Oregon Angel Food and Beverage (OregonAF) is designed to support early-stage food and beverage startups based in Oregon and Southwest Washington by offering investment-readiness education, connectivity within the local food and beverage community, and the opportunity to receive an equity investment from local angel investors.

The program is one in a series of Angel Oregon events facilitated by OEN which includes Angel Oregon Life and Bioscience (AOBIO) and Angel Oregon Technology (AOTech).

2025 will feature two three-week investment-readiness education series for food and beverage startups at any stage of development. This series will be held online on Wednesdays starting at 8:30 am and the cohort will include an in-person pitch practice with feedback from regional thought leaders.

PRICING & REGISTRATION

$100 – OEN Member

$150 – Non-Member

REGISTER HERE

INVESTMENT OPPORTUNITY

Early stage companies ready for dilutive capital investment may apply to this program. The investment opportunity will be open and finalized in June 2025.

What is an early stage company eligible to apply for investment through OregonAF?

• Food or Beverage Makers in Oregon or SW Washington
• No CBD products; no food tech or F&B-adjacent
• Minimum of ~$10K/sales each of the last three months
• Leadership team with relevant past experience
• Ready to scale regional/national brand

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

• OREGONAF FIRST cohort features a three-week investment-readiness education series for food and beverage startups at any stage of development.
  • Cohort 1: Education Series
    Wednesdays, March 5th – March 19th – 8:30 – 10:00 am on Zoom
• OREGONAF SECOND cohort features a three-week investment-readiness education series for food and beverage startups at any stage of development.
  • Cohort 2: Education Series
    Wednesdays, September 3rd – September 18th – 8:30 – 10:00 am on Zoom

PITCH PRACTICE

• In-Person Practice Pitch sessions – Portland Metro Chamber, Portland.
  • Cohort 1: Pitch Practice
    Wednesday, April 2nd – 11:00 am – 1:00 pm
  • Cohort 2: Pitch Practice
    Wednesday, September 24th – 11:00 am – 1:00 pm

INVESTMENT ANNOUNCEMENT MIXER

• OregonAF Investment Announcement Mixer will be held in-person on Monday, June 2nd 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 FOOD & BEVERAGE STARTUPS
WEDNESDAY, MARCH 5TH  I  8:30 am

Hosted By: 

Featuring:

• Harold Anderson, Founder – Anderson CFO

This session is specifically designed for food & beverage 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 food & beverage startups prepare for successful fundraising.

Key components of the session include:

1. Exploring Funding Sources: Understand the various funding avenues available to food & beverage startups, including venture capital, angel investors, seed funding, government grants, and strategic partnerships.
2. Financial Strategy and Metrics for Food & Beverage 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.
3. Navigating the Investment Landscape & Pitching to Investors: Understand what investors look for in a food & beverage 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 attributes, growth potential, and ability to disrupt the market.
4. Legal and Regulatory Considerations: Learn about legal and intellectual property considerations specific to food & beverage startups, including patents, copyrights, trade secrets, trademarks, and regulatory compliance.
5. Regulatory and Compliance Insights: Stay informed on the key regulations and compliance requirements for food & beverage companies, including labeling, safety, and sustainability, which are crucial to securing investment.

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 FOOD & BEVERAGE STARTUPS
WEDNESDAY, MARCH 12TH  I  8:30 am

Hosted By:

Featuring:

• Ben Jacobsen, Founder – Jacobsen Salt Co.
• Jon Maroney, General Partner – Oregon Venture Fund
• Martin McClanan, Venture Partner – Oregon Venture Fund
• Landes Taylor, Shareholder – Greenberg Traurig, LLP

This session is designed to provide founders in the food & beverage 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:

1. 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.
2. 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.
3. 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.
4. 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.
5. Key Drivers of Valuation in Food & Beverage: Understand the unique valuation factors for the food & beverage sector, including brand valuation, scalability, customer acquisition costs, margins, and the competitive landscape.

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 FOOD & BEVERAGE STARTUPS
WEDNESDAY, MARCH 19TH  I  8:30 am

Hosted By:  

Featuring:

• Art Avitia, SVP & Senior Relationship Manager – Bank of America
• Madelyn Morris, Co-Founder – Mickelberry Gardens
• Aimee Squires, Principal – Amberstone
• Mike White, Founder – Best Damn BBQ Sauce & Venture Catalyst

This session is tailored to provide food & beverage 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:

1. Understanding Due Diligence: Learn what due diligence entails, why it’s crucial for startups, and how it helps build trust with investors, partners, and potential acquirers.
2. 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.
3. Key Areas of Focus: Dive deep into the critical aspects of due diligence, including financials, legal considerations, intellectual property, team dynamics, and market positioning.
4. Management Team Evaluation: Learn what investors look for in a food & beverage 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.
5. 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.
6. Regulatory Compliance & Food Safety: Understand the importance of compliance with health and safety regulations, food labeling requirements, and certifications (e.g., FDA, USDA, GMP). Learn how these factors impact due diligence and how to ensure all necessary documents are in place.

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

THANK YOU SPONSORS