Excellence in Innovation -- Winner

The Excellence in Innovation Award will be presented to an individual for outstanding performance as an inventor and innovator. Nominees may be recognized for a single, scientific breakthrough or for sustained, significant research and development contributions over a long period of time. Nominees may be affiliated with technology companies, individual or small research labs, academia or companies outside the traditional technology industry that are incorporating cutting edge technology into a product.

WINNER - Dr. Ivan Sutherland

In addition to the Excellece in Innovation award,  five company and product awards will be given.  This year all technology sectors were eligible, including systems, hardware and communications software, internet, mobile and other application companies, technology service companies, biotechnology, medical device, and other life science companies, and environmental science and energy companies.  Furthermore, companies from industries not traditionally characterized as technology companies, were also eligible. Consistent with the broad approach, the company award categories this year were based upon size of company instead of industry segment. 

Technology Company of the Year - Startup
This award honors the most exciting new technology company.  Nominees should be in between pre-revenue and $3,000,000 in annual revenue and should have started operations no earlier than January 1, 2010.  Nominees will be judged on a variety of factors including the quality of their business idea and plan, the strength of the founding team, and their ability to fund initial operations.

WINNER:  Cloudability

Startup Finalists:

Technology Company of the Year - Rising Star
This award honors an early stage company that has made significant progress in the past year.  Nominees should have annual revenue between $3,000,000 and $20,000,000.  Nominees will be judged on a variety of factors with a focus on rapid growth and development of infrastructure.  Nominees should be on track to make a positive impact in their markets and on the region's technology community.  Companies in this category don’t need to be profitable, but should be showing significant growth in revenue, headcount, innovation, market acceptance among other things.

WINNNER: Janrain, Inc.

Rising Star Finalists:

WINNER:  Elemental Technologies, Inc.

Growth Finalists:

· Digimarc

· Eid Passport

· Elemental Technologies, Inc.

Technology Company of the Year - Enterprise
This award honors a large, established company that is a leader in both their industry and our technology community.  Nominees should have revenue in excess of $100,000,000 and sustained profitability.  This award will consider all accomplishments over the past year which could include success of new product introductions, community involvement and impact on industry trends. 

WINNER:  Vesta Corporation

Enterprise Finalists:

· Cascade Microtech, Inc.

· FEI Company

· Vesta Corporation

Cool Product of the Year
In addition to the Technology Company of the Year awards, TAO will also select:Cool Product of the YearPresented to the Company whose product is judged to be the coolest new product of the past year.  A product developed, and/or introduced sometime in the most recent 18 months, and had significant demonstrable success in the past 12 months.  The product can be a hardware, software or technology-service product.  The product is innovative, and has created significant new opportunity for the company.  The product offers significantly enhanced benefits over prior or competitive products.

WINNER:  Belkin Thunderstorm Handheld Home Theater by Avnera Corporation

Cool Product Finalists:

· Belkin Thunderstorm Handheld Home Theater by Avnera Corporation

· Stages Power by Foundation Fitness LLC

· Smarsh Web Archiving

Technology Executive of the Year
Presented to the Technology Executive whose leadership has made the biggest, positive impact in their industry and the greater Oregon community.   The Executive should be recognized as a leader of the technology community in the area through his/her leadership of their company, and through involvement with other companies or industry groups in the area.  The Executive’s company should have seen significant success in the most recently completed calendar year, as indicated generally by revenue growth, profit, employment increases, impact to their general market, etc.  The Executive’s company should be one that has a positive impact on the local technology industry.  The Executive should be considered to be in a position to accept the award, and to represent the technology community in a positive light for the foreseeable future.

The winner of the 2013 Oregon Technology Executive of the Year:

Jay Haladay, CEO of Coaxis, Inc., dba Viewpoint Consruction Software

Questions?  Contact Kari Naone, Director Events, Kari.Naone@techoregon.org, 503-228-5452