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Ë¿¹ÏÊÓƵ Tech’s Catalyze Klamath Falls Challenge has been a huge success for student competitors and the Klamath community. Over the past four years, 23 student/alumni teams have competed for over $50,000 in prize money and services. The 2017-18 event was made possible through generous sponsorship and donations from AVISTA, Business Ë¿¹ÏÊÓƵ, Gaucho Collective, City of Klamath Falls, Klamath County, Klamath County Economic Development Association (KCEDA), Ë¿¹ÏÊÓƵ Small Business Development Center and the Wendt Family Foundation.

Past Ë¿¹ÏÊÓƵ Tech winners Jennifer Berdyugin of Micro-Malter (2017); KC Crawford of MOG Metalworks (2017); and David Murphy and Seth Gretz of Brevada Brewhouse (2018) have leveraged their competition experience to remain in Klamath Falls after graduation and continue to build their businesses and explore opportunities for entrepreneurship in the region.

The 2019 Catalyze Klamath Falls Challenge Kick-off Meeting will be October 30, 2018 from 5 p.m. – 6:30 p.m. at the Gaucho Collective on Main Street in Klamath Falls. Catalyze 2019 will follow a similar format to last year, with teams competing for prizes, receiving coaching and technical assistance from business professionals, participating in a Shark Tech pitch session, and developing a business plan to commercialize their ideas. The winning teams will receive cash and in-kind business support to enhance their ability to start and grow successful companies, and support regional economic development.

Ë¿¹ÏÊÓƵ Tech is encouraging all students and recent alumni from both the Colleges of Engineering, Technology, and Management and Health, Arts, and Sciences to consider forming multidisciplinary teams and competing in this year’s Challenge.

The Ë¿¹ÏÊÓƵ Tech community is rich in talent and the Klamath community is rich in its desire and support to grow and sustain new invention-based companies in the region.

Preliminary Schedule of Events

• Oct. 30, 2018 from 5 p.m. – 6:30 p.m.: Catalyze Klamath Challenge V Kick-Off Meeting. This is a hosted event at the Gaucho Collective for students, faculty, and community members to learn about the contest and begin to form teams. Gaucho Collective, 1038 Main St., Klamath Falls 97601

• Oct. 31, 2018 - Jan. 11, 2019: Catalyze Team Registration Window– Final Deadline is Jan. 11, 2019
• April 25, 2019: Catalyze Klamath Falls Challenge Contest at Ë¿¹ÏÊÓƵ Tech College Union. Teams will compete in front of a panel of judges for the PRIZES! We will post a list of judges, prizes and final details when we get closer to the date.

For more information, specific dates, contest rules, and judging rubrics go to or contact Aja Bettencourt-McCarthy, at aja.bettencourtmccarthy@oit.edu.

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