Category: SEDCOR

Scaling with Integrity: How Kristy Runge Helped Build HelloCare’s Operational Backbone

Kristy Runge didn’t just co-found a caregiving company. She architected its operational success.

With decades of experience in healthcare and business leadership, Kristy understood that meaningful care doesn’t scale on goodwill alone. It takes rigorous systems, thoughtful hiring, quality assurance, and leadership that balances compassion with performance.

That’s the foundation she helped build at HelloCare, a company now serving families in multiple cities across Oregon.

The System Behind the Soul

While HelloCare is known for its deeply personal, people-first approach to in-home care, much of that consistency comes from the operational design that Kristy helped create.

She implemented systems and processes at HelloCare that ensure quality at scale without sacrificing heart. Her leadership bridges the emotional weight of caregiving with the accountability and structure required to grow a service-based business that can last.

It’s that rare balance between heart and logistics that has made HelloCare not just sustainable but replicable.

Why Founders Should Hear Her Speak at the Oregon Startup Conference

Kristy Runge will be featured on the Success Panel at the Oregon Startup Conference on June 20, 2025, at George Fox University.

There, she will offer founders a transparent look into what it really takes to scale a mission-driven operation.

She’ll speak to the practical aspects that many early-stage businesses overlook: operational workflows, systems thinking, hiring for values and competence, and building processes that grow with your team – not against them.

If you’re an entrepreneur building in the service space, Kristy’s insights are both inspiring and actionable. She’s walked the road of taking a community-centered idea and turning it into a business with backbone. And she’s ready to share how.

Hear from founders like Kristy Runge, who know how to build for both heart and scale.

Slumberkins, Callie Christensen, Kelly Oriard

Slumberkins: How Two Moms Built a Global Brand for Early Learning and Emotional Wellness

In the heart of the Pacific Northwest, two lifelong friends transformed a shared passion for child development into a thriving business.

Kelly Oriard and Callie Christensen, co-founders of Slumberkins, have created a brand that not only comforts children but also empowers them with emotional intelligence.

Their journey from educators to entrepreneurs exemplifies the innovative spirit that defines the local startup ecosystem.

The Genesis of Slumberkins

Kelly and Callie are, first and foremost, friends. It was a friendship that began in childhood. Their paths eventually diverged: Kelly became a school counselor and family therapist in Portland, OR, while Callie built a career as a special education teacher in Vancouver, WA.

However, a mutual recognition of the lack of engaging emotional learning tools for children brought them back together. They began crafting stories and sewing plush creatures that embodied therapeutic concepts in 2015, thus laying the foundation for Slumberkins. Their initial creations, Bigfoot and Sloth, addressed self-esteem and relaxation. These characters resonated with parents and children alike.

In 2017, Kelly and Callie took their concept to Shark Tank. While they were not able to secure an investment, they pushed forward. That decision led to the development of a comprehensive product line that includes plushies, books, educational resources, and an Emmy-nominated television series produced by The Jim Henson Company. Slumberkins has since become a trusted resource for over 1.5 million families, offering tools that foster resilience and emotional growth in children.

In 2022, they brought in a CEO to focus on the business side of things at Slumberkins. Kelly transitioned into the Chief Therapeutic Officer, while Callie became the Chief Brand Officer.

Impact on the Oregon Startup Community

Beyond their business success, Kelly and Callie are active contributors to the local entrepreneurial landscape. They have shared their insights at events like the Bend Venture Conference, Portland Startup Week, and Starve Ups, providing guidance on fundraising and brand development.

Their efforts have not gone unnoticed. In 2022, they received the Entrepreneurial Achievement Award from the Oregon Entrepreneurs Network, recognizing their significant contributions to the state’s innovation economy. Their inclusion in Inc.’s 2023 Female Founders 200 List further underscores their influence and dedication to fostering a supportive environment for women in business.

Meet Kelly and Callie at the Oregon Startup Conference

Kelly and Callie’s journey embodies the essence of entrepreneurial success: identifying a need, creating a solution, and scaling it with authenticity and purpose. Their experience in building a mission-driven brand that prioritizes emotional wellness offers invaluable lessons for startups aiming to make a meaningful impact.

