2022 BVC Finalist Osheru Raises $4.7 Million in Seed Funding

In October 2022, 14 finalists presented their ideas and business models to an audience of hundreds at the Tower Theatre in hopes of gaining investment from prominent funds. Of those finalists, seven companies walked away that day with checks totaling $665,000 in investments. But that was just the beginning of the Bend Venture Conference (BVC) magic. Since participating in BVC, these finalists have been working with funders to secure capital and scale their businesses.

On July 23, 2024, Osheru announced the closing of a $4.7 million seed funding round, aimed at accelerating the development and commercialization of their Ziplyft device. The funding round was led by notable individuals and family offices, including an investment from Nike Co-Founder Phil Knight. Other significant contributors included the Oregon ToughTech BreakThrough Fund, managed by ONAMI for Business Oregon, and SOPHINCAP, the Corporate Venture Fund of Laboratorios Sophia, a leading international ophthalmology company.

Dr. Patricia Buehler, CEO of Osheru, expressed her enthusiasm, stating, "This $4.7 million funding marks a pivotal moment for Osheru. It demonstrates the strong confidence in Ziplyft from both the medical community and investors, validating our vision to revolutionize blepharoplasty with cutting-edge technology."

BVC showcases innovative startups and connects entrepreneurs with investors and mentors. There are three categories of competition: Growth Stage, Early Stage, and New Economy. Applicants can apply from anywhere, as long as they commit to participating in due diligence and presenting in Bend, Oregon for the conference. Applications for the 21st annual BVC are open through August 9th.