Oct. 27, 2025
What happened: OBI’s annual Vision Oregon Event, which took place Oct. 22, was a celebration of entrepreneurialism. The event featured a keynote address by Oregon Entrepreneurs Network President and Executive Director Cara Turano, a panel discussion involving a trio of state entrepreneurs, and the recognition of three Oregon businesses that have demonstrated the power of entrepreneurialism to create jobs and prosperity while manufacturing exceptionally cool products.
Oregon entrepreneurialism – a tale of two states: Cara Turano’s keynote address highlighted Oregon’s place as a top state for entrepreneurs (fourth!), noting some relative strengths, including the ease of starting a business, its welcoming environment for black and female entrepreneurs and its success in generating patents. According to the National Science Foundation, Oregon is fourth nationally in the number of patents awarded per 1,000 people in science and engineering occupations. However, Turano also noted that Oregon has much less success in seeing those businesses survive past three years. She noted challenges such as the state’s high tax and regulatory burdens, the cost of starting a business, the exodus of high-wealth people and the lack of later-stage capital, all of which contribute to the comparatively low three-year startup survival rate. You can view Cara’s presentation slides here.
A first-hand look: Following her address, Cara, who has maintained an active career within start-ups herself, moderated a panel discussion involving a trio of Oregon entrepreneurs, Greg Davis of Overwatch Imaging, Jonathan Hurst of Agility Robotics and Pallavi Pande of Dtocs. The four discussed the overall ecosystem surrounding entrepreneurs, including the importance of industry clusters and community, workforce needs and challenges, the role of support from government and other companies, and more. Kudos to all three of these entrepreneurs for their vision, perseverance, success and commitment to Oregon.
Oregon visionaries: OBI presented two Oregon Visionary Awards. Portland-based Daimler Truck North America, a longtime industry leader in technological innovation and efficiency improvement, has produced vehicles in Oregon since the 1940s and employs more than 3,000 people here. Founded in White City more than 35 years ago, NIC Industries produces industry-leading coatings that are distributed and sold in more than 90 countries. It employs more than 250 people at its facility in southern Oregon. To learn more, check out OBI’s videos on Daimler Truck North America (here) and NIC Industries (here).
Coolest product: Vision Oregon concluded with the announcement that Bullseye Glass has won this year’s Coolest Thing Made in Oregon contest, topping runner-up Daimler Truck North America’s Western Star X-Series line of heavy-duty trucks. For more than 50 years, Bullseye Glass has manufactured colored glass for artists around the world at its facility in Portland. Bullseye provides worldwide distribution to more than 30 countries. You can find its glass in the smallest of artisan creations and in large installations, such as windows in the U.S. Capitol cupola or the 1,775-square-foot piece in the Multnomah County Courthouse.
Thanks and congratulations: OBI would like to thank everyone who contributed to Vision Oregon, including sponsors, participants and panelists, for helping to create a memorable event. OBI also would like to congratulate the businesses recognized this year as visionaries and as producers of cool products.