Invited Into Communities to Catalyze Their Entrepreneurial Ecosystem
“We invited RAIN Catalysts to partner with us in the program because of their proven knowledge and experience in strengthening entrepreneurial ecosystems in rural communities, and their ability to mobilize quickly to help deliver and manage programs … The program’s structural rigor they provided, and the stellar delivery of the educational programs were exceptional.”
— Sharon Sappington, Island County Economic Development Council
Oregon Communities & Partners Who Have Invited Us:
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Grant County
Canyon City
John Day
Prairie City
Grant County Economic Development
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Oregon Coast
OSU Hatfield Marine Science Center
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Lane County
Veneta
• Schedule a Meeting with Entrepreneur in Community, Heather BlakeFlorence
• Schedule a Meeting with Entrepreneur in Community, Jade RehderCottage Grove, Coburg & Creswell
• Schedule a Meeting with Venture Catalyst Ellyn Clardy MoleOakridge, Lowell, and the McKenzie River Valley
• Schedule a Meeting with Venture Catalyst Melissa Prestinario -
Linn & Benton Counties
Adair Village
Brownsville
Halsey
Harrisburg
Lebanon
Monroe
Philomath
Sweet Home
Tangent
Linn County
Benton County
Rural Economic Alliance (REAL)
Erin Reynolds, City Manager of Florence, Oregon
“This project [RAIN Catalysts] has helped us create a long-term, economically stable system for new businesses and has helped ensure that our Florence startups are connected with statewide resources.”
Eric Niemann, Mayor, Philomath
“The support [RAIN Catalysts] provides…is incredible and something we can’t get anywhere else.”
Lynda Kamerrer, Chamber of Commerce, Oakridge
“They bring resources, skills, and staffing that we aren’t able to access any other way.”
Washington Communities & Partners Who Have Invited Us:
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Island County
Economic Development Council for Island County (Island EDC)
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Skagit County
Economic Development Alliance of Skagit County (EDASC)
Ron Wyden, U.S. Senator, Oregon
“The Venture Catalyst program has worked so well for rural communities.”
Anne Heath, City Manager, Coburg
“RAIN Catalysts really stepped up for us [during the COVID pandemic], helping us to devise a city grant to help our local businesses.”
Pakistan Communities & Partners Who Have Invited Us:
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Pakistan
Bahria University
COMSATS University
Fatima Jinnah Women’s University
U.S. State Department
Blair Larson, Community & Economic Development Director, Sweet Home
“Our staff doesn’t have the expertise and capacity to help entrepreneurs. We know RAIN Catalysts will give our entrepreneurs A+ treatment.”
Erin Renoylds, City Manager, Florence
“We’ve seen capital and mentorship grow in our area because of the efforts of [RAIN Catalysts].”
The RAIN Catalysts “Toolkit” Brought to Communities
Time savings spent helping businesses
Identify and train mentors
Identify and train angel investors
Create new capital programs
Last Founder’s Standing (TM) training tool
Startup Business Plans, Templates, Files, and Resources
Host workshops and training events
Host networking events
Host pitch competitions and fundraising events
Connections to national entrepreneurship & innovation coalitions
Implementation of cutting edge strategies for entrepreneurship programs
Identify and train local entrepreneurs to become startup champions and community leaders
Mentor database
Advocacy of entrepreneurship & innovation with local, state, and federal legislators
Accelerator Curriculum
Pre-Accelerator Curriculum
Entrepreneurship curriculum for high school
Entrepreneurial asset maps
Surveys of businesses and entrepreneurs
Outreach Activities
Gaps Analysis
Barriers Analysis
DEI Lense
Convening of Regional Stakeholders around Entrepreneurship and Innovation Topics
Access to OR, WA, and CA Funding Programs and Firms
Annual Impact Reports for your Region
Regional Readiness Assessment Scorecard
Regional Entrepreneurial Ecosystem Scorecard
Success Stories
Media Pitches
Catalyze early-stage capital sources
Arnie Roblan, Oregon State Senator, D-Coos Bay
“Most new jobs in the United States are created by startups and small businesses. Entrepreneurship is a critical component of the central Oregon coast economy, and [RAIN Catalysts] has cultivated a thriving entrepreneurial ecosystem for the region.”
Michelle Amberg, City Manager, Creswell