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Month: May 2011

Keeping it weird: Austin, Texas vs. Portland, Oregon — a startup support beat down

There is a lot in common between Austin and Portland extending to outdoor living, environmental consciousness, education, overall culture, and active startup community. The success of the Keep Austin/Portland Weird campaigns in both cities was reflective of many of these similarities.

Rick Turoczy on May 11, 2011

[Editor: Scott Olson of FounderBuzz recently ran a Facebook ad campaign that delivered some very interesting insights about Facebook and the Portland startup community. I begged a guest post out of him on the topic.]

When I moved to Portland from Austin three years ago I had heard about and was struck by the similarities between those two cities. There is a lot in common between Austin and Portland extending to outdoor living, environmental consciousness, education, overall culture, and active startup community. The success of the “Keep Austin/Portland Weird” campaigns in both cities was reflective of many of these similarities. Read More

HomeAway adds a Second Porch … and with it Facebook powered vacation rentals

Portland based Second Porch has been doing so well, in fact, that the worldwide leader in vacation rentals just snapped them up. SecondPorch has been acquired by HomeAway.

Rick Turoczy on May 11, 2011

Even in a sluggish market, the vacation rental business is booming. And Portland-based Second Porch has been at the forefront, helping Facebook users keep their vacation homes filled with renters—all by promoting their vacation homes to the people in their social graph.

Second Porch has been doing so well, in fact, that the worldwide leader in vacation rentals just snapped them up. Second Porch has been acquired by HomeAway. Read More

You got your journalism in my digital. You got your digital in my journalism. Again. Camp.

Digital Journalism Camp, Portland, the premier event for journalists, bloggers, reporters, podcasters work through the issues facing folks creating content on the Web today.

Rick Turoczy on May 10, 2011

It’s that time of year again. The sun is starting to peek out a little more often. The breeze feels a little warmer. And the camps are beginning to get going again.

That’s right. It’s time for Digital Journalism Camp, Portland. On May 14, the premier event for journalists, bloggers, reporters, podcasters, newscasters, and writers to all get in the same room, get all unconferencey, and work through the issues facing folks creating content on the Web today. Read More

OpenGovWest 2011: Helping our municipalities be more open, transparent, and engaged

Portland, Oregon, has been one of the leaders in opening up its data. But what about those folks who are still considering the ramifications? Enter OpenGovWest.

Rick Turoczy on May 10, 2011

As you know, there’s been a big movement at the Federal level—and an equally large concern with funding those efforts—for opening up government data, making it more accessible to developers and everyday folks, as well.

But what about at a more local level? Portland, Oregon, has been one of the leaders in opening up its data. And organizations like Code for America are helping governments that are already ready already and raring to go open. But what about those folks who are still considering the ramifications? Enter OpenGovWest. Read More

Portland and Social Entrepreneurship: A conversation with Darius Monsef of COLOURlovers and All Hands

Rick Turoczy on May 9, 2011

[Editor: Dale Davidson of TrekDek shares another guest post with us.]

I recently sat down with Darius Monsef IV aka Bubs, the founder of COLOURlovers. Though much of the tech world is focused on the recent $1 million dollar funding they recently received, I thought I would try to get his perspective on the world of social entrepreneurship and Portland’s role in it. Considering that Darius is a co-founder and an active member of the non-profit All Hands, a disaster relief group, he is extremely knowledgeable about the subject. Read More

Reminder: Webtrends Lunch 2.0 is Wednesday

Rick Turoczy on May 9, 2011

Did you forget that Webtrends (@webtrends) wants to have you over for lunch on Wednesday?

No worries, that’s why we’re here, to remind you about free lunch. Oh, and to inform you about startups, the local tech scene, etc. All that stuff too.

You may get a chance to check out Webtrends’ newest product Analytics 10, which unites all your social, mobile and web analytics into a single console.

And hey, if it’s sunny (a big if), you can hang out on their balcony too.

Read More

Tablet, tablet, who’ll lead the tablets? Mobspot would like your opinion on the future of tablet computing

Rick Turoczy on May 6, 2011

Just like the Internet and the mobile phone before it, this whole tablet thing might just catch on. But how quickly? And with which markets?

That’s what the folks at Portland-based Mobspot are wondering. And they’d like to ask you a question or two to assess the future of the tablet world. Read More

Question-able tactics: Wordspreadz strives to raise the bar for social network conversations

Wordspreadz is a social network that seeks to raise the bar for intelligent online dialogue.

Rick Turoczy on May 5, 2011

No matter how many social networks you’ve joined—from one to one thousand—you tend to start each one with the same inevitable question: What the heck am I going to post?

Well, what if—instead of leaving you to your own devices—that social network compelled you to answer questions and engage in conversations? What if the system asked questions that begged to be answered and in so doing provided insights into who you are and what you think? That’s the idea behind Portland’s latest social network Wordspreadz. Read More

Get ready to rethink your wallet: db clay wallets are back… and taking inspiration from mobile design

Portland based db clay—the awesome duct tape wallet startup that went into hibernation in 2009—is coming out of its slumber with a mobile handset inspired re-invisioning of the wallet—with no more duct tape.

Rick Turoczy on May 4, 2011

I’m telling you. There’s something about Portland and Kickstarter. It’s just a good cultural fit. And there’s something about Portland and mobile. Again, it just fits. You know what else fits Portland? That’s right. Creativity.

Now what if Kickstarter, mobile, and creativity all got together to create a better wallet? Well, now we can find out. You see, hometown favorite db clay—the awesome duct tape wallet startup that went into hibernation in 2009—is coming out of its slumber with a mobile handset inspired re-invisioning of the wallet—with no more duct tape. Read More

One million more reasons to love COLOURlovers: $1 million in funding

Rick Turoczy on May 3, 2011

You remember COLOURlovers, right? Remember? They’re the Portland startup that left for the Bay, got picked as a Y Combinator company, and is currently in the midst of renewing their relationship with Portland?

Well, you might have noticed that they’re doing a little hiring here in Portland. And that might make folks wonder how they were planning to pay those folks. The answer was revealed today: COLOURlovers just secured $1 million in funding. Read More

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