columbia river pitch
columbia river pitch
Pitch Oregon is happy to host the second annual Columbia River Pitch! This event showcases startups in Clark County, and Multnomah County.
Eligible competitors include all entrepreneurs that either operate their business or live in Clark County, Washington or Multnomah County, Oregon. Selected businesses will have developed a unique product or service solution that solves a big problem in a national or international market.
Companies compete for equity investments, cash prizes, as well as in-kind services provided by local businesses. Additionally, the event offers a great opportunity to increase the visibility of the businesses to both investors and the general public.
Columbia River Pitch is 1 of 3 Pitch Oregon Pitch Competitions taking place in the Portland Metro area including Washington, Multnomah, Clackamas, and Clark counties.
Scroll down for 2025 results and past competition winners, or click below to read more about the special guests, judges and sponsors.
** Investments will only be made if the winning companies and the investors agree to the terms and conditions of the investments **
THANK YOU FOR THE SUCCESSFUL EVENT!
2025 WINNERS
2025 Columbia River Pitch Finalists
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DigiFab.ai is an AI consulting and education company founded by Dr. Isil Berkun, a former Intel staff AI engineer and recognized expert in artificial intelligence. This company specializes in empowering manufacturing and industrial businesses to adopt and integrate AI-driven solutions for smarter, more efficient operations.
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Mickelberry Gardens specializes in natural wellness products inspired by the gifts of honeybees. Co-founded in 2011 by Madelyn Morris, the company crafts a range of herbal honey tonics, raw honey, beeswax-based skincare, oxymels, and bee pollen products, all made with whole food ingredients and a focus on self-care and holistic health. Their mission is to make affordable, healing herbal products accessible to individuals and families, while also promoting pollinator conservation and sustainable practices.
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Ranger EV is a climate-tech startup focused on making electric vehicle (EV) charging accessible, easy, and profitable for hosts of vacation rentals, small businesses, and homeowners. Founded by Brian Clark, he and his team have developed a platform that allows property owners—such as Airbnb hosts, hotels, and RV parks—to turn any existing outlet or EV charger into a bookable, fee-based charging station for EV travelers, without requiring new hardware installations.
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Skyfarer Academy is a modern aviation training platform that connects aspiring pilots with certified flight instructors (CFIs) and flight schools for both live online and in-person instruction. The platform, co-founded by Nick Tsang, is designed to make pilot training more accessible, and tailored to individual needs, serving students at all stages—from private pilot license (PPL) seekers to those pursuing advanced ratings like instrument, commercial, multi-engine, and even unmanned aerial systems.
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Toast (a.k.a Toastwear) is an innovative outdoor apparel and technology company. Founded and led by a small team of engineers—including Technical Director Gerald Recktenwald, a retired Portland State University professor—Toast focuses on developing wearable devices designed to dynamically increase comfort in cold weather. Their products leverage engineering expertise to create solutions that help outdoor enthusiasts stay warm, combining advanced heating technology with practical, user-friendly design.
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Yak Technologies, founded by Shannon Smith, is a modern audit and compliance platform designed to streamline and automate the audit process for firms and organizations. Yak focuses on making compliance for audits smarter, faster, and more efficient by reducing manual tasks and simplifying complex workflows. Key features include centralized, secure document management, one-click report generation, audit framework control management, seamless client collaboration, and a collaborative test paper editor for comprehensive documentation.
2025 FINALISTS
JUDGES
Dr. Yoanne Clovis, PhD
TiE Charter Member
https://www.linkedin.com/in/yoanneclovis/
Carl Cox
TiE Charter Member
https://www.linkedin.com/in/carljcox/
Dahv Kliner
TiE Charter Member
https://www.linkedin.com/in/dahv-kliner-0655146/
SPECIAL GUESTS
JENNIFER REYES
IBRN Program Manager | Prosper Portland
ANNE MCENERNY-OGLE
Mayor | City of Vancouver
EMCEE
2024 Columbia River Pitch Pre-Seed Winner
2025 SPONSORS
If you are interested in supporting Columbia River Pitch, please contact Kari.Naone@oregon.tie.org
support columbia river pitch
Whether you plan to sponsor or contribute a tax-deductible donation, TiE Oregon/TiE Oregon Foundation ensures that your support is contributing to our next generation of innovators and strives to grow a workforce that understands the global marketplace and entrepreneurship.
Click below to make a donation, or contact Kari.Naone@oregon.tie.org for more information.
GET INVOLVED / CONTACT:
Kari Naone
TiE Oregon Executive Director
Kari.Naone@oregon.tie.org









2024 COLUMBIA RIVER PITCH WINNERS
2024 Columbia River Pitch Finalists
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Make documents and presentations more engaging by adding audio or video narration. Add clarity and personalize any content you share. Learn more…
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Nourish and indulge with vegan chocolate mousse that tastes like dairy. Learn more…
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An AI Assistant for Diversity, Equity, & Inclusion. Learn more…
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Producer of a direct therapeutic ultrasound device. Learn more...
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The oil change that comes to you. Learn more…
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An organic coffee substitute. Learn more...
