The Innovation Hub in downtown Eugene provides fertile ground for new businesses. There, the University of Oregon's Product Design Lab shares space with RAIN Eugene, a collaborative program that fosters new companies and jobs.
Four and a half years after winning initial funding from the state, RAIN Eugene is finding its stride. Lauren Jerome is a resident mentor.
Jerome: “We have sort of a cycle that we've been developing and this is the second year I've been involved in it, that kicks off with Startup Weekend in January and then it goes into ID8.”
ID8 is a five-week program of workshops and mentoring that starts Tuesday, January 29th.
Jerome: “And they'll be from services, products, food, consumer products, all the different areas.”
She says Startup Weekend helped about 50 people develop models for eight chosen businesses. The winning ideas were software for food carts and skin care products for estrogen imbalance.
Jerome says many ID8 participants bring their plans to a spring-time event called Pitch Stream, where entrepreneurs present their ideas to investors, with the hopes of getting funding. Spots for ID8 are still available. Find out more at RAIN Eugene here.