory of Oregon Workshops (CROW), the local children’s performing arts organization, www. crowkids.com.
Specifically, funds raised form this evening will benefit CROW’s spring production of the musical, “The Wiz.” Visit the event Facebook page or call 541-520-1255 for more information. Tickets can be purchased at www.crowkids.com/buy-tickets.
U R Worth It gets new hair designer, colorist Karen LeRoy, a hair designer and colorist, has joined the U R Worth It Hair Salon team. The salon, located at 1247 Bay St. in Historic Old Town Florence, welcomes loyal clients as well as new walk-ins. “My passion is hair,” LeRoy said. “For 30 years I’ve been blessed to be given hands that create and bring out the beauty in people.” She is a California native with California Cosmetology training. She is also a new Florence Ambassa-
U R Worth It’s new hair designer and colorist, Karen LeRoy dor with the Florence Area Chamber of Commerce, which has led to meeting and building friendships with local residents, especially the clients at U R Worth It. “I will do my best to make your experience an awesome one,” she said. For more information, or to schedule an appointment, call 541-9977377.
Oregon Pacific Bancorp and its wholly-owned subsidiary, Oregon Pacific Bank, reported a net operating income of $1.4 million for the six months ending June 30, 2018, compared to $546 thousand for the six months ending June 30, 2017. This equates to $0.20 earnings per share (EPS), as compared to $0.13 for the same period in 2017; a 53.85 percent increase in EPS, which includes 2.62 million of additional shares following the Bank’s capital raise in fall 2017. Quarter over quarter, interest income and interest expense have increased due to solid growth in loans and deposits. This resulted in an increase in net interest income after provision for credit losses of $123 thousand over the first quarter of 2018. The bank continues to experience strong loan and deposit growth, which increased 19.64 percent and 14.26 percent, respectively, over June 30, 2017. Trust and wealth management departments continue their success, which contributed to a 20.23 percent increase in non-interest income. Loan quality continues to be strong for the bank. Nonperforming assets as a percentage of total assets was 0.86 percent for the period ending June 30, 2018, as com-
pared to 1.49 percent for the same period in 2017. The bank’s plan to leverage the capital raised in 2017 took a large step forward during the second quarter. “We were successful in recruiting a large team of commercial and relationship bankers in the Eugene market,” said President & CEO Ron Green. “Our strategic plan calls for us to expand our Eugene presence to attempt to capitalize on the most recent industry consolidation.” This experienced team will assist the bank in achieving its growth and shareholder value objectives. “I am very excited about the opportunity in Eugene and very pleased we were able to successfully attract a group of such extraordinary bankers, which is led by the bank’s new Executive Vice President and Chief Lending Officer, John Raleigh,” Green said. The current Eugene office will relocate to a new full-service location in Eugene by mid fall. The new branch location is 59 E. 11th St., Eugene, Ore., and will offer ample parking, ATM and drive thru services. Oregon Pacific Branch is headquartered at 1365 Highway 101 in Florence, with locations in Coos Bay, Eugene, Medford and Roseburg.
VOLUNTEER FOR FRIENDS Committee seeks grant writer by Aug. 14 deadline OF FLORENCE
Florence Public Art Committee has sent out a request for proposals (RFP) for the “Public Art Grant Work Plan Creation & Grant Writer” position. The City of Florence is seeking proposals from qualified individuals or firms with a proven track record to provide grant writing services for the City’s Public Art Committee. Successful applicants will demonstrate an ability to provide all of the following: researching and finding appropriate grants, drafting a strategic plan, writing, submitting and securing grants.
