Portland startups, open source, and tech news, jobs, and events #pdx
Here in Oregon, we like to do things a little differently. Even when it comes to something as structured as coding. We’ve got traditional code schools. But we’ve also got Hack Oregon. It’s not a code school, per se. It’s more of a code university, rethinking the model for teaching people to code and work among other developers. Read More
Ah summer. The best time of year to be in Portland. But startups have to be opportunistic. And do whatever they can to succeed. Even if that means leaving the Rose City during the best time to be here. And that’s exactly what Portland startups Brightwork and Chroma are doing. Read More
Remember back in the old days of the web? You know, back when “the Web” was actually a proper noun? When we all got served up the same silly banner advertisement or message every time we visited a site? With the prevalence of personalization the web now affords, that seems trite and dated. But it’s still not easy. Unless you’re using Portland startup Lytics’ newest offering, Lytics Personalization. Read More
The Portland Timbers are no strangers to the world of video games. I mean, they had that little game where Timber Joey bravely lopped of the heads of encroaching Seattle Flounders. But now, the Timbers Army is getting their own treatment, inspired by something for which the Army is well known—one of its chants. Read More
To many folks in the startup community, the Portland Seed Fund has always been here. It’s become such a prominent part of the early stage investments in town. But it wasn’t always that way. And it took some foresight from a variety of local leaders to bet on spending when the economy was in the doldrums to make it happen. Read More
It’s no secret that there’s a limited number of investors in Oregon. Which means there’s not a lot of crossover between the startup investment community—unless folks are raising. But there aren’t a lot of conversations, information sharing, or mutual understanding. It’s often just checks—or lack thereof. That’s why it’s always nice to hear from the investors, firsthand, about their world and what sort of things they’re looking for. Read More
Much to its credit, Portland is really good at starting things. At trying new stuff. And at leveraging its culture of curiosity and experimentation in ways that result in really interesting concepts. What it’s not often good at is doing something for a second time. And that’s why it’s awesome to see Portland Startup Weekend Latino capitalizing on its momentum from last year to run the for a second year. Read More
Maybe it’s just me, but my in-ear headphones? They spend more time out-of-ear. As in falling out of my ear. No matter how beautifully designed. They just fall out. A lot. That’s why I’m looking forward to the end of this successful Kickstarter campaign from Portland startup Audibility. So that I can finally have some headphones that stay in. Read More
Nothing like ending the week on a good note. Portland startup NoAppFee, an alum of the Startup PDX Challenge incubator, and winner of the 1776 Challenge Cup Local: Portland and 1776 Challenge Cup Regional: San Francisco competitions has just walked off stage as the winner of the People’s Choice for the 1776 Challenge Cup Global event. Read More
When I’m referencing things that point to Portland’s way of doing technology differently, I’ll often talk about the open source community, our culture of curiosity, and our vibrant user group communities. But the capper I’ll usually throw in there is, “Heck. We even have a nonprofit in town that helps people become geeks—or at least geekier.” Read More