From the start, The Center for Entrepreneurship has served as an ecosystem for student entrepreneurs looking to build their ideas using the various resources provided by organizations across Oregon. A couple of our major programs include The Cube, Cleantech Challenge, and Invent Oregon. After going through our programming, many students continue to grow their companies and reaching bigger milestones. This is the case for our alumni participating in TiE University (TiE-U).
Similar to the Center for Entrepreneurship, TiE-U creates a comprehensive network that nurtures start-ups led by college and university students. It does this by creating events and engagements that bring together student founders, TiE members, external mentors, coaches, and ecosystem partners. As a global organization, its footprint includes Asia, Europe, and North America. TiE Oregon comes to Portland on March 25th, and we’re excited to announce four of our alumni are competing in this competition:
Dicot LLC
Dicot LLC, founded in 2019, is a hemp sciences company sprouting the next generation of hemp microgreens to improve human health and well-being. In collaboration with leading experts in the field, Dicot has developed proprietary agricultural techniques and materials to create new hemp seed food applications and innovative consumer experiences. Dicot is led by Portland State Anthropology student CB Bone; they are a graduate of The Cube and a finalist in the 2023 PSU Cleantech Challenge. In addition, their portfolio of whole-plant hemp products provides heightened nutritional value, which can become, or enhance, the primary standard of cannabis care. Their star product, Milligreens(TM), is a patent pending cannabinoid-free hemp microgreen that is equal parts delicious and nutritious.
Vmax Pet Health
Vmax Pet Health was founded by Tyle Primavera, a student at Oregon State University pursuing a doctorate in veterinary medicine. Vmax Pet Health was started by the need to redesign the Elizabeth Collar, also known as the “Cone of Shame.” Primavera himself experienced the struggles of using this collar on his own dog Eli. By combining aspects of origami and the traditional cone, Vmax has created a cone that can collapse, allowing pets to eat and drink more comfortably. As a 2022 Invent Oregon finalist, Vmax Pet Health has been able to refine its prototype. We’re excited to see them compete once again.
Fib® Games
Founded in 2019 by PSU alumni Adam Stockman, Fib® is a party card game where players tell stories and lie, steal, or spot liars and thieves to win points. Fib® takes less than two minutes to learn how to play, and each new game is fresh and unique. The game is entirely novel with one-of-a-kind gameplay, making it more replayable than most games, and it is expandable through themed expansion packs. The team at Fib® Games hopes to raise enough capital to fund a large-scale promotional campaign leading up to a Kickstarter in the fall. Along the way, they look forward to refining their business and products with The Cube's guidance and support.
Learn to Play
Learn to Play was founded by Elizabeth Larson, a Willamette University alumni who completed her undergraduate studies in 2021. During her early undergraduate years, she discovered a passion for art while taking a welding class. Through this discovery, Larson stumbled upon a need to explain complex biochemical structures on a large level. This eventually led to the creation of Learn to Play, a nucleic acid playground composed of large three-dimensional structures to create an educational space for all. As a 2022 Invent Oregon finalist, Learn to Play was able to hone its business through our state-wide platform that brings resources and funding to student innovators. Looking ahead, we’re excited to see them take the stage once again.