Their presence on the Success Panel at the Oregon Startup Conference will provide attendees with practical strategies and inspiration drawn from real-world experience.

Don’t miss the opportunity to engage with Kelly Oriard and Callie Christensen at the conference on June 20, 2025, at George Fox University. Their story is a testament to the power of combining passion with purpose, and their insights could be the catalyst for your own entrepreneurial journey.

Tech that Heals, Leadership that Elevates: How Rachel Dreilinger Is Bridging Innovation and Inclusion in MedTech

When Rachel Dreilinger co-founded NeuraMedica, she wasn’t just setting out to solve a surgical problem. She was aiming to change the way innovation works for patients, providers, and underrepresented entrepreneurs like herself.

A biomedical engineer by training and a systems thinker by instinct, Rachel brings over two decades of experience in medical development to her role as NeuraMedica’s CEO. Her path has taken her from engineering labs to executive leadership, but the heart of her work has always remained the same.

And that is to use technology to make people’s lives better.

A Simple Idea with Profound Impact

At the center of NeuraMedica’s story is DuraFuse™, an elegantly engineered bioabsorbable clip that offers a safer, faster alternative to traditional sutures for closing the dura mater during spinal surgery.

Designed to reduce the risk of cerebrospinal fluid leaks that come with traditional spinal surgery and improve surgical efficiency, DuraFuse is FDA-cleared and commercially viable. It’s a milestone that only a handful of startups in this corner of the medical space ever reach.

The journey to get there wasn’t simple.

Rachel and her co-founder, neurosurgeon Dr. Neil Roundy, began with a prototype and a bold idea. Backed by grants and early collaborations with Oregon Health & Science University, they methodically advanced their technology through years of clinical research, testing, and refinement.

Leading with Vision and Roots

Rachel is a proud member of the Diné (Navajo) Nation and one of the few Native American women leading a medical technology company. That perspective shapes everything she does, from how she leads her team to how she shows up for the broader community.

She’s a vocal advocate for inclusion in entrepreneurship and STEM, especially for women and Indigenous founders. Her leadership is visible not only inside NeuraMedica but also across Oregon’s startup ecosystem. Rachel frequently participates in regional pitch events, panels, and mentorship programs, where she offers real-world guidance to founders navigating similar hurdles.

Rachel has been recognized for that work, too. NeuraMedica was a finalist for Oregon Entrepreneurs Network’s Angel Oregon Life & Bioscience Investment in 2024. This is a clear sign that the innovation coming out of Mid-Willamette Valley is gaining significant attention.

Meet Rachel at the Oregon Startup Conference

On June 20, 2025, Rachel will be part of the Success Panel of the Oregon Startup Conference at George Fox University.

She does more than represent the future of MedTech. She’s helping to shape it. Her story is a reminder that great startups aren’t only built on good ideas. They’re built on perseverance, collaboration, and a vision that extends beyond the bottom line.

Don’t miss the opportunity to connect with Rachel Dreilinger. She’s someone worth knowing, whether you’re passionate about healthcare innovation, inclusive entrepreneurship, or just want to meet someone who is changing the game in their field.

Press Release: Oregon Startup Conference: Fueling Innovation in Mid-Willamette Valley

Newberg, OR (June 4, 2025) – The Mid-Willamette Valley entrepreneurial spirit takes center stage at the Oregon Startup Conference, set for Friday, June 20, 2025, at George Fox University. This premier event brings together founders, investors, and innovators to celebrate and accelerate the region’s burgeoning tech and innovation ecosystem.

At its core, this Conference is about building momentum and turning small-town ideas into world-changing solutions. Its purpose is to elevate Mid-Willamette Valley into a global hub for tech, innovation, and purpose-driven entrepreneurship.

The Conference’s main highlight is the Startup Pitch Competition, where Oregon startups take the stage in a high-energy, Shark Tank-style pitch session, vying for attention, advice, and investment.

