WELCOME!

We're glad you're here! Our goal is to provide updates on the impact of Oregon Venture Fund portfolio companies and venture capital trends in our region. And, in case you or someone you know is looking for their next gig - you'll also find a few of the open positions at our portfolio companies.

Take a look around and let us know what you think. Thanks for being here.

FUND NEWS + PERSPECTIVES

AI Software Funding Stages

Curious how AI is reshaping the way startups grow? Dive into this perspective to learn how investor expectations, product metrics, and business strategies are shifting from Pre-Seed to Series A for AI-native software startups. OVF partner Deepthi Madhava shares practical insights and an AI-specific framework to help founders and investors navigate today’s fast-evolving venture landscape.

Alline's Big Month

In addition to being honored as a 2026 Rising Star by the Venture Capital Journal, OVF partner Alline Akintore has started her term as chair of the Oregon Investment Council, which oversees Oregon’s major state trust funds, including public employee pension investments. Her day job includes supporting several portfolio companies and leading OVF's diligence practice, ensuring diligence sprints are fast, rigorous, and focused, and resulting in great investment decisions. Prior to joining OVF in 2021, Alline earned an MSEE, an MBA, and worked in tech and venture capital in the Bay Area.

Why We invested: AiStrike

Started by the founders of Securonix [>$1B exit to Vista], AiStrike is redefining cyber defense with an AI-native platform built for proactive control. In under a year, the team - with a founder and near-founder in Oregon - has generated traction globally, winning 20+ customers from government agencies to large commercial enterprises. OVF invested in a $7M seed round alongside Runtime Ventures, NextEra, and Blumberg Capital. Deepthi shares more about AiStrike's unique approach to threat detection and why we invested here.

We're Hiring

OVF is seeking to hire 1-2 associates or principals to work closely with our investing team and venture partners to source, screen, and support startups. Candidates should be early career and have experience working at a venture-backed software startup and at a venture firm; strong technical, quantitative, and communication skills; and be an enthusiastic go-getter and relationship-builder with a passion for Oregon and the PNW. TIA for spreading the word! Position Details.

PORTFOLIO NEWS

Top 6 cybersecurity and AI predictions for 2026

Conductor One co-founder and CEO Alex Bovee [pictured right with co-founder Paul Querna left] is featured in CRN's The Channel Company’s Top 6 Cybersecurity and AI Predictions for 2026. In the article, Alex shares his prediction on the rise of personal AI agents, how they could enable hyperscale AI-driven attacks, and why this will force an equal and opposite response from security teams. OVF is an investor in ConductorOne alongside Greycroft, Accel, and CrowdStrike. Read what Alex and other experts are predicting in the full article here.

'Tis the Season - Need a better way to complete those performance reviews?

Portfolio company Huckleberry is changing the nature of 360 feedback - turning painful, low-benefit workplace feedback exercises into fast, voice-first, actionable processes that are enjoyable and beneficial. Huckleberry outputs a shareable profile that highlights strengths, impact, work style, and blind spots, plus a 90‑day growth plan for the recipient. A new - and fun - video on how Huckleberry works.

JOBS

Looking for your next gig? Know someone who is? Below are just a few of the open positions at some of OVF's portfolio companies. Please take a look and pass them along.

Retention Manager - Rumpl

VP of Marketing - ConductorOne

Business Development Manager - Source

Browse the OVF job board for a complete, up-to-date list of 120+ openings at a number of our portfolio companies.

Know someone who would be interested in receiving our monthly newsletter?

Encourage them to sign up here.

We love feedback. We totally buy into the "feedback is a gift" idea.

Please let us know what you think of our newsletter

or what else you'd like to see. Thanks!

 info@oregonventurefund.com

Friends and fans follow us on LinkedIn for all the latest news and thought leadership.

Since its founding, OVF has invested $199M in 88 companies which have created over 7,080 jobs. 32% of our portfolio companies are founded or led by women and 25% by entrepreneurs of color.

Pitchbook places OVFs total return in the top 25% of ALL global venture funds (2Q2025).

OVF's corporate partners share our passion for supporting local entrepreneurs:

Disclosure: This newsletter is intended to provide general information regarding OVFs investments and impact and not for the purpose of soliciting investors for any fund. Under no circumstances should the information provided be considered an offer to sell, or a solicitation to buy, any security. Such offer or solicitation may only be made to accredited investors and qualified purchasers pursuant to the current offering documents of the relevant OVF Fund. The information provided may not be reproduced or disseminated to any third parties without the written consent of OVF. The past performance of previous OVF Funds and portfolio companies is not necessarily indicative of future results. Investors in OVF Funds may lose investment capital. There can be no assurance that any future OVF Funds or portfolio companies will achieve comparable results.