Angel Oregon

Yesterday I attended Angel Oregon 2009. AO is an angel investment conference. Six startups’ CEOs presented their companies, and another 14 CEOs gave elevator pitches.

But the conference was just the finale of a three-month process.  I got to participate, as an investor, for the first time this year.

Kinetic Vehicles

I found another tiny vehicle manufacturer.  Kinetic Vehicles. Kinetic makes Locost parts and kits.  The Locost is a vernacular implementation of the Lotus Seven, kind of an open-source car.

The interesting thing about Kinetic is that it’s in Creswell, just ten miles away.  Now I’ll have to pay a visit.

Oregon’s Bespoke Vehicle Makers

I found two more local small-time vehicle manufacturer this weekend.

Galen Cycles is a bicycle builder near Roseburg.  They specialize in carbon fiber frames.

And MotoCzysz is designing an all-new racing motorcycle in Portland.  The project is ambitious and well-funded.

They join Brammo Motorsports, who make the Ariel Atom in Ashland*, Dennis Palatov, who’s ever so slowly creating the DP1 single-seater track car, and  Randy Grubb of Grant’s Pass who created Jay Leno’s famous Tank Car.  There are probably more that I don’t know about yet.  I’m sure there are four or five other bike frame makers.

Is Oregon special?  Or are there tiny manufacturers following their dreams in other areas too?  Conventional wisdon isn’t, “Performance vehicle cottage industry?  Go to Oregon!”

* I have heard rumors, but know no facts, about Brammo selling off the Atom business.