OCTOBER, 2018
Greetings from David Kenney
President & Executive Director

Supporting Climate Change Solutions

The just-released report from the United Nation's International Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) says we have a mere 12 years to cut greenhouse gas emissions by 40-50 percent. That's not much time, and the task is both monumental and ominous. But it's also all the more reason to support innovators developing new technologies aimed at reversing climate change, which is at the heart of VertueLab's mission.

It is interesting that this year's winners of the Nobel prize in economic sciences – Paul Romer and William Nordhaus – work at the intersection of climate change, innovation, and global economics, highlighting both the importance of new ideas in generating economic growth and of understanding the links between climate change and economic risk.

We are focused on filling a critical "investment gap" that often prevents new, innovative environmental solutions from ever making it to the market and achieving a scalable impact. By supporting the women and men who are working hard to solve environmental and social challenges like climate change, we believe we can convert modest financial and human resources into massive impact at scale by helping bring new products and technologies to a market that will carry them forward. We invite you to support our programs and investments that are building a brighter, cleaner future. Read more below about the startups we support, and more.

Thank you for YOUR ongoing support (and Happy Halloween!),
VERTUELAB PORTFOLIO COMPANIES IN THE NEWS
Aricmoto Opens 1st Rental Experience Location
The Eugene electric-vehicle manufacturing startup and VertueLab Portfolio Company Arcimoto opened its first showroom and rental center in Eugene, Oregon, on October 27th. The new storefront is part of a strategy to drive revenue and preorder growth of its three-wheeled “Fun Utility Vehicle.” More.

Changing the Apparel Industry, One Garment at a Time
The Oregon Consulting Group, a student-run consulting organization housed in the Lundquist College of Business at the University of Oregon, teamed up with VertueLab Portfolio Company The Renewal Workshop to improve pricing methodology for renewed apparel sold to consumers on the startup's website. More.

Ampere Scientific Wins $700,000 Phase II SBIR Funding
Congratulations to VertueLab Portfolio Company Ampere Scientific on winning a Phase II SBIR grant from the NSF for its groundbreaking Arc Positioning System for specialty metals processing that has the potential to save the specialty metals industry hundreds of millions of dollars in energy costs.

ESS Offers Primer on Long-Duration Energy Storage
Craig Evans, CEO of VertueLab Portfolio Company ESS, maker of massive, nontoxic batteries, offers an overview of low-cost, long-duration energy storage technologies and says energy storage deployments in the U.S. will triple in 2018. ESS is also noted in this Chemical & Engineering News article about renewable energy storage.
VERTUELAB IMPACT SUMMIT: A SUCCESS!
"WE'RE LOOKING FOR COMPANIES LIKE YOURS"
VIS2018 inspired innovators and investors

At VertueLab Impact Summit (VIS2018) last month, cleantech innovators, impact investors, and others explored new ways of fast-tracking cleantech solutions to the marketplace. If you didn't attend the event, you can read media coverage in this Oregon Business Magazine story as well as in this Portland Tribune story. One of the highlights of VIS2018 was Katherine Fox, a paraplanner with Arnerich Massena, who talked about the emerging opportunities for cleantech innovators, the trends in impact investing and impact philanthropy, and the new wave of women and millennials - people like her - looking for investments that make a difference. "We want our dollars to reflect our values, and we're looking for companies like yours to engage us and to tell us how we can work together to create the impact we want to see in the world," Fox said. Watch her 8-minute presentation.
STORIES, NEWS & TIPS ABOUT IMPACT INVESTING
UNPACKING THE TERM "IMPACT INVESTING"
How some champions of the term are taking it to the next level

As we work hard here at VertueLab helping cleantech innovators team up with investors to speed solutions to environmental and social problems, we will be bringing you interesting stories here in VertueNEWS that touch on how a new generation of investors want more than just financial return. The term "Impact Investing" was coined by the Rockefeller Foundation in 2007 to describe private investments that generate a financial return alongside social or environmental impact. In this Barron's article, several early champions of the term talk about the need to see impact investing as not just as a new type of financial investment, but as a way to create real social change, environmental sustainability, and a better economy.
EVENTS, OPPORTUNITIES, AND FUNDING
FUNDING OPPORTUNITIES, EVENTS, & MORE

Application Deadline: November 2
$$$ | Pitch Oregon
Present your concept or seed stage company to some of the most active VCs and angel investors in Oregon. Pitch Oregon is TiE Oregon’s marquee event and draws Oregon entrepreneurs who pitch for a prize package and overall cash prize. NOTE: VertueNEWS readers can use this discount code to waive the $25 applications fee: TIE100.

Application Deadline: November 2
The Battery Challenge by LG Chem is a global startup innovation competition designed to accelerate adoption of new battery technologies. Early stage startups, researchers, and teams with innovative battery solutions can gain access to manufacturing resources, testing facilities and up to $1.9M in investment opportunities.

At this event, you’ll hear from Oregon State University researchers developing game-changing technologies and emerging startups via the OSU Advantage Accelerator programs. Corvallis, OR

All supporters of women in science are invited to this event that supports OMSI. The goal is to bring together the regional women in the STEM community and provide a platform for connecting women from many career paths and career levels. Portland, OR

Application Deadline: Nov. 15th
€100,000 | I nnoEnergy Award
Do you have a brilliant innovation idea in the electrical storage area that you want to take to market or scale-up? Apply to win €100,000, as well as investment and business support to grow your business from European based InnoEnergy.

Application Deadline: November 16
Apply to Present | Roadmap 12
Are you working on cutting edge projects in the electric, shared, and smart mobility Industry? Apply to present at Roadmap 12, the nation’s largest and most advanced annual electric and smart mobility conference.

Got an idea for a startup, but don’t know where to start? This workshop presented by OEN and OTBC will provide an overview of local resources and a checklist of steps for building out your startup plan. Hillsboro, OR

December 13 | Pitch Oregon
Attend TiE Oregon's marquee event, which brings entrepreneurs from all around Oregon to Portland to pitch for a prize package and overall cash prize. Startup categories include concept stage and seed/bootstrap stage. Portland, OR

Application Deadline: January 31
£100,000 | TechX Pioneer Program
This Scotland-based program, operated by the Gas and Oil Technology Centre in Aberdeen, provides access to unparalleled funding (up to £100,000 to startups with new gas/oil technology ideas), expert mentors, and global partners to develop and validate new technologies.

An opportunity for entrepreneurs seeking investment capital to present their early stage businesses to Willamette Valley Capital for capital investment.

RocketSpace and BP have teamed up on this accelerator to shape the future movement of people, goods, and services. Up to 21 startups are selected to participate.

If your product or service is “Made in America,” your company could qualify for this matching grant funding from the Northwest Trade Adjustment Assistance Center.

Up to $2M | Oregon Venture Fund
A group of investors contributes time, expertise, capital, and connections to help founders gain access to the right people and resources to grow their business their way.
LEARN MORE - CONTACT US!
Let's Collaborate and Make an Impact!

Resources and expertise for innovators and investors

At VertueLab , we support great ideas from entrepreneurs and help investors ensure that their dollars are making a positive impact on the planet. We collaborate to help transform ideas into successful enterprises and measure the success all along the way. Contact us !