Oregon Bioscience Companies Gather

Raising money remains a huge hurdle for Oregon-based life sciences companies. Yet, leaders of five up-and-coming firms who spoke Wednesday at the Oregon Bioscience 2006 Conference showed it's not impossible.

All have kept on track by doggedly focusing on technologies that fit an unserved need in the marketplace -- and by casting a wide net for angel investors, venture capital funds and government grants.

Leaders of the Portland companies shared notes on their companies' early-stage experiences at the annual networking event for the nonprofit association, this year at the Oregon Zoo. Some state leaders have high hopes that biotechnology and related firms can fuel economic growth in Oregon, but most growth in that industry so far has been confined to hotbeds elsewhere, including Boston and San Francisco.

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