Stiira wins first place at Pitch Willamette 2024

Stiira, one of the leading innovators in the leave management software industry, emerged as one of two first-place winners at this year’s Pitch Willamette competition. Hosted by SEDCOR and Launch Mid-Valley, the event followed a Shark Tank-style format, where Oregon-based entrepreneurs pitched their ideas to a panel of investors. Stiira was among seven finalists, showcasing its innovative product and greater vision to address the growing complexities of managing government-regulated leaves of absence. As a first-place winner, Stiira secured investment to help fuel new feature development and forge integration partnerships, further automating absence management for employers and third-party administrators nationwide.

Stiira was honored to participate in such an influential event and receive recognition for its unique approach to solving the challenges associated with leave administration. The competition also provided a valuable opportunity to connect with the local entrepreneurial community and increase visibility with investors and the public. Pitch Willamette marks Stiira’s second major victory this year in Oregon’s investment scene, following their first-place win at the Westside Pitch 2024, hosted by TiE Oregon.

“Our win at Pitch Willamette is a huge milestone for Stiira and reflects the hard work our team has put into delivering an adaptable solution that addresses a complex problem for employers,” says Casey Rillahan, Stiira’s VP of Sales and Co-founder. “We’re incredibly grateful for the opportunity to connect more with our community and excited to keep building on this momentum.”

Continuing its successful run in 2024, Stiira has been named one of five finalists for the Oregon Entrepreneurs Network’s Angel Oregon Technology Fund, with the final pitch and investment announcement set for Tuesday, September 24^th.

“The problem we’re solving really resonates with the local business community because Oregon employers are feeling the impact of state-specific regulations…with the introduction of Paid Leave Oregon and shifting Oregon Family Leave Act requirements,” says Calvin Gower, CEO and Founder of Stiira. “These events give us a chance to highlight the impact of this on a national scale, and we’re thrilled to have more investors recognize the value of Stiira and join us on our journey.”