Other highlights include the Success Panels, where established founders share the challenges and breakthroughs that shaped their journeys, and the Access to Capital Panel, where investors and funders show how to position a business for funding from pre-seed to scale-up.

The Conference also has a concurrent Resource Fair, where business owners can meet ecosystem partners for access to valuable resources, such as funding, mentorship, training, or peer support.

Bob Dalton is the keynote speaker for the Conference. Named a CNN Champion for Change in 2024, Mr. Dalton is a serial social entrepreneur whose Sackcloth & Ashes donates one blanket to homeless shelters for every blanket sold. He amplifies the efforts of grassroots organizations through his Love Your City foundation and his LOCL platform.

The Conference is powered by Launch Mid-Valley, the region’s innovation hub supported by Business Oregon. Launch Mid-Valley is a collective effort backed by ecosystem builders who believe innovation should be inclusive, accessible, and locally grounded. The initiative is weaving a stronger entrepreneurial fabric across Marion, Polk, and Yamhill Counties one startup at a time.

Aside from Business Oregon, the event is made possible by organizations just as invested in the region’s future: SEDCOR, McMinnville Economic Development Partnership, Chehalem Valley Innovation Accelerator, Chemeketa SBDC, Indy Idea Hub, Latino Business Alliance, WaFD Bank, Coldwell Banker Professional Group, Catherine Summers, and Sacred Fire Creative.

For founders, innovators, and community builders committed to the future of local business, the Oregon Startup Conference is an opportunity to fuel the innovation firing up Mid-Willamette Valley. Visit www.oregonstartupconference.com for more information and to register.

Code, Defense, and Vision: How Tracy Camp of UpSight Is Changing the Cybersecurity Playbook

Most people only think about cybersecurity after something goes wrong.

But for Tracy Camp, the question has always been: “What if we could see the attack coming before it starts?

That question didn’t come out of nowhere. Tracy spent nearly two decades in the trenches of cybersecurity. He helped various organizations, from scrappy startups to Fortune 100 companies, fight back against evolving digital threats.

He’s worked with some of the biggest names in the field, including Carbon Black and McAfee. He’s seen ransomware change lives, shut down hospitals, and cost companies everything.

He knew we needed a new approach. So he built one.

From Pattern Recognition to Prediction

As co-founder and Chief Product Officer of UpSight Security, Tracy is leading a bold new chapter in the fight against cybercrime. It’s a fight that’s powered by AI, driven by data, and rooted in the idea that security should be proactive, not reactive.

At the heart of UpSight is a groundbreaking platform that does more than detect threats; it anticipates them.

Using techniques inspired by natural language processing (NLP), UpSight’s technology “reads” attacker behavior the way a human might read a book. It learns the patterns, understands the structure, and identifies the next likely move. It helps teams predict, interdict, and evict threats before they can do damage.

It’s like giving security teams a forward-moving time machine, and it’s working.

Building in Oregon, for Oregon

But Tracy isn’t just building a company. He’s helping build a community.

After winning third place in the 2023 Westside Pitch Competition, UpSight Security went on to secure funding from the Oregon Venture Fund. It’s an achievement that positioned the company as one of the region’s most promising up-and-comers in the cybersecurity space.

More than that, Tracy and his co-founders made a conscious choice to house their nationwide operations in Mid-Willamette Valley, where about half of the UpSight team is located. He’s deeply committed to growing Oregon’s tech ecosystem by taking on paid interns from Oregon State University through MECOP.

Through mentorship, advocacy, and collaboration, he’s creating opportunities for other founders to thrive right here at home.

Meet Tracy at the Oregon Startup Conference

At the Oregon Startup Conference, happening on June 20, 2025, at George Fox University, Tracy will join the Success Panel to talk about what it really takes to build and protect a startup in today’s high-stakes digital world.

His insights go beyond firewalls and code. He’ll speak to the mindset, the mission, and the million tiny decisions that separate survival from success.

Because in cybersecurity, as in entrepreneurship, the winners aren’t always the biggest. They’re the ones who can see what’s coming and act upon it before it’s too late.

