---
title: 'REMINDER: Portland''s black founders take the stage for Pitch Black, Thursday'
date: '2015-07-22T23:14:21-07:00'
type: post
word_count: 243
char_count: 1847
tokens: 316
categories:
  - '#featured'
  - Events
  - Oregon
  - Portland
  - Startups
tags:
  - black
  - Founders
  - 'maria webster'
  - pitchblack
  - Portland
  - 'stephen green'
---

# REMINDER: Portland's black founders take the stage for Pitch Black, Thursday

As we work toward [building a more diverse and inclusive Portland startup scene](http://siliconflorist.com/2015/06/17/building-startup-scene-techtown-portland-companies-diversity-pledge/ "Techtown Portland companies take a diversity pledge"), we’re seeing a number of events that speak to unique and distinct communities within our larger startup community. It’s a positive trend. And one I hope we see continue. The next opportunity? [Pitch Black](http://www.meetup.com/Startup-Your-Startup/events/222964759/ "Whiteboard Pitching: Pitch Black"), a pitch event featuring awesome Portland black entrepreneurs—with no slide decks.

> Audience: First 100 people can purchase tickets, all people are allowed to buy tickets, just not pitch, capiche? Just PDX based African-American Founders will pitch.

> The purpose of the event is to give African American founders a platform to showcase their entrepreneurial talent.

> Basis: There are over 3,500 African-American founded businesses in Portland, Oregon alone.

The event will be held at Oregon Public House, Thursday, July 23, 2015, starting at 5PM. Tickets are $20 at the door. Emcees will be [Stephen Green](https://twitter.com/PDXStephenG "Stephen Green on Twitter") and [Maria Webster](https://twitter.com/MariaWebsterPDX "Maria Webster on Twitter").

For more information, see [Pitch Black](http://www.meetup.com/Startup-Your-Startup/events/222964759/ "Pitch Black") or read [Malia’s write up in the Portland Business Journal](http://www.bizjournals.com/portland/blog/techflash/2015/07/spotlight-shines-on-portland-s-black-entrepreneurs.html "Spotlight shines on Portland’s black entrepreneurs").

*([Image courtesy Lumachrome](https://www.flickr.com/photos/lumachrome/5396906820). Used under Creative Commons.)*