The Public Art Committee has been tasked with the implementation of its work plan to establish new public art programs for the city, including the establishment of the art for the Highway 101 and 126 ReVision Florence project. ReVision Florence is a partnership between the City of Florence, the Florence Urban Renewal Agency, Lane County, Oregon Department of Transportation and the Florence Public Art Committee. Each partner is investing time, money and/or in-kind participation to complete this rehabilitation of the major traffic
corridor of Florence. The plans call for widening sidewalks, placing utilities underground, adding bicycle lanes, realignment of side streets, natural landscaping, bio-swales, benches, contemporary street lighting and the placement of works of art that will be strategically located throughout this new streetscape. The initial phase of this RFP request is for the completion of a Public Art Grant Work Plan that would recommend all appropriate grants, whether local, nonprofit, state or federal, that may be available to the city and committee, where the
HEALTH from page 1A
The Department of Consumer and Business Services is Oregon’s largest business regulatory and consumer protection agency. For more information, visit www.dcbs. oregon.gov. The Division of Financial Regulation is part of the Department of Consumer and Business Services, Oregon’s
largest business regulatory and consumer protection agency. For more information, visit dfr. oregon.gov/Pages/index.aspx.
Reasons for rate changes include: • Medical costs continue to rise, driven by increased use and the cost of new specialized prescription drugs. • The Oregon Reinsurance Program, which reduced individual market rates by 6.3 percent for 2019. • Uncertainty in the individual market due to factors such as the elimination of the individual mandate penalty, and federal rules around association health plans and shortterm/limited-duration plans. See the chart at dfr. oregon.gov/healthrates/Docu ments/2019-fnl-prpsd-rates.pdf for the full list of decisions. The division is not allowing any rate changes based on the temporary suspension of the federal risk adjustment program. Earlier this month, the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services temporarily suspended the risk adjustment program while it seeks a quick resolution to ongoing litigation in New Mexico. The program transfers funds from insurers with healthier enrollees to insurers who provide coverage for less healthy members. It is designed to help stabilize the market without additional costs to consumers. Decision information for each carrier can be found at www.oregonhealthrates.org. Statewide premium comparison tables for ages 21, 40, and 60 will be posted online in August.
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monies would go to all costs associated with the creation, installation and maintenance of the artworks. RFP submittal will also be utilized as a basis for future grant writing work. Proposers shall provide submittal in either digital or hard copy format, by 5 p.m. on Aug. 14 to Kelli Weese, City Recorder/Economic Development Coordinator. For full submittal information, visit ci.florence.or.us.
The nonprofit Friends of Florence, which provides free bus transportation for cancer patients, is seeking volunteer drivers. A commercial driver’s license is not required. For more information, call 541-997-8663.
SIUSLAW NEWS | BUSINESS QUARTERLY | WEDNESDAY, JULY 25, 2018 STARTUPS from page 1A Personally “Hey, how’s it going?” That is the most popular pickup line on the online dating app Happn. It’s about as romantically inspiring as walking up to someone in a bar and saying, “It’s handy that I have a library card because I’m totally checking you out.” Statistically, women get way more potential suitors in online dating than men do. Men right swipe on more than half the women they see, while women are statistically choosier. The result? Women get bombarded with messages in their inbox with insipid opening lines. “The problem we have found [in online dating] is that we have women who are overwhelmed, and men that are undervalued,” the team of the proposed app Personally said. “You have a huge bombardment of messages to women who are overwhelmed, and the men who take the time to respond genuinely don’t get the opportunity to be heard.” The solution? Go strictly video. “Personally is a video-only dating platform that creates a more genuine online dating experience,” the team said. No messages to ignore, no pictures to be unimpressed with, just real-life personality. In a way, it’s the dating app Tinder meeting the social media platform Vine. “We want it to be a middle ground between Christian Mingle and Grinder,” team Personally said. “By removing flat pictures and boring bios, you really get a sense of someone’s personality. With video, you get to put that back into the online dating realm. Daters login, see a video, watch it and decide if they are interested. If you like the person, video chat with them directly. “Currently, the system gives you seven videos,” Personally explained. “The videos are seven seconds each. When you select the video, it pulls forward and you get to watch the video. When it’s done, it goes away and you can’t watch it again. So you have seven opportunities to see somebody.” Like most dating apps, Personally will have a tiered payment system: Free to use for basic users, but extra charges for addons, like viewing a video more than once. The demo showed a young man simply stating his name and where he lived, while the second video showed him riding around on a bike — shirtless — talking about how he loved the outdoors.
