Who We Are
46
Members
45
Companies
7
Invested
We are a diverse team of sports industry/business professionals & investors.
We value inclusion, innovation, and collaboration.
We are a member-based organization that operates as a network.
We strive to improve access to capital and mentoring for underrepresented founders.
Executive Team
CAREER HIGHLIGHTS:
Kate pre-tired from an eclectic and interesting career in 2017 to start Oregon Sports Angels. She passed the OSA leadership baton in 2024, and now focuses her OSA work on helping our founders succeed.
She’s also the chairperson of GRAYL, an active advisor to several women-founded companies, including Freeland Spirits,The Sports Bra, and Equipt.Women. In the whitespace, she’s writing a memoir and splitting time between Portland, OR and Santa Barbara, CA.
FAVORITE SPORTS TO PLAY: I’m a somewhat broken-down runner and former triathlete who still finds plenty of joy in swimming, biking, and (now) hiking, and I’m still a total gym rat. Core is core.
FAVORITE SPORTS WATCH: That’s a rhetorical question.
FAVORITE SPORT MOMENT: Another rhetorical question.
WORDS TO LIVE BY:
“Outcome over ego.” —Shane Parrish, Farnam Street
ADVISORY BOARD: SNOWLEDGE + STRIVE
CAREER HIGHLIGHTS: Jim is an accomplished business leader who has held a wide range of strategic and operational roles with notable brands and retailers like Nike, The Home Depot, and Mohawk Industries. He has led teams across Product Management, Sourcing, Development, Marketing, and Sales bringing a multi-industry perspective to the Oregon Sports Angels.
He is currently the Principal of Cascade Management supporting the apparel, footwear, and equipment industries. Along with the product industries, he has also co-founded a coffee company. Jim also consults for private equity firms restructuring and scaling up brands in their portfolio.
Jim is passionate about promoting design, product management, and sustainability education. He serves on the Board of Directors for the American Apparel Producers Network and on the Advisory Board of several university business programs in the region.
FAVORITE SPORT TO PLAY: Golf – I love the life lesson: only the next shot matters.
FAVORITE SPORT TO WATCH: Anything related to Duke – Basketball, Football, Lacrosse, etc. The Olympics. My son’s lacrosse team.
FAVORITE SPORT MOMENT: 1992 Olympics – All of it. And when Tiger won The Masters for his 15th Major.
WORDS TO LIVE BY OR FAVORITE QUOTE:
Imagination has a great deal to do with winning. —Mike Krzyzewski
Advisory Board: Looptworks
CAREER HIGHLIGHTS: Sandy is a proven leader with 35 years of experience in the Sport and Fitness Industry, the last 29 with the iconic brand, Nike. Her first role with Nike was in Visual Merchandising as the company was beginning to establish a strong and more demanding retail footprint. Over the course of her time at Nike Sandy advanced to hold Vice Presidential leadership positions in Geography General Management, Marketplace Transformation, Product and Merchandising, and Women’s Category.
Never afraid of a new challenge or opportunity to learn and grow, Sandy readily accepted opportunities to live abroad and gain global business and cultural experiences. She held leadership positions in Asia Pacific in Retail Development and in Europe as the Vice President of Product and Merchandising.
One of the things Sandy enjoys most is leading and working with diverse teams to help individuals succeed and teams win. She continues to be a mentor to up-and-coming talent in the Sport and Fitness Industry. Additionally, and regardless of where she lives, Sandy involves herself in her community. She currently serves as a Board Member for p:ear, a non-profit organization devoted to working with, and providing for, homeless youth in the Portland area.
FAVORITE SPORT TO PLAY: Sandy is a fitness enthusiast! She loves riding hard on her Peloton bike to achieve personal best performance and, when off the bike, running to stay in 5K shape.
FAVORITE SPORT TO WATCH: Women’s Gymnastics! I was a gymnast growing up and I’m amazed at the level of today’s performance.
FAVORITE SPORT MOMENT: Watching the Olympics – Summer and Winter. I love to hear the athlete’s personal stories and watch them reach their dreams.
WORDS TO LIVE BY OR FAVORITE QUOTE:
Trust your gut! It is usually right.
CAREER HIGHLIGHTS: Doug is an experienced CFO, Finance Executive, and Tech leader with a track record of growing businesses, improving profitability, and new business ventures. He’s currently CEO for Rebound Orthopedics and Neurosurgery, a leading surgical practice in Portland metropolitan area. Previously, Doug has been VP Finance and consulting leader in high tech with years of experience at Intel and Accenture. He has an MBA from the University of Michigan.
FAVORITE SPORT TO PLAY: Currently basketball, both pick-up games and leagues. Will continue trying to play as long as knees hold up.
FAVORITE SPORT TO WATCH: Football and Basketball. Originally from Detroit, MI and I remain loyal to Lions, Pistons, Tigers, and Red Wings … despite their limited success.
FAVORITE SPORT MOMENT: Watching Detroit Lions football games with my daughter.
WORDS TO LIVE BY OR FAVORITE QUOTE: Change will not come if we wait for some other person or some other time. We are the ones we’ve been waiting for. We are the change that we seek. – Barack Obama
Announcements
OSA HITS THE COURT WITH PICKLEHEADS, the #1 APP FOR PICKLEBALL!
February 13, 2025
OSA is “in the kitchen” with Pickleheads, the #1 website and app for pickleball players. Now an OSA portfolio company, Pickleheads helps players around the world find courts, organize games and connect with their community. Serving nearly one million players every month, Pickleheads also provides playing tips and equipment reviews to help players max out their pickleball prowess.
FOR OSA’S NEWEST PORTFOLIO COMPANY, “FÚTBOL IS LIFE”
February 6, 2025
Senda, an independent fútbol brand and producer of soccer shoes, balls and accessories, is now an OSA portfolio company. Senda produces high-performance futsal and fútbol footwear, a wide variety of specialized balls for different playing surfaces, grip socks and accessories. In addition, Senda’s soccer balls are Fair Trade certified, ensuring safe working conditions, fair wages, and environmental protection for the people who make them.
How We Work
We Focus
On sports product, technology and innovation companies across the United States.
We Screen
We continually evaluate new ideas and potential deals for our quarterly pitch sessions.
We Invest*
We provide startup funding for sports product, experiential and technology companies that have achieved an early level of market success and consumer adoption.
*Our members are individual investors
We Partner
With other Angel investors, seed and venture funds, local sport & educational institutions. For OSA, investing in startups is a team sport.
How You Benefit
Beyond startup funding, our individual investors mentor, open doors and provide unique networking opportunities to create a competitive advantage for your business.
OSA Pitch Cycle and Events Calendar: 2025
| January | February | March | April |
|---|---|---|---|
| Feb 19: Quarterly Pitch Day | |||
| May | June | July | August |
| May 7: Quarterly Pitch Day | Aug 6: Quarterly Pitch Day | ||
| September | October | November | December |
| Sept 18-20: Annual Meeting | Nov 5: Quarterly Pitch Day |
Key:
Screening. OSA is accepting submissions to pitch during these months.
Due Diligence. OSA is not accepting submissions to pitch during these months.
Valued Professional Service Partners