Learn how to stay two steps ahead, whether you’re building a company, a product, or a secure future. Meet Tracy Camp at the Oregon Startup Conference and walk away with insight and inspiration.

From Engineer to Ecosystem Builder: How Rita Hansen Is Driving Climate Innovation in Oregon

Rita Hansen does more than build companies. She helps build a future where clean technology is the norm, not the exception.

With decades of experience in engineering, operations, and leadership, Rita has made a name for herself as a thoughtful, data-driven changemaker in the energy space.

Her career spans major industries, but her most defining work came as the co-founder and former CEO of Onboard Dynamics, a climate-tech startup that’s helping reshape how we reduce greenhouse gas emissions.

Turning an Idea into Impact at Onboard Dynamics

Onboard Dynamics began as a university research project at Oregon State University – Cascades back in 2013. Under Rita’s leadership, it grew into a nationally recognized innovator in methane emissions reduction.

She guided the company into developing technologies like the GoVAC® and GoFLO®. They are portable, self-powered compression systems that help utilities and fleet operators capture and reuse natural gas that would otherwise be wasted.

These systems do more than save money. They dramatically lower environmental impact, aligning both climate goals and operational needs.

With her steady hand at the helm, Onboard Dynamics secured federal grants, expanded commercial partnerships, and brought critical clean-energy technology into real-world use.

Mentorship, Advocacy, and Ecosystem Support

After transitioning out of her CEO role, Rita didn’t step away from innovation. Instead, she stepped deeper into community impact.

Today, she serves as a mentor with the OSU Advantage Accelerator and actively supports Oregon’s entrepreneurial ecosystem. Rita brings the same level of care and insight that fueled her own journey, whether she’s advising a new founder on market strategy or helping a startup secure non-dilutive funding.

She’s also a champion for diversity in STEM and cleantech. Rita advocates for inclusive innovation, especially for women and underrepresented founders working at the intersection of science, sustainability, and entrepreneurship.

A Trusted Voice in Clean Energy and Startup Growth

Rita’s influence has earned her national and international recognition. She represented the US at the Global Entrepreneurship Summit in 2017 and 2019. She also received the GRIT Award from ALLY Energy, which honors resilience and impact in the energy industry, in 2022.

But her focus remains local. She continues to invest her time, expertise, and energy into strengthening Oregon’s clean-tech pipeline, thus supporting the people and ideas that will shape a more sustainable tomorrow.

Connect with Rita at the Oregon Startup Conference

Rita Hansen will join the Success Panel at the Oregon Startup Conference this June 20, 2025, at George Fox University. Her story is one of steady leadership, purposeful innovation, and a deep commitment to building communities.

If you’re looking for inspiration or a blueprint for scaling with impact, you won’t want to miss the chance to hear from Rita.

Register for the Oregon Startup Conference. Meet founders like Rita Hansen and see what’s possible when vision meets execution.

Newberg’s Real Estate Powerhouse: Tina Smith’s Journey of Empowerment and Community Impact

When Tina Smith purchased her first home in 1998, she did more than cross a milestone. She discovered her calling.

What began as a personal investment quickly grew into a full-fledged passion for real estate. Over the years, she transitioned from homeowner to investor, flipper, landlord, and eventually a trusted real estate broker in the Portland metro area.

Strategic Mindset, Heart-Centered Service

Armed with an MBA and related certifications, Tina blends business acumen with a personal touch.

Her background in finance and project management allows her to approach real estate transactions with a sharp eye for detail and strategy. But what truly sets her apart is her unwavering commitment to the people she works with.

Tina does more than close deals. She builds relationships that last, offering support long after the paperwork is signed.

A Broker Building Community

Tina’s definition of success goes beyond profit margins. Deeply rooted in Newberg, she believes in giving back to the community that shaped her.

Tina’s work is guided by a spirit of service, whether she’s mentoring new homeowners, investing in neighborhood revitalization, or supporting local initiatives. She plays an active role in her community, driven by her genuine love for helping people, not just with finding a home.

