It’s no secret that PIE takes the “E” in our acronym very seriously. (The “E” stands for “experiment.”) As such, we’re always excited when someone approaches us with a new concept. And that’s why when Built Oregon approached us with the idea of a consumer products accelerator, we jumped at the chance to work on it.
And now, after months of planning, promoting, and recruiting, we’re proud to reveal the first class of the Built Accelerator, a nonprofit nondilutive accelerator focused on consumer products companies throughout Oregon.
The inaugural cohort includes:
- Bitter Housewife (Portland)
- Deadstock Coffee (Portland)
- Goodwell Co. (Portland)
- HEM Mills (Ashland)
- Hempure (Ashland)
- Ma Wovens (Portland)
- Pan’s Mushroom Jerky (Portland)
- Riff Cold Brew Coffee (Bend)
- Roons (Portland)
- Sensi Grave Bikinis (Hood River)
- Spaceman (Portland)
- Tan Tan Foods (Beaverton)
- TEADORA (Portland)
- TREW (Portland)
- Velomacchi (Portland)
After a decade of experimenting with technology companies, it only makes sense that the next logical phase of our ongoing experiment is to expand the types of companies with whom we work. And to test the hypothesis that the programmatic elements we’ve designed — the educational platform that we’ve built — can be applied to a far broader selection of startups than just tech companies.
We’ve always appreciated the random collisions among founders that our accelerator spaces have provided. By expanding the diversity of the types of founders and companies we’re helping, the potential for those serendipitous moments within the PIE family will increase exponentially — and that’s good for everyone.
Looking forward to the next phase of this experiment.
For more information and details on the companies, please read “Announcing the Inaugural Built Consumer Product Accelerator Class.”
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