From a press release

Klamath IDEA (Inspire Development, Energize Acceleration) will host its final IDEA Talk of the season from 5:30 to 8 p.m. Wednesday, June 19, at Sugarman’s Corner at Sixth and Main streets downtown.

This month’s IDEA Talk will feature Allen Alley, managing member of The Alley Group and president of Obsidian Opportunity Funds.

Alley founded Pixelworks, a semiconductor company in Tualatin, Ore., that provides circuits for flat-screen TVs. He led the company from startup to IPO in three years, eventually growing it into a global brand with approximately 500 employees at offices in Portland, San Jose, Tokyo, Taipei and Shanghai. He was also part of the executive team who led the growth of InFocus Systems in Wilsonville, from a startup company to a $250 million global enterprise.

The Alley Group

Alley is currently the managing member of The Alley Group, an early stage venture capital firm that focuses on software-as-a-service companies. He is also co-founder and president of Obsidian Opportunity Funds, a firm that manages renewable energy investments in designated “Opportunity Zone” communities.

“We’re really excited to have an entrepreneur with such an amazing depth of experience like Allen finish out our IDEA Talks season. This season’s Talks have all been top-notch, and Allen’s presentation will be a perfect capstone to a great year,” said Klamath IDEA Director Kat Rutledge.

Entrepreneurs

June’s IDEA Talk will also showcase two local student entrepreneurs who won the Klamath IDEA Entrepreneur In Action Award at Klamath Community College’s Badger Venture and Oregon Tech’s Catalyze Klamath Falls Challenge student innovation and entrepreneurship competitions.

This year’s award winners are KCC’s Wyatt Paul, founder of PourHorse Mobile Cantina and Libations, and Oregon Tech’s Tim Hasty, founder of Klamath Tangent.

Paul drafted PourHorse, a mobile bar service, in Klamath Falls after his experience working with a Colorado catering company serving guests at parties and weddings. He is pursuing an Associate of Science in Business Administration, with an emphasis in sales and marketing at KCC.

School, business

Hasty is an Oregon native, currently pursuing an engineering degree at Oregon Tech. Hasty founded Klamath Tangent to locally manufacture high-quality, midsize bags and packs that have the ability to keep up with his adventurous lifestyle.

“Running a business while going to college is not an easy accomplishment. We’re so proud of these two Entrepreneur in Action Award Winners. They are doing it, right here in Klamath,” said Ben Blanchard, of Klamath IDEA.

Food and beverages for June’s IDEA talk will be provided by MC’s On Main and are included in the cost of entry. Networking begins at 5:30 p.m. and presentations start at 6 p.m. Discounted tickets can be purchased in advance at Eventbrite.com or on Klamath IDEA’s Facebook page for $15. Tickets will also be available at the talk for $20 (cash only).