Invited Into Communities to Catalyze Their Entrepreneurial Ecosystem

“We invited RAIN Catalysts to partner with us in the program because of their proven knowledge and experience in strengthening entrepreneurial ecosystems in rural communities, and their ability to mobilize quickly to help deliver and manage programs … The program’s structural rigor they provided, and the stellar delivery of the educational programs were exceptional.”

— Sharon Sappington, Island County Economic Development Council

Oregon Communities & Partners Who Have Invited Us:

Erin Reynolds, City Manager of Florence, Oregon

“This project [RAIN Catalysts] has helped us create a long-term, economically stable system for new businesses and has helped ensure that our Florence startups are connected with statewide resources.”

Eric Niemann, Mayor, Philomath

“The support [RAIN Catalysts] provides…is incredible and something we can’t get anywhere else.”

Lynda Kamerrer, Chamber of Commerce, Oakridge

“They bring resources, skills, and staffing that we aren’t able to access any other way.”

Washington Communities & Partners Who Have Invited Us:

Ron Wyden, U.S. Senator, Oregon

“The Venture Catalyst program has worked so well for rural communities.”

Anne Heath, City Manager, Coburg

“RAIN Catalysts really stepped up for us [during the COVID pandemic], helping us to devise a city grant to help our local businesses.”

Pakistan Communities & Partners Who Have Invited Us:

Blair Larson, Community & Economic Development Director, Sweet Home

“Our staff doesn’t have the expertise and capacity to help entrepreneurs. We know RAIN Catalysts will give our entrepreneurs A+ treatment.”

Erin Renoylds, City Manager, Florence

“We’ve seen capital and mentorship grow in our area because of the efforts of [RAIN Catalysts].”

The RAIN Catalysts “Toolkit” Brought to Communities

  • Time savings spent helping businesses

  • Identify and train mentors

  • Identify and train angel investors

  • Create new capital programs

  • Last Founder’s Standing (TM) training tool

  • Startup Business Plans, Templates, Files, and Resources

  • Host workshops and training events

  • Host networking events

  • Host pitch competitions and fundraising events

  • Connections to national entrepreneurship & innovation coalitions

  • Implementation of cutting edge strategies for entrepreneurship programs

  • Identify and train local entrepreneurs to become startup champions and community leaders

  • Mentor database

  • Advocacy of entrepreneurship & innovation with local, state, and federal legislators

  • Accelerator Curriculum

  • Pre-Accelerator Curriculum

  • Entrepreneurship curriculum for high school

  • Entrepreneurial asset maps

  • Surveys of businesses and entrepreneurs

  • Outreach Activities

  • Gaps Analysis

  • Barriers Analysis

  • DEI Lense

  • Convening of Regional Stakeholders around Entrepreneurship and Innovation Topics

  • Access to OR, WA, and CA Funding Programs and Firms

  • Annual Impact Reports for your Region

  • Regional Readiness Assessment Scorecard

  • Regional Entrepreneurial Ecosystem Scorecard

  • Success Stories

  • Media Pitches

  • Catalyze early-stage capital sources

Arnie Roblan, Oregon State Senator, D-Coos Bay

“Most new jobs in the United States are created by startups and small businesses. Entrepreneurship is a critical component of the central Oregon coast economy, and [RAIN Catalysts] has cultivated a thriving entrepreneurial ecosystem for the region.”

Michelle Amberg, City Manager, Creswell

“In a city this size, we just don’t have the ability to do much in the way of economic development. RAIN Catalysts has been perfect for us.”