Winner of $160,000 Investment Announced! – Congratulations Montrue Technologies!

Medford, OR – April 12, 2012: SOREDI (Southern Oregon Regional Economic Development, Inc.) and Southern Oregon Angel Investment Network are proud to announce that Montrue Technologies has won the $160,000 investment prize from the Southern Oregon Angel Investment Network. Five companies were selected as the Finalists to present at yesterday’s conference at the Bigham Knoll Event Center in Jacksonville. Each company pitched to investors and a crowd of approximately 150 guests at this venture conference. One company, RealLead announced that they had already found an exit strategy and withdrew from the competition, leaving four excellent presenters for the investors to consider. After a lunch-time meeting, Montrue Technologies was announced as their choice for this round of investing.

In a similar, but separate competition, five Concept Stage companies presented their ideas to the audience. One was chosen by live voting to receive a grant, consisting of $7500 in cash and prizes. Rogue Valley Innovations presented their product, Ladder-Tite, and won the Concept Grant. The grant consists of tuition for two to JeffersonU, a start-up bootcamp created by Oregon Entrepreneur Network, office space and mentorship for one year in Sustainable Valley Business Accelerator and $2500 cash provided by CFO Solutions NW.

The Southern Oregon Angel Investment Network is a natural outgrowth of the Jefferson Grapevine, an initiative formed and managed by SOREDI. These initiatives exist as part of SOREDI’s mission to cultivate entrepreneurs and provide access to capital in order to create high-wage jobs in Southern Oregon.

The Southern Oregon Angel Conference represents a culmination of much activity behind the scenes. The investor group has been meeting weekly since the January 31, 2012 application deadline, to perform due diligence on all of the companies it was considering for their investment. All of the other companies proceeding towards the Concept Grant were coached and mentored by SOREDI’s TAG Team (Technical Advisory Group) and Sustainable Valley. SOREDI held it’s first ever UpStart Day, where 14 of the competing companies each presented in front of an expert panel and received approximately half an hour of feedback and coaching on their company and their presentation. This field was whittled down at the Jefferson Grapevine in March, where a live audience vote chose the five finalists that would continue on to the Southern Oregon Angel Conference yesterday.

Any of the applicants that are interested, are invited to continue to receive coaching and mentorship through SOREDI’s TAG Team, where experts in business fundamentals are matched up with companies needing their advice on a volunteer basis. If you are an expert in a field related to business success, or a start-up company, you can find out more about the TAG Team by contacting Alex Pawlowski, SOREDI Business Development Loan Manager.

The Southern Oregon Investment Network’s meetings are being lead this year by Ron Hren, Managing Member of the Southern Oregon Angel Investment Network and Steve Vincent, Avista Utilities Oregon regional business manager and founder of the Network.

About the Southern Oregon Investment Network
The Southern Oregon Angel Investment Network is an investor network, connecting early stage businesses with angel investors in southern Oregon. Its mission is to encourage, accelerate and showcase start-up companies. The competition for an estimated $150,000 investment prize is expected to have real economic impact in southern Oregon, generating new business and jobs using local entrepreneurs, talent and intellectual property. This network exists as part of SOREDI’s mission to create local jobs through entrepreneurial growth.
For more information visit www.southernoregonangelinvestors.com.