BVC investments total record $940,000

Four out of five launch-stage finalists at the Bend Venture Conference went home Friday with at least a $100,000 investment.

And the $940,000 in total prizes and investments awarded Friday set a record for the 11-year-old event. Additional deals could take the total higher.

“Our goal was to beat not only what they raised last year, but what the largest angel conference had raised so far in Oregon, and that was a little bit less than $500,000,” said Brian Vierra, venture catalyst for Economic Development for Central Oregon, which manages the BVC. “The companies were so good this year that the money is flowing in. Everybody sees that every single one of these launch-stage companies is investable, and they’re throwing their money at them.

“Next year we’ve got to crack $1 million — if we can.”