Successful Pitch Latino Competition
On the evening of June twelfth, a crowd gathered at the Copper Plank, excited to witness a one-of-a-kind pitch night in Southern Oregon. And Pitch Latino certainly delivered! Latino Founders, located in Portland, came down to host the event in partnership with community sponsors, including SOREDI and the Southern Oregon Innovation Hub. The event not only provided a platform for Latino business startups to gain visibility, but also fostered a sense of unity in the community, with networking opportunities that are already leading to future collaborations and partnerships. Presenters included Buena Gente Golf, Real Zepeda Tequila, Liveralia, Epuerto, Southern Oregon’s Best, and Cafe Mestiza – the Grand Prize winner!
Cafe Mestiza is a new coffeehouse in the heart of Medford. You can find unique coffees, delicious pastries, and ‘cultura.’
Thank you to everyone who came out to support Southern Oregon’s Latino Startups!
Grant Review
As June thirtieth wraps up the first (of hopefully several) years of the Southern Oregon Innovation Hub, we wanted to take a moment to thank all of you for partnering with us! Bringing an entrepreneurial spirit to Southern Oregon is definitely not an accomplishment that we can claim. That success belongs to you – the entrepreneurs, the ESOs, the mentors, the champions, the idea-makers…. We are so proud of all the work we’ve accomplished together. Such as:
- Successfully launching and sustaining 44 weeks of 1 Million Cups Rogue Valley, with a weekly engagement of 30–40 participants.
- Establishing 10 local pitch nights, which democratize access to mentorship, feedback, and funding pathways.
- Hosting 2 Design & Build Innovation Jams, now a recognized qualifier for Invent Oregon.
- Facilitating ESO Network Convenings, including the ESO/Hub Retreat with over 5 hubs and multiple entrepreneurs in attendance.
- Delivering bootcamps and technical assistance through collaborations with the SBDC’s PROSPER event and SCORE.
- Developing a multilingual outreach strategy that began to bridge trust gaps in rural and Latino communities.
We have also had the privilege of crossing paths with over 1,000 entrepreneurs or partners in the local business community, through connections at coffee shops, pitch nights, or 1MC sessions. What a year!
1MC Highlights
Every Wednesday morning, at the Hivve (a coworking location in Grants Pass), 1 Million Cups, started by the Kauffman Foundation, helps connect entrepreneurs and gives them opportunities to present their products and ideas to a live and engaged audience. Also, as a bonus, the event is free and involves coffee! Recently, our weekly 1MC meetings have included fun presentations by local companies like:
Beyond the Fence (beyondtf.org)
The Hivve (thehivve.com)
Mick Mize Coaching LLC (linkedin.com/in/mick-mize)
Confident Navigator LLC (confidentnavigator.com)
And more!
Because of the 1MC Rogue Valley’s success over the last 44 weeks, our Innovation Ecosystem Steward, Kim Freeze, has been invited to attend the National 1MC conference in Kansas City!
Thanks to the traveling and the busy-rhythm of the summer season, we’ll have a break from the normal 1MC presentations. But fear not, entrepreneurs will still be gathering and connecting, even if the schedule looks a bit different.
If you would like to get in connect with us, or find ways to be more involved, please don’t hesitate to visit our website (https://southernoregoninnovationhub.org) or email Kim Freeze, at soihsteward@soredi.org.
We hope to hear from you soon!
