Updates
Spring 2015 Status
All active teams came together and met during the spring semester for an I+L “Incubator+Launch” Seed Fund check-in. Teams had the opportunity to give updates on progress and obstacles they had encountered, share resources among the group, and brainstorm solutions to problems they still had ongoing. Individual team updates soon to come.
New Seed Fund Teams “Nothin’ But Nanner” and Nibble, as well as teams IRM and Humanist attended the Oregon Entrepreneurs Network 2015 Angel Oregon Showcase at the Sentinel Hotel in Portland, where early-stage entrepreneurs competed for investment awards.
Fall 2014 Status
Inter Alia Apparel
Inter Alia has not been at rest. In late November we received our first 144-unit order from our printer with four different styles of shirts in three designs. We immediately began selling individual units and also approached the Lewis & Clark Law School bookstore about a wholesale order, which we secured. By November 25th we had $580.00 dollars in sales, including the sale of 24 wholesale units to the bookstore.
Team Inter Alia began to develop content for our website. We have a holding page for our website that lets potential customers know that we will be launching soon. The holding page can be seen here:
We completed one model shoot for our women’s line of shirts and we will do a second for our men’s line in the next few weeks. These are some unedited samples from our initial women’s photo shoot.
We are currently designing hangtags for our apparel, and stickers to include in every shipment. We have identified vendors for both of these products and expect to have these ready for the website launch in January.
Anicca Creative
On November 6th, 2014, senior Studio Art graduating seniors held a showing of their work at an event called “Misc.Educated”. The show was held at The Cleaners at Ace Hotel and showcased 22 art works of various media, ranging from painting to sculpture to video. This event united talented seniors with the Greater Portland community, and served as a gateway to their careers in the Portland art environment. Over 550 Portland community members attended the one-night event, which also offered bar drinks and gourmet popcorn from Poplandia.
Anicca Creative provided marketing services for the event, using their millennial knowledge to attract the crowd. The team consulted the art students in drafting a press release form, the types of media to utilize, and connecting the event with other Portland businesses. Anicca Creative provided print materials to disseminate among Lewis & Clark students and assisted in reaching out to interested individuals and organizations through cold calling and cold emailing. Using their connections, the team was able to partner with Poplandia Gourmet Popcorn in providing snacks for the event. Anicca Creative had great pleasure working with the studio art seniors and is looking forward in helping with future events.
Summer 2014 Status
Anicca Creative
Anicca Creative has gone through a series of changes in the last month. We decided to pivot towards becoming a creative agency with a niche in the millennial generation. Our respective internships this past summer have given us a level of experience and connections in what we are pursuing. Our plan as of today is to have our first client committed to a contract by September 15th and have a new website up and running by September 30th. We are excited for this upcoming year and believe we can create great impact working with the Center for Entrepreneurship.
Forgot Box
Forgot Box has formed an LLC and opened a business account with a local credit union. Our website URL is parked and awaiting a formal launch. We are working with a graphic and web designer to create an online presence promoting our machine locations, and to wrap/brand the vending machines. Also, we have identified the type/model of vending machines that we want to use, and we are working on securing financing for these machines.
Inter Alia Apparel
Inter Alia LLC is now a registered business in the State of Oregon. Our team has finalized 4 product designs that are ready for production, and we have one seller who has committed to stock our merchandise. Our website is built and we are setting up payment processing services. We expect our products to be ready for online retail purchase and shipping by the end of August. We are looking forward to launching our website and using social media to market Inter Alia to the world.
PlanIt - starting as “The Local Enthusiast Project”
We are now the Local Enthusiast Project, and are working on becoming the most credible source of local knowledge in Portland. We are aggregating places, activities, events, and restaurants that local bloggers are excited about. Our goal is not only to provide this information to our users, but also to support locals, and grow the community. We have started connecting with top bloggers in the area to spread the word, work on a process for them to submit suggestions, and get feedback on how we can best support their blogging efforts. You can find out more at localenthusiast.me, or send us your information if you’re interested in getting involved.
PorchLight Custom Consulting
After consulting stakeholders, the team priced offices in several potential locations. Extensive discussion of business entity requirements led to adapting our initial model from a nonprofit to an LLC (with a timeline to transition to nonprofit). This will allow more rapid development of the startup. We have continued steps toward branding by securing an experienced graphic designer to develop our logo. Additionally, the group has researched many practical details (artifact and business card options, phone and electronic payment systems, ways to establish web presence, confidentiality of scheduling and contact methods). Incorporating all of the aforementioned costs, PorchLight now has a working budget, an updated timeline, and has drafted a sliding fee scale.