A Bend audience will help choose the five companies that advance to the Early Stage competition of the Bend Venture Conference.

Economic Development for Central Oregon on Monday announced 10 semifinalists scheduled to make presentations during the Sept. 27 PubTalk event at McMenamins Old St. Francis School in downtown Bend. Audience vote and a panel of experts will decide which five companies advance to the venture conference, Oct. 18 and 19.

The semifinalists and the cities where they are based are: Doing of Portland; Ella & Oak of Bend; LifeExec of Bend; LuDela of Bend; Mimble of Portland; Plover Inc. of Portland; Raaft of Bend; Rogue Approach of Bend; ShoeBio of Corvallis; ZibaHub of Portland.

This is the first year the Early Stage competition is open to companies outside of Central Oregon.