The crowd genuinely felt like they got to know the single man, and were almost unanimous that he had showcased appealing features. The team is looking for startup funds.
ble burst, and real estate brokers fell on hard times. “They fled the larger franchises and went into independent brokerages to save cost during the market crash,” the creators of Brokerage in a Box said. “Ten years later, these independent brokers are rePlant Whisperer ally struggling to keep up “Have you ever woken with the larger franchises up because you were in a out there.” deep sleep and there was The group listed two this annoying lawnmowchoices that brokers have er or leaf blower?” asked right now. Sign a 200-page the group behind the new document with high fees startup Plant Whisperer. JARED ANDERSON/SIUSLAW NEWS to get back into the franPeople just hate the The entrepreneurs, mentors and leaders who attended the first Startup chises, or join an indepennoise of landscaping, the Weekend Oregon Coast came away with several skills, including how to dent and pay small fees. shrill sound of a weed- pitch an idea to investors and launch a startup. Th e problem with the latwhacker, the buzz of a ter choice? Lack of technology to weed trimmer. You can’t yell “get sition from military life and the other team’s defense futilely support the business. Th ey can’t off my lawn” when you’re actually service back to civilian life,” the flails their arms. paying them to be on your lawn. pitch began. “Starting with probBut there’s a problem. Some of compete with the big firms. “Our solution is to create an The solution? Go electric. lem number one. There is no op- your friends have different work online platform which is cir“We do our landscaping with portunity for integration. schedules. Your best teammate cled around business operations all electric tools and manual “Problem number two, they’re just had a new baby, so any sort and creating an alliance of intools,” the team said. “Using elec- essentially being forgotten. of leisure activity has been put on dependent brokers, ” the group tric alternatives helps us to keep There’s this gap, this drop at the the backburner for the next two explained. “Th ey can use this the sound levels 20 decibels lower end of their service. It’s hard to years. And then there’s your cosystem to operate their business than gas equivalents. As an add- put into words the emotions that worker who’s just plain lazy. under their own brand name. ” ed bonus, there are zero emis- come with that.” “I want to go play basketball, Th ere’s a lot of tools out there to sions from electric tools.” Veterans come from a struc- but I don’t like waiting on others,” help independents, but they are The group is pegging the re- tured environment — knowing one member of I Got Next said. tirement community of Florence when mess time is, when they “I like competitive camaraderie. piecemeal, sometimes charging as the perfect target audience for need to go to bed, when they are I would like to get back into that high prices for one program, the service, particularly planned on duty. Then they are thrown with friends, or new friends, and such as marketing suites or custom realtor websites. The big idea communities like Florentine Es- into a world devoid of structure. link us to new facilities.” tates. The emotional impact was No need to retire the jersey for Brokerage in a Box is to put all “We help them achieve their driven home by a veteran who when you have the I Got Next the tools necessary together for goals of a place of relaxation,” the was in the group. app. The idea is simple. Sign up, one monthly fee. The advantage group said. “I’m a two-time veteran, and list the sports you’re interested in is the totality of services offered. “We’re going to have a $350 Plant Whisperer would also be I can reiterate that anyone who’s and find others in your area who offi ce set up fee, and a monthly ideal for hospitality industries, had someone in military, you want to get active. realtors fee of $10 per agent, per like hotels who are concerned spend 12 to 15 weeks getting inThe group listed a litany of month, ” the group said. about keeping the area quiet for corporated into the military to be possible users for the app beyond It’s a big market, with the weary travelers. a certain way,” he said. “But then the lone player. Directors of progroup reporting that 84 percent The team had already been de- when you finish, you’re done. grams like YMCA who have difof all real estate brokerages list as veloping the idea for