It’s easy to stay inside to work on your startup during this time of year in Portland. We can blame the rain for that. Thankfully, the Portland Seed Fund‘s Demo Day and after party this week drew many away from their laptops for a few hours of celebration. After launching six startups on stage at the fund’s third demo day, the companies, their fans, and mentors converged at the after party at Base Camp Brewing Co. The months of meetings, pitch practice, and customer development were over as the six companies in the third class noshed on pizza and beer around the brewing company’s outdoor fire pits. HelloKopter, a local band took the stage at 9pm as Portland Seed Fund Managing Directors Jim Huston and Angela Jackson as well as Portland Seed Fund associate Lynn Le mingled with the crowd. The startups celebrating their graduation from the fund include: InGrid Solutions InGrid Solutions makes software for HVAC contractors. InGrid Solutions makes igsONE™, software that automates the daily tasks and processes specifically tailored for this industry. Brandlive Brandlive is a video communication tool that requires no download for an audience to access. Brandlive offers brands and companies a branded template, the ability to create unique session links, broadcast live video and receive chat questions from your audience. I personally used this as an audience member after purchasing a pitch practice session from the Oregon Entrepreneurs Network, and I was impressed by the user experience. I’ve had many bad experiences with companies that offer secure live video sessions like GoToMeeting, and Brandlive has a real opportunity to innovate in the space. According to the company’s website, “brandlive is already a “closed” system, which means that the video and audio can only be accessed if you have a direct URL created using your account”. OnTheGo Platforms (no public facing website available) OnTheGo Platforms builds software for SMART Glasses. The company is currently working on GhostRunner and TouchVision. Wikisway Wikisway helps you visualize your social networks. The app connects with Facebook before creating a map of your connections. You can trace your connections by viewing who is connected to both you and other connections in your network. It’s fun to login and see the “connection pods” that make up your friend, family, and work connections on Facebook. You might be in for a surprise or two – luckily by grandma wasn’t connected to my rowdy high school friends. Mobilitus Mobilitus helps live entertainment brands go mobile by offering mobile ticket solutions. The company already powers Ticketmaster and LiveNation. Tellagence Tellagance is a social media analytics platform that predicts the reach of a brand’s message thanks to a combination of behavioral analysis and online network optimization, including relationships and context. Managing Director Angela Jackson said that she was impressed by this class’s progress as the fund gears up for the fourth class. Applications close for the next class in early January. For more information about the founders of the startups that took part in Portland Seed Fun’s third demo day, check out this profile collection hosted by Vizify.