Meet Tina at the Oregon Startup Conference

Tina Smith brings a grounded, real-world perspective to the Oregon Startup Conference on June 20, 2025, at George Fox University as a Startup Champion.

She has been actively supporting regional entrepreneurial initiatives, especially through her participation in Newberg’s Coffee Club for Startups.

As someone who has built her career from ground up, she understands the entrepreneurial grind. Her experience navigating risk, negotiating deals, and managing growth makes her insights especially valuable for startups exploring real estate, local investment, or sustainable business practices.

Stop by Tina’s table at the Conference. Whether you’re seeking entrepreneurial insight or simply an inspiring conversation about building a values-driven business, Tina is someone you’ll want in your network.

How Emily Cadiz is transforming early education with Finnegan the Dragon.

From Silence to Song: How Emily Cadiz Turned Personal Adversity into a Startup Powering Childhood Literacy

When Emily Cadiz lost her ability to speak after a traumatic classroom incident, she faced a deeply personal and professional reckoning.

A lifelong musician and former special education teacher, Emily turned to music to rebuild what had been broken, first in herself, then in the education system.

That journey gave rise to Finnegan the Dragon, an early childhood literacy platform that’s doing far more than teaching kids how to read.

It’s building bridges between science and story, music and memory, education and equity. And that’s exactly why Emily is a powerful addition to the Success Panel of the Oregon Startup Conference on June 20, 2025, at George Fox University.

Using Rhythm and Story to Rewire the Brain

The classroom incident truly brought Emily to what can be argued as the lowest point in her life. She faced financial setbacks because she was unable to teach. She faced personal setbacks because she was unable to communicate.

Throughout that time, Emily found her way back to music. While earning her master’s degree in music, she discovered that music was healing her brain and restoring her ability to communicate.

And as Emily retrained her own brain through music, she discovered something astonishing: that the same techniques that helped her recover her voice could accelerate early language development in children.

That idea became the foundation for Finnegan the Dragon.

The Dragon Searching for His Fire

Finnegan the Dragon is a character that Emily created for her master’s thesis. He’s a dragon who doesn’t have fire, and he needs to go through various adventures so he can find his fire.

Designed for kids ages 2 to 6, Finnegan combines the science of reading with songs, movement, and interactive storytelling. This is not passive screen time. It’s play-based learning with a purpose, where every rhyme, rhythm, and repetition is engineered to reinforce phonemic awareness and cognitive growth.

Finnegan the Dragon quickly caught the attention of education leaders and innovation funders. The platform has received support from the National Institutes of Health, the Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development, and a matching grant from Business Oregon and the Oregon Innovation Council.

Such massive support cements Finnegan’s role as one of Oregon’s most promising edtech ventures.

Finnegan’s Community-Driven Mission

But Finnegan the Dragon is more than a startup. It’s an initiative for literacy justice.

From the beginning, Emily has made sure that Finnegan isn’t limited to families who can afford the latest apps. Through partnerships with Head Start, public schools, and grassroots organizations, Finnegan is reaching children in underserved and multilingual communities, many of whom face barriers to early education access.

Finnegan’s content is culturally responsive and neurodiversity-affirming. This makes it especially effective for kids who are English learners, have learning differences, or come from trauma-impacted backgrounds.

Emily also leads educator workshops to help teachers integrate Finnegan into daily routines and expand their trauma-informed teaching practices. She’s even introduced Finnegan into community healing spaces, transforming music into a tool for emotional resilience and connection.

In every way, Emily is using her platform to ensure that the power of early learning belongs to every child, not just the privileged few.

Meet Emily at the Oregon Startup Conference

Emily Cadiz’s story is one of transformation: personal healing turned into collective impact. Her insights at the Oregon Startup Conference promise to inspire founders, educators, and changemakers alike, especially those who believe that innovation should lift communities, not just markets.

Join us at the Oregon Startup Conference and connect with Emily in person. Learn how she turned music into medicine and a startup into a movement.

5 Pitch Deck Red Flags that Make Investors Walk Away and How to Avoid Them

Picture this: You’ve got the mic, your pitch deck is live, and your startup dream is finally taking the spotlight.