a while, with No debriefing, no reorientation ficulties engaging their memberindependent. the developer looking to create a to civilian life. I actually joined ship could sign up. The group came prepared for stable job for his son, as well as the service again after 25 days “You might have 8,500 memthe weekend, already having a other youth in the area. because I couldn’t stand civilian bers in the county, but only about sizable business plan already But would switching to all life.” 3,000 are what they call ‘power written up for the judges. They electric cost a bundle for a small Empowered Horizons Re- users,’ or people who are engaged also have a booth reserved at the startup? treat’s solution to the problem every day,” the group reported. National Association of Realtors “We’ve found that we can keep is reintegration retreats, helping “… There is a need for an app that conference in Boston in Novemit equivalent,” the group said. “We veterans to identify barriers that would provide postings, alerts ber. do that by our initial investments are impeding forward motion in and data collection.” “We’ve spent around $80,000 in our electric equipment. We get their lives and achieving personal Other programs like Boys and and we’re looking for a seed to keep our maintenance costs freedom through self-empower- Girls Club could take advantage around $250,000 specifically to down and we keep our overhead ment, mindfulness and positive as well. add computer programmers and down, because we like to keep a activities. The app itself would be gamdevelopers to advance our prosimple lifestyle that’s peaceful for The retreats would be located ified, an incentive-based sysgram, ” they said. us too. That gives us the ability to in peaceful locations, surround- tem where users could endorse compete.” With much of the components already in place, “What we’re looking for now is if you know anyone who wants quiet, peaceful landscaping services,” the group said.
ed by nature, and would be particularly geared for those just exiting the service. Counseling would be provided, as well as life skill development training. It would also be a place where veterans could decompress from the stresses of military life. Empowered Horizons They would take the nonprofRetreat it model for funding, working “Our little project is Empowfor grants and partnerships with ered Horizons Retreat, with the Veterans Affairs and Wings Semfocus on helping veterans traninars, which help with personal development for veterans. “What do we need?” they asked. “To develop a partnership with Wings and find a grant writer. Our locations, we have several that we’re looking at. We want a natural setting. We also want volunteer participants. You too can be a volunteer as well as an activity coordinator.”
players through ratings on skill, sportsmanship and just general personality. “Those with higher experience levels, you’re going to want to drift toward their games,” they said. “It’s like a game within a game that keeps people coming back.” The group is looking at a flat subscription rate for programs like YMCA. There could be shared advertising, particularly with sports accessory businesses like Adidas, and industry sponsorship for events, with incentives to compete in real tournaments. They could even get endorsements from local collegiate and professional teams. Is the group actually going to pull the trigger on this idea? “At hour 36, it seems like a great idea!” they said. “We’re trying to figure out where this I Got Next Here’s the situation: You’re a would be served best. We have a basketball player, addicted to lot of thinking to do.” the sport. The moment you get off work, you want to be on the Brokerage in a Box court making the perfect layup as It was 2008. The housing bub-
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Mingle Conf. “I don’t know if you’ve been to a conference, but I’m sure you’ve probably felt like a lost puppy,” was Mingle Conf.’s opening pitch line. “You’re wandering around the room, with sometimes 1,000 people there. You have no idea who to connect with. Everyone is just a face, a sea of people.” The worst is when you start talking to someone who seems interesting, but in reality isn’t. Forty-five minutes go by and any and every excuse you have to get out of it is swatted down. “And I hate it when I meet someone at the end of a conference when I could have met them on day one,” the group said. Enter Mingle Conf., an app where conference goers can add their name to a roster before the conference begins, listing what they are looking for, who they want to meet, what they want to get out of the conference, and give a little information about themselves like the name of their company. “We’re trying to encourage people to connect with each other at the conference, either by messaging directly or finding groups interested in the same topic,” the
