Outdoor event picks semifinalists

Bend Outdoor Worx, an industry accelerator, announced 10 semifinalists for the first Venture Out Festival, a funding competition focused specifically on the outdoor product industry.

The festival, scheduled for Oct. 12, features two tracks for outdoor companies. Early-stage companies will compete for the $10,000 Breakout Award, and growth-stage companies will compete for a $100,000 award, known as the Ready to Roll award, according to a news release.

The five early-stage semifinalists are:

• Bosky Optics, a Portland eyewear company that uses sustainable materials

• CushCore, a Bend company that has developed an inner-tire suspension system for mountain bikes

• Pierce Footwear, a Bend company that designs shoes for people with limited mobility

• Tougher, a Corvallis company that makes durable clothing for women

• Wedgis, a Bend company that makes swimwear that can be easily stored.

The growth-stage semifinalists are:

• Fat Chance Bicycles, an Ashland mountain bike company

• iOmounts, a Basalt, Colorado, company that makes mobile mounting devices for mountain bikes

• RipClear, a Bend company that makes lens protectors for goggles;

• SnoPlanks, a Bend company that makes skis and snowboards using bamboo;

• Zealios, a Bend company that makes hair- and skin-care products for performance athletes.

Each category will be narrowed to three finalists following meetings with panels of industry and venture experts, according to the release.