2026 Invent Oregon Finals

Witness Innovation in Action at the 10th Annual InventOR Finals!

Get a front-row seat to see what’s next! Join us on June 26th as we celebrate a decade of student innovation at the 10th Annual InventOR Finals, a milestone event honoring ten years of bold ideas, breakthrough prototypes, and Oregon’s next generation of innovators.

Stewarded by the PSU Center for Entrepreneurship and hosted by OSU-Cascades at Edward J. Ray Hall, this exciting FREE event showcases Oregon’s brightest collegiate innovators as they pitch their prototypes and compete for $30,000 in cash prizes.

This is more than a competition. It’s a celebration of innovation, ingenuity, and the entrepreneurial spirit shaping Oregon’s future.

We’re calling on the full InventOR community - sponsors, entrepreneurs, educators, community leaders, alumni, and champions of innovation - to save the date and spread the word.

Let’s show up in force to celebrate 10 years of empowering young innovators building solutions for our future!!

----------------------------------------

Event Schedule (June 26th – InventOR Finals | FREE)

Emcee: Cara Turano (OEN) – Back again, leading with her indomitable spirit!

• 10:00 AM – 1:00 PM | Live Pitches - 20 student teams from institutions across Oregon pitch their innovative ventures.
• 2:00 PM – 5:00 PM | Prototype Exhibition - Dive deeper into each project, meet the teams, ask questions, and engage directly with the cohort.
• 5:30 PM | Keynote Speaker: Rachel Jagoda Brunette - Founding Architect of InventOR, the pioneering program that launched Oregon’s only statewide collegiate invention competition!
• 6:00 PM | InventOR Awards Ceremony
• 6:30 PM | Reception at the Commons Cafe & Taproom - catering by Bleu Bite and music by Mason James & the Double Jump

----------------------------------------

More Information:

• OSU-Cascades - Hours, Maps and Directions - (1500 SW Chandler Ave, Bend, OR 97702)
• Parking: Free parking available in the main campus lot in front of Tykeson Hall - (Promo code will be provided to registrants.)
• 2026 InventOR Finals – Day of Guide (Link coming soon!)
• 2026 InventOR Cohort – Finalist Teams (Link coming soon!)
• Catch the energy from last year - 2025 InventOR Finals Sizzle Reel!

----------------------------------------

Bonus Event: Central Oregon PubTalk Presented by EDCO in Partnership with InventOR – June 25th

We’re excited to partner with Economic Development for Central Oregon (EDCO) to kick off our 10th Annual Finals with a special InventOR Alumni Panel at EDCO’s Central Oregon PubTalk on June 25th at OSU-Cascades.

This featured segment celebrates a decade of InventOR impact across Oregon’s innovation ecosystem and will be facilitated by Juan Barraza, original steward of InventOR and founding Director of the Center for Entrepreneurship.

EDCO’s Central Oregon PubTalk is a happy hour aimed at bringing together different facets of the business community in one place to network, share ideas and further local businesses. Drinks and snacks will be included at the event. As a cornerstone gathering for Central Oregon’s business and innovation community it brings together founders, investors and ecosystem builders. It’s a powerful opportunity to plug into the regional ecosystem and connect with the people shaping what’s next just ahead of Finals.

PubTalk is a separately ticketed EDCO event ($32 for members, $48 for non-members).

👉 [EDCO PubTalk tickets]

----------------------------------------