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presenters said. “Just really encourage interpersonal meetups at the conference. Also, it gives them ability to search for who is actually going to be at the conference.” The potential client base is huge. The group said that there were 2 million conferences held in 2013 alone, with over 250 million attendees pouring through conference hall and hotel lobby doors. “We’re looking at annual conferences with more than 500 attendees. We also figure that at $4 an attendee, that is also a sweet spot,” the group said. “The [conference organizers] can put that into the ticket. That’s not a big deal. For the smaller ones, we would do for free, just to get the app out there.” In addition, the group said it wasn’t looking to make billions off the app, instead taking a conservative profit margin. But they also said the avenues for dividends were large, with cash flows from event organizers, branding opportunities for sponsors and, of course, the opportunity of aggregating the big data of who is attending these conferences. These could be gold for organizations looking to create, plan and build attendance rosters for their next meeting. After the app is built, the majority of costs would be maintaining sales professionals to push the product, and that’s the resource the group is looking for right now. Winner, Winner Attig took a poll for the crowd favorite of the bunch, the winner of which would win bragging rights. Personally eked out the win. “I gotta tell you something, I liked all of them,” Attig said. “You all got good ideas going on.” The group of entrepreneurs talked about what they learned, how they learned to succinctly pitch their product and how they learned to think a startup all the way through. They also learned how to ask investors for money. So really, they were all winners. “On average, 12 percent of teams that compete in a startup weekend move on with their ideas in one way, shape or another,” Attig said. “I want you to know that maybe two or three of you will move on. Maybe all of you. Some teams will fail, and that’s okay. You might go somewhere, meet someone who was on a different team. I would encourage you to keep your process going to work on these things. Don’t stop learning.” As for the judges, they chose a different winner. Third place went to Personally, and the runner up was I Got Next. The winner went to Mingle Conf. All three happen to be web-based platforms with an emphasis on social interaction. At only 10 days after the event, it is unclear if any of the Startup Weekend startups will continue with their business plans. From here on out, it’s up to the entrepreneurs to decide if they want to continue their work. However, now they are equipped to stand up in front of investors and say, “Hi, I’m an entrepreneur.” For information about RAIN and its programs, contact david@ oregonrain.org, follow RAIN on Twitter, Instagram and Facebook or visit online at oregonrain.org.
4 SIUSLAW NEWS | BUSINESS QUARTERLY | WEDNESDAY, JULY 25, 2018
Time to plan for fall fun in Florence
In Florence, summer lasts until mid-October, according to Bettina Hannigan, executive director for the Florence Area Chamber of Commerce. “There is so much to do all season long,” Hannigan said. “Locals and visitors alike enjoy sandboarding and sandcastles; big dune adventures on their own ATV or in a professionally-driven, thrill-a-minute sand rail; kite flying or kiteboarding; or just getting some sand between their toes, frolicking along mile after mile of open, uncrowded beaches.” The chamber has a free visitor’s guide that details all the ways to shop, eat, stay and play in Florence. It is available by calling 541-997-3128, visiting FlorenceChamber.com or by dropping by the Visitor’s Center at 290 Highway 101. Sept. 7 to 9 is the annual Rods ’n’ Rhodies Weekend and the Communitywide Garage Sale. Come check out some of the hottest vintage rides on the West Coast, live music, ’50s and ’60s-themed movies and a costume contest, the Old Town Car Cruise and incredible food and beverage. Bargain hunters will find three days of amazing deals at nearly 100 retail and private locations around town.