But halfway through your presentation, you notice your investors shifting in their seats, flipping through your deck distractedly or, worse, glancing at their phones.

What went wrong?

Investors aren’t just looking for flashy ideas. They’re looking for signals.

Signals like:

Does this founder understand the problem?
Can they solve it?
Are they capital-efficient?

And your pitch deck often answers those questions, whether you mean it to or not.

Here are five pitch deck red flags that investors currently recognize and how to course-correct before it’s too late. As you prepare for your shot at your next pitch competition, make sure you don’t fall into these common traps.

#1 – No Early Customer Validation

Sure, you’ve got a big idea. But you don’t have customer interviews, prototypes, tests, or traction to back it up.

Why It’s a Red Flag

Investors don’t want to fund pure theory or dreams. If you haven’t run any experiments, interviewed customers, or done even basic evaluation, it looks like you’re asking them to take all the risks.

How to Fix It

Get scrappy. Talk to users. Run pre-sales. Build a no-code MVP. Even ten conversations or a waitlist of 50 potential customers will show that you’ve started the work and you’re serious about solving a real problem.

#2 – Ignoring the Competition

Stating that you have no competitors doesn’t make your startup seem unique. Instead, it makes it seem naïve.

Why It’s a Red Flag

Every market has alternatives, even if they’re indirect. Failing to acknowledge them suggests a lack of market awareness.

How to Avoid It

Conduct thorough competitive analyses. Identify your direct and indirect competitors, and clearly explain your differentiators and competitive advantages.

#3 – Top-Down Market Size Only

“We’re in a $100 billion market!” sounds like an impressive claim until it doesn’t.

Why It’s a Red Flag

Top-down numbers, like quoting the global market size from a research report, don’t tell investors how much you can actually capture. It suggests you don’t understand your customer segment or how to reach them.

How to Fix It

Use bottom-up analysis instead. Start with your target customer, estimate pricing, and project realistic adoption rates. Show investors that you know who you’re selling to and how you’ll get to them.

#4 – Unrealistic Financial Projections

If your chart shows hocky-stick growth that defies gravity, you’re not inspiring confidence. You’re raising eyebrows.

Why It’s a Red Flag

Every founder wants to be optimistic. But when projections aren’t tied to a clear strategy or benchmarks, they scream inexperience. Investors wonder if you’ve done your homework or if you’re just winging it.

How to Fix It

Use assumptions grounded in data. Tie projections to sales funnels, acquisition strategies, or pilot results. Show that you understand your costs, margins, and what it will actually take to grow.

#5 – An Overcrowded Team Slide

Did you know that if your team slide looks like a company yearbook, you’re already in trouble?

Why It’s a Red Flag

Investors see a big team and think: high burn rate, low capital efficiency. If you haven’t even validated your product yet, why are you spreading limited capital across so many roles? It also dilutes the perception of leadership. Who is really steering the ship?

How to Fix It

Feature only the essential founding team members, those who are critical to validating the problem, building the MVP, and getting early traction. Advisors or future hires can be mentioned briefly, but the spotlight should be on the core doers.

Your pitch deck is your audition, and investors are sharp judges. These five pitch deck red flags are some of the most common reasons promising startups get passed over.

But the good thing is they’re all fixable.

Before you hit the stage or submit your deck, take time to reflect: Are you telling a clear, credible, and capital-efficient story about your startup?

If the answer isn’t a strong “yes,” then it’s time to revise.

Ready to Pitch Like a Pro?

Apply now to pitch at the Oregon Startup Conference, happening on June 20 at George Fox University.

This is where investors, community leaders, and fellow founders are looking for what’s next in a Shark Tank-like environment. And you could be it.

Show them a pitch deck that’s tight, tested, and ready to win.

Your moment is waiting. Just make sure your deck is too.

At Sacred Fire Creative, we help founders and entrepreneurs build genuine connections with their audience through powerful, authentic brand storytelling. Ready to bring your story to life? Let’s talk about how we can create something impactful together.

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