Angel Oregon Technology (AOTech) is designed to support early-stage technology startups based in Oregon and Southwest Washington by offering investment-readiness education, mentorship with successful local entrepreneurs in their sector, and connectivity within the local technology community.
The program is one in a series of Angel Oregon events facilitated by OEN which includes Angel Oregon Life and Bioscience (AOBIO) and Oregon Angel Food (OregonAF).
2025 will feature two three-week investment-readiness education series for technology startups at any stage of development. This series will be held online on Tuesdays starting at 8:30 am and the cohort will include an in-person pitch practice with feedback from regional thought leaders.
INVESTMENT OPPORTUNITY
Early stage companies ready for dilutive capital investment may apply to this program. The investment opportunity will be open and finalized in August of 2025.
What is an early stage company eligible to apply for investment through AOTech?
Those with an established product/service, team, advisory board and roadmap may apply for consideration for the AOTech equity investment.
The application will require a pitch deck and financials. Interested founders should be able to demonstrate traction for a proof of concept in the form of prior funding (via grants, loans, “friends & family”) and have a clear sense of the company’s valuation.
PROGRAM DETAILS
EDUCATION SESSIONS
- AOTECH FIRST cohort features a three-week investment-readiness education series for technology startups at any stage of development.
- Cohort 1: Education Series
Tuesdays, March 4th – March 18th – 8:30 – 10:00 am on Zoom
- Cohort 1: Education Series
- AOTECH SECOND cohort features a three-week investment-readiness education series for technology startups at any stage of development.
- Cohort 2: Education Series
Tuesdays, September 2nd – September 17th – 8:30 – 10:00 am on Zoom
- Cohort 2: Education Series
PITCH PRACTICE
- In-Person Practice Pitch sessions. Location TBD.
- Cohort 1: Pitch Practice
Tuesday, April 1st – 11:00 am – 1:00 pm - Cohort 2: Pitch Practice
Tuesday, September 23rd – 11:00 am – 1:00 pm
- Cohort 1: Pitch Practice
INVESTMENT ANNOUNCEMENT MIXER
- AOTech Investment Announcement Mixer will be held in-person on Monday, August 18th from 4:00 – 7:00 pm at McMenamins Mission Theater.
REGISTER HERE
EDUCATION SESSIONS
All education sessions will be conducted via Zoom. Content portions will be recorded and will be available to all registered participants following the session.
CAPITAL READINESS FOR TECH STARTUPS
Tuesday, March 4th I 8:30 am
Hosted By:
Featuring:
- Robert Pease, Managing Partner – Cascade Seed Fund
- Tom Schnell, Business Finance Officer – Business Oregon
- Michael Ulin, Co-Founder & CTO – Paxton AI
- Jessie Ulrich, Managing Director – Moss Adams
This session is specifically designed for tech entrepreneurs seeking to understand the funding landscape and secure investment to scale their innovative ventures. Offering expert insights, practical tools, and networking opportunities to help tech startups prepare for successful fundraising.
Key components of the session include:
- Exploring Funding Sources: Understand the various funding avenues available to tech startups, including venture capital, angel investors, seed funding, government grants, and strategic partnerships.
- Financial Strategy and Metrics for Tech Startups: Learn the financial basics, such as cash flow management, budgeting, and key performance indicators (KPIs), and how to use them to attract investors and maintain sustainable growth.
- Navigating the Investment Landscape & Pitching to Investors: Understand what investors look for in a tech startup, from the founding team to product innovation and market traction, and how to align your business with these criteria. Get expert tips on creating and delivering an effective pitch, highlighting your product’s unique technology, growth potential, and ability to disrupt the market.
- Legal and Regulatory Considerations: Learn about legal and intellectual property considerations specific to tech startups, including patents, copyrights, data protection, and regulatory compliance.
This session is designed for entrepreneurs who are ready to take their business to the next level and want to prepare themselves for successful fundraising. Whether you’re in the early stages or ready to scale, this session will help you position your company for long-term growth and financial success.
VALUATIONS & CAP TABLES FOR TECH STARTUPS
Tuesday, March 11th I 8:30 am
Hosted By:
Featuring
- Mary Hull, Partner – Stoel Rives
- Caroline Lewis, Managing Partner – Rogue Women’s Fund
This session is designed to provide founders in the tech startup ecosystem with essential knowledge on business valuations and capitalization tables (cap tables). Understanding these topics is crucial for making informed decisions about funding, equity distribution, and growth strategies.
Key Highlights:
- Startup Valuations: Learn about different methods for valuing a startup. Experts will share tips on how to assess the value of your startup at different growth stages.
- Cap Tables 101: Gain a deep understanding of capitalization tables—how to structure and manage equity ownership, and how they impact decisions related to funding rounds, exits, and ownership dilution.
- Navigating Equity Ownership: Discover best practices for balancing ownership stakes among founders, investors, and employees, and how to avoid common pitfalls in cap table management and dilution.
- Preparing for Future Funding Rounds: Get expert advice on how to plan for future investment rounds, including Series A, B, and beyond, while ensuring that your cap table remains manageable and reflects the value of your startup’s progress.
Whether you’re looking to raise capital or planning for future funding rounds, this session will equip you with the tools and knowledge to effectively navigate valuations and cap table management in the fast-paced world of startups.
DUE DILIGENCE FOR TECH STARTUPS
Tuesday, March 18th I 8:30 am
Hosted By:
Featuring
- Atha Mansoory, Associate Attorney – White Summers
- Elizabeth Sheils, Co-Founder – Rock Paper Coin
- Adam Turco, Founder & President – Primetrics
This session is tailored to provide tech startup founders with a comprehensive understanding of the due diligence process—an essential step in securing funding, partnerships, or acquisitions. By exploring the key elements of due diligence, participants will gain insights into how to prepare for and navigate the process effectively.
Key Highlights:
- Understanding Due Diligence: Learn what due diligence entails, why it’s crucial for tech startups, and how it helps build trust with investors, partners, and potential acquirers.
- Preparing for Due Diligence: Gain practical tips on how to prepare your startup for due diligence, from organizing your ‘data room’ with financial statements to ensuring all contracts and IP documentation are in order.
- Key Areas of Focus: Dive deep into the critical aspects of due diligence, including financials, legal considerations, intellectual property, team dynamics, and market positioning.
- Management Team Evaluation: Learn what investors look for in a tech startup’s leadership team. Gain tips on showcasing the qualifications, experience, and expertise of your team to build confidence in your company’s ability to execute its vision.
- Red Flags and Common Pitfalls: Learn about the most common issues that arise during due diligence and how to address red flags to avoid delays or lost opportunities.
This session is designed to give startup founders and their teams the knowledge they need to navigate the due diligence process with confidence and secure the right partnerships for growth and success.
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
WHY IS AOTECH IMPORTANT FOR FOUNDERS AND ENTREPRENEURS?
- To build your business: learn how best to finance growth, meet investors, connect with mentors, and solve operational problems
- To build community: connect with fellow founders and investors in the technology sector, learn the stories behind home-grown successes, and grow your network
- To build the local economy: earn investment, find local suppliers, and meet local talent
WHO IS INVOLVED?
- FOUNDERS: Technology founders and founding teams of all kinds – and stages – are welcome to register for the education sessions.
- ANGELS: accredited investors game to invest collectively in a technology company and help grow the regional tech sector are welcome. Details below.
- MENTORS: specialists of all kinds support founders with their time and talents in grant applications, business model development, regulatory compliance and testing, and so on.
THANK YOU SPONSORS