IMAGES COURTESY THE FLORENCE AREA CHAMBER OF COMMERCE
Adventure is out there — all year — at Florence and its surrounding sand dunes, beaches, rivers, lakes and ocean. Discover your next activity today in Oregon’s Coastal Playground. “Think of the Communitywide Garage Sale as your own personal episode of ‘American Pickers,’” said Hannigan. In Florence, “Labor Day Weekend is not the end of summer around here,” Hannigan emphasized. “The fun continues into October with Florence’s famous Wine & Chowder Trail and Great Glass Float Giveaway Oct. 5 to 7. You can stroll Historic Old Town Florence and sample outstanding Oregon Wines
on Saturday and the most amazing clam chowders on Sunday.” All weekend participants can also search local shops and galleries for more than a dozen beautiful hiddenin-plain-sight glass floats and register to win one. All these events help Florence achieve award-winning fun. Earlier this year, USA Today awarded Florence as one of the top small towns in the country for
adventure. “USA Today’s writers already point out that adrenaline junkies flock to Florence for some of the nation’s best sand dunes for buggy rides, sand boarding, hiking and fat-tire biking. They also list fishing, crabbing and clamming as popular pastimes,” Hannigan said. “What they missed is kiteboarding, wind surfing, hiking and camping in pristine an-
City gives July ReVision Florence project update The Florence Urban Renewal Agency and the City of Florence are continuing to work on the ReVision Florence Streetscape Project. Below is an update on the timeline and what to expect with this project moving forward. Project Bidding, Design & Timeline The project went through a public bidding process that was administered by the Oregon Department of Transportation (ODOT). Those bids were opened on June 7. Unfortunately, the project only received two bids and they were both over the budget. ODOT has formally rejected the bids and the city is working with ODOT to revise the strategy in anticipation of going out to bid again in October. Over the past month, city staff members have been working with ODOT and the project’s engineering consultant, Murraysmith, to revise several components of the project in order to prepare for rebidding this fall. Those changes include revising the timeline, lane restriction changes and design modifications. The city is also working with ODOT to combine the streetscape project and the ODOT paving project into one comprehensive project with
a single construction bidding process and contractor. The goal of combining the two projects is to recognize some economies of scale in the mobilization and construction costs, as well as to reduce some of the work that would be needed for temporary features between the timing of the two projects.
struction during the tourism season. The City of Florence, Florence Urban Renewal Agency and ODOT are committed to seeing this project completed. While there will be some changes to the original design, the overall project concept and the main project elements will stay intact. The project will still include new sidewalks, utility undergrounding, The updated timeline new lighting, landscaping, bike is as follows: Aug. 10 – Final design due to lanes, gateway plazas and paving. As the project moves closer to ODOT for review the new construction date, the Aug. 27 – Final design sent to ODOT Office of Project Letting Oct. 11 – Advertisement of bid documents Oct. 25 – Contractor mandatory pre-bid meeting Nov. 15 – ODOT opens bids January 2019 – Construction begins October 2019 – Construction ends Next Steps As the City works with ODOT to update the project design to fit within the budget, it is important for the business owners along the corridor to have the update on what to expect. With construction now pushed back to 2019, business and property owners will not have the impact of con-
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city will provide additional updates to the business and property owners in the corridor, as well as the community. Additional open house information will be available on the city’s website when one is scheduled. City staff will continue to develop project resources for the Business Toolbox with the updated construction timing information. The city will continue to provide future updates on the ReVision Florence project at ci.florence.or.us/urbanrenewal/ revision-florence.
cient forests, world class golf and a long list of other outdoor pursuits.” And the activities don’t stop with the typical outdoor pursuits. “The adventures continue in the culinary category with world famous clam chowder and unique northwest fusion foods fresh from the local farms and waters,” she says. In addition, Florence’s adventures include art and culture. “Florence has a public art trail, regularly scheduled art walks and many high-end galleries and shops,” Hannigan explained. “Around town we’ve got several performance venues including an art house movie theater and the 500-seat Florence Events Center with local and national caliber performances. We’ve also got two excellent museums for regional history and military history. And if gaming is your kind of adventure, visit Three Rivers Casino Resort. Don’t forget to visit all the sea lions at Sea Lion Caves, find natural treasures while beachcombing, and drop in on fascinating tidepools.” For more information on visiting Florence, call 541-997-3128 or visit FlorenceChamber.com.
PeaceHealth, Kaiser Permanente go live with health care collaboration As part of an ongoing collaboration on health care delivery and coverage in Lane County, PeaceHealth began seeing Kaiser Permanente-insured patients on July 1. Kaiser Permanente is now expanding health plan enrollment with large group employers and will be offering plans to individuals and small employer groups this fall.
In addition to the collaboration with PeaceHealth, Kaiser Permanente’s full network in Lane County includes Slocum Center for Orthopedics and Sports Medicine, Willamette Valley Cancer Institute and Pacific Women’s Center. Together, they are working to address community health needs in Lane County, as well as increase access to care in the area.