When I started Silicon Florist a little over seven years ago, it was because I saw a need. I was lucky enough to get to hang out with a bunch of awesome technology folks who were wrestling with interesting problems. And who were taking risks. And starting things. But they weren’t spending a great deal of time telling their stories.
But I wanted to help. I wasn’t so good with the coding anymore. And I didn’t feel like I could be terribly beneficial to their businesses. So I just started sharing what they were doing. By blogging about it. And tweeting and stuff. Basically open sourcing my marketing communications, as it were. In hopes of raising the visibility of what they were doing. In hopes of telling their stories.
Now, it’s time to talk about startups statewide
A lot has changed in those seven years.
I still don’t get how this poorly written blog has put me in interesting conversations with entrepreneurs around the state. Both within the tech scene and without. But it has been weighing on me that Oregon is very much where Portland tech startups were back then. There’s a ton of interesting activity, but the combination of aggressive humility and heads down working means no one is telling those stories.
And those stories need to be told. Just like the Portland startup scene needed those stories told.
How we have collectively Built Oregon
https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/130336980/built-oregon/widget/video.html
So that’s why I’m excited to announce a new project I’ve been working on with Mitch Daugherty and Terry “Starbucker” St Marie. It’s called Built Oregon.
It should be pretty cool. And inspiring. And well written.
That’s right. The good news—perhaps the best news for you—is that I won’t be writing much. If at all. Instead, I’ll have the pleasure of working with amazing writers around the state. Who will be telling the stories of founders and entrepreneurs from throughout Oregon.
Sound interesting? Well, we’re running a little Kickstarter campaign to get it started. So that we can compensate those writers for their efforts. And hopefully videographers and other storytellers as time goes on.
Take a few seconds to watch the video if you get a chance. I think it gives you a good idea of what we’re trying to do. And showcases a variety of awesome folks around the state.
Unlike Silicon Florist—which has served as more of a news resource—Built Oregon will focus on the stories of the founders and companies. Explaining not just what happened. But how. And why. And most importantly who.
I’m really looking forward to helping share these amazing stories from around the state. Because they deserve to be told. And I hope you’ll join us. As both both readers and storytellers.
And if you’re up for kicking in a few bucks toward the effort, all the better.
For more information, visit the Kickstarter project for Built Oregon. Or to stay in the loop, sign up for the newsletter on Built Oregon or follow @BuiltOregon on Twitter.
Oh, and my apologies in advance. If successful, this Built Oregon project is an “and.” It’s additive. Not an “either/or.” You’ll still have to put up with my blather on Silicon Florist, as well.
