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You know what’s hard to do in Portland? Build a venture scale company. Not because the talent isn’t here — it is — but more often than not, the funding isn’t. So when a Portland company raises $45 million one year and then another $25 million the next? That’s worth noting. Even if they keep a fairly low profile locally.

Back in December, I talked about Governor Kotek’s Prosperity Roadmap — but then we had the whole QSBS trainwreck. And that seemed like somewhere that the Prosperity Council could have been helpful. And I’m sure there are any number of other ways that they might be helpful. And you probably have some pretty damn good ideas for the council. So — because the Prosperity Council is now actively seeking input — I wanted them to hear from you. Yes, you. Don’t look around like I’m talking to somebody else. YOU. You need to respond.

Here’s a roundup of interesting startup links I came across today:

We Have Learned Nothing – Colossus

The truth is, anytime someone insists on a method for how to build a successful startup, you should do something different. The paradox is self-evident, once you think about it, but it contains the seed for how to move forward.

Here’s a roundup of interesting startup links I came across today:

Dayo lets you bribe your teen to stay off their darn phone – Fast Company

Sure, it could be considered bribery. But Scholibo argues, quite simply: cash talks. “There’s something transactional about it, and that’s kind of the point,” he says.

ere’s a roundup of interesting startup links I came across today:

AI’s Oppenheimer Moment | Andreessen Horowitz

It seems entirely reasonable to wish that nuclear weapons had never been invented, and to have objections about many of their potential uses. The same is true for superhuman AI.

Here’s a roundup of interesting startup links I came across today:

Taylor Soper named director of Seattle’s AI House after remarkable run at GeekWire – GeekWire

After more than 13 years as a GeekWire reporter and editor, Taylor Soper is preparing for his next big assignment: he’ll soon join AI2 Incubator as director of AI House, the Seattle startup hub that has quickly become a gathering place for AI founders, practitioners, and researchers.

Here’s a roundup of interesting startup links I came across today:

Software Bonkers — by Craig Mod

Simply put: It’s a big mess, and no off-the-shelf accounting software does what I need. So after years of pain, I finally sat down last week and started to build my own. It took me about five days. I am now using the best piece of accounting software I’ve ever used.

Okay okay. I know I’m still struggling with the whole “What even is a Portland startup…?” question in this remote first post pandemic world. But this one is more than a Earth Class Mail PO Box mixup. This actually has a real Portland footprint. With known Portland folks. So I’m going with it. Depot has raised $10 million.