---
title: 'Summer road trips: Two Portland startups accepted to two different Techstars programs'
date: '2016-06-27T08:56:50-07:00'
type: post
word_count: 242
char_count: 1594
tokens: 315
categories:
  - accelerator
  - Oregon
  - Portland
  - Startups
tags:
  - Portland
  - Startup
  - techstars
---

# Summer road trips: Two Portland startups accepted to two different Techstars programs

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.

[Brightwork](http://www.brightwork.io/ "Brightwork"), an early stage company working on helping developers with the plethora of available APIs—and to better understand that use, will be spending the summer [in Chicago as part of the Techstars program there](http://www.chicagotribune.com/bluesky/originals/ct-techstars-chicago-class-bsi-20160627-story.html "Techstars Chicago names class for 2016 accelerator").

[Chroma](https://www.chroma.fund/ "Chroma") will be heading east, as well. But much further east. They’re participating [in the Barclays Techstars accelerator in New York](http://www.techstars.com/content/accelerators/barclays/announcing-barclays-techstars-nyc-class-2016/ "Announcing the Barclays Techstars NYC Class of 2016"). Chroma, you’ll remember, is using Blockchain to rethink the way capital is invested in early stage companies—with a current focus on putting 401k funds to work in local companies.

Even better news? Both companies are planning to return to Portland at the close of the programs. Just in time for the rainy season.

*\[Full disclosure: I am an advisor for Brightwork. And Chroma is an alum of Oregon Story Board, an accelerator focused on digital storytelling which I helped cofound.\]*