Our Accelerator Model
We started Built Oregon with the simple vision – to make Oregon the leader in consumer product innovation and development. But becoming a leader requires laying the foundations of support, knowledge and resources upon which companies can engage. Built Oregon launched the country’s first not for profit (no cost + no equity taken) consumer product accelerator in June of 2019.
The accelerator is a collaboration between our sister organization, PIE (Portland Incubator Experiment). The program focuses on breaking down the startup mythology concept and working with founders to define how they envision success and connecting them to mentorship, resources, peer to peer connections, and mental health support to help them achieve it.
2024 Cohort
The 2024 Cohort includes Howl at the Spoon, Ritual Glaze, Portland Design Works, Heck Brewing, The Dappled Tonic, Remco Tools, Mister OK’s Essentials, Cultured Kindness, Gay Awakening Coffee, Range Revolution, Trailhead Coffee, Portland Bee Balm, Maté Party, Polk Apothecary and Wolves & People Farmhouse Brewery.
2024 Bridges Accelerator
The 2024 Bridges Accelerator program included Chio, My Daddy’s Sauces, La Oveja Negra Salsa, Indigenize, Sao Noi, Mildres’s Sweet Treats, The Barreled Bee and Nour’s Pita Chips.
2023 Cohort
The 2023 Cohort includes Better Boba, Flourish Spices, Red Nose Factory, Sibeiho, Portland Syrups, Hot Mama Salsa, Rustek, Swell Gelato, Pink Cloud Beverages, Good Wolf, Gather Nuts, Savorease, Kachka Lavka and Koa Roots.
2023 Bridges Accelerator
In partnership with Prosper Portland’s IBRN, we launched our inaugural Bridges Accelerator program with Tostado Coffee, Cloudforest Chocolate, Nico’s Ice Cream, Essance Skincare, How Sweet It Is and Ella Dean. .
2022 Black Business Accelerator
As part of Meyer Memorial Trust’s Justice Oregon for Black Lives initiative. The cohort included Drink Mamey, , Deadstock Coffee, Abbey Creek Winery, House Dogge, Hue Noir, and Camp Yoshi.
2022 Cohort
The 2022 cohort includes Albina City Nuts, Altitude Beverage, Avyn, For Bitter For Worse, HAB Sauce, MISE Footwear, ONDRwear, One Breath, PANGA, Plant Bomb, Skaut Coffee, Super Belly, Voxapod, Woolybubs, and Mentor in Residence company, STEELPORT Knife.
2021 Cohort
The 2021 cohort included Hibisbloom, Ice Queen, The Cracker King, Drink Mamey, La Familia Cider, People of Colour Clothing, Honeybee Lemonade Syrups, Bloom Caramel, Deadstock Coffee, Royalty Spirits, Exilior Coffee, Choi’s Kimchi, and Arrow Coffeehouse.
2019 Cohort
The 2019 cohort included Sensi Graves Swimwear, Riff Cold Brew, TREW, Teadora, Deadstock Coffee, Ma Wovens, Goodwell Co., The Bitter Housewife, Pan’s Mushroom Jerky, Hempure, Velomacchi, Tan Tan Foods, Roons, and Spaceman.
General Program FAQs
What stage company are we looking to work with?
We are risk takers and not afraid of diving in and helping early stage companies through the Built network at any time. For the accelerator program, we are looking to engage companies with ideally $75K-$1.5MM in revenue. Don’t hit that revenue mark, but getting close? A little over but looking for some key support for growth? Have an awesome product you think is compelling enough for us to take on? Go ahead and fill out the application as we also focus heavily on the idea, team and product potential - and not solely on the revenue side of things.
What do we consider a consumer product?
Food and beverage. Apparel, outdoor, and footwear. Health and beauty. Home accessories. Pet products. Our belief is that if you are selling a product to a consumer, you are a consumer product company. We also believe that the diversity of the products is a positive attribute within Oregon and want that to be expressed in the accelerator.
Are there certain criteria that we look for in companies?
Company based in or moving to Oregon. Commitment to being inclusive from a company and product standpoint. A passion around the products you are creating and a core belief in wanting to build a responsible company. Fired up and ready to grow.
Are there strings attached?
Other than a time commitment, no. None. Zero. We are working hard to build a founder friendly accelerator that does not cost anything and takes zero equity from the program companies. We will look to leverage our community and social capital, including access to mentors and resources. Our goal is your financial gain, not ours.
Are we considering only applicants from the Portland Metro area?
No. From the outset, we wanted to launch and evolve this program with the entire state in mind. Working with our partners throughout Oregon – we will work with you, where you are at. Simply put, we want to support the risk takers and dreamers who are building unique and innovative brands throughout Oregon.
What kind of non financial support are you going to give these businesses?
Our focus is around building a deep and diverse mix of industry experts that can help our cohort companies grow. Areas of focus:
Finance and Operations
Branding
Sales Channels and Retail Partnerships
Marketing and Sales
Manufacturing and Production
Fundraising
If Applicable: Food Safety and Regulations
Sustainability
Direct to Consumer Strategies
Supply Chain
Human Resources and Talent Recruitment/Management
How to Create a Responsible Company
In addition to the above, companies will be given access to mentors and a statewide community of peers and organizations.
What is the program duration?
The PIE Consumer Accelerator runs approximately 16 weeks.
What is the time commitment and expectations?
As a participant in the Built Accelerator you will be expected to:
Participate in weekly check ins with the accelerator leads
Attend (in-person or via video) educational sessions
Be committed to meeting with mentors on a regular basis based on your company’s specific needs
Participate in bi-weekly cohort family dinners/gatherings
Participate in the Built Festival