Igniting Entrepreneurship of Students and Recent Alumni of Oregon Tech
Oregon Tech’s Catalyze Klamath Falls Challenge has been a huge success for student competitors and the Klamath community. Over the past five years, 31 student/alumni teams have competed for over $70,000 in prize money that was generously donated by Representative Whitsett, Senator Whitsett, Klamath County, City of Klamath Falls, KCEDA, Avista, the Gaucho Collective, the Herald & News, Klamath IDEA, Oregon BEST, Business Oregon, the Wendt Family Foundation, and Black Canyon Woodworks.
Catalyze Klamath Falls Challenge aims to support business ideas and/or fledgling entrepreneurial activity from any field of study that produces a new idea, product or service that could become a thriving business in Klamath Falls, and has the potential for job growth in rural Oregon.
2019-20 Schedule of Events
| Event | Date | Location | Additional Information |
|---|---|---|---|
| Catalyze Klamath Falls Kick-Off | October 23, 2019 5-6:30pm |
Brevada Brewhouse 2229 N. Eldorado Ave. | This is a hosted event for students, faculty, and community members to learn about the contest and begin to form teams |
| Pre-Registration Team Formation | January 8, 2020 5-6pm |
Sunset Conference Room | This is a hosted event for all prospective contestants to meet and network with potential team members as well as register for the event |
| Catalyze Team Registration | January 17, 2020 | Team registration is due at 5:00pm | |
| Catalyze Team Meet and Greet | January 29, 2020 5:30-7pm |
Sunset Conference Room | This is a hosted event for all teams to meet with the Catalyze Klamath mentor network and learn about available external resources |
| Preliminary Concept Submission | January 31, 2020 | Preliminary concept submission is due at 5:00pm | |
| Shark Tech Venture Pitch Contest | March 4, 2020 5-7pm |
Thielsen Conference Room | This event will also serve to select finalists (if needed). Mandatory for all teams |
| Catalyze Klamath Falls Challenge Contest | April 23, 2020 | Oregon Tech College Union | Teams compete in front of a panel of judges for the PRIZES! A list of judges, prizes and final details will be posted prior to the competition |
Winning teams are awarded cash prizes to invest in start-up costs and ignite project development, or to share among the Team.
Previous Catalyze Winners
2018 Winning Team: OrbitOWLS
Utilize new technology to send small satellites and other devices to space for a fraction of the price of current methods
Team: Micah Hicks, David Minar, Julien Mindlin-Davidson, Brandon Camp, Ben Porter
2017 Winning Project: Helios Hive
A Solar Bee Hive which allows for the temperature regulation within a hive or set of hives, in order to assist with the elimination of the varroa mite. Inventor Mathias Dean is a Renewable Energy Engineering graduate.
2016 Winning Team: GO Possibilities
Production of graphene oxide
Team: Matthew Stansbury, Eric Tipler, Ben Fawver, Tate Orlik Hill
2015 Winning Team: Gro-volution
Sustainable agriculture production system ("In the box farming")
Team: Eric Wilson, Derek Pallett, Nathan Leung
In The News
But first, students participating in the Fourth annual Catalyze Klamath competition tested their project’s mettle with a panel of “Shark Tech” judges Wednesday.