Portland startups, open source, and tech news, jobs, and events #pdx
They showed up overnight — from a variety of service providers — and now they’re practically everywhere. They’re eScooters. And you’ve no doubt seen them either parked or being ridden. Heck, you’ve probably even ridden them. But how are they being received? Portland Bureau of Transportation recently surveyed riders as part of the pilot. And now PBOT has released the results of that survey.
I knew it was happening, but I didn’t realize that it was coming together this quickly. So my sincere apologies for the tardy reminder. But better late than never. CyborgCamp — one of the defining events of the Portland startup community nearly a decade ago — is back. And it’s taking place November 3, 2018.
As much as I love Portland, there are still any number of things — or lack thereof — that can cause a ton of frustration. Like the lack of infrastructure for getting connected to the startup community. Time and time again, I hear from folks how difficult it is to get connected. Because while Portland tends to be a very one-on-one meeting sort of town, it’s not obvious where to start.
I know that, at times, startups and capitalism and consumerism can seem superficial. I get it. But the underlying system of government that has borne this whole startup thing is pretty darn cool. Especially considering that we’ve been iterating on it for more than 240 years or so. But it only works if you take part. So please vote.
Getting on stage can be scary. Telling people about your startup can be scary. So it only stands to reason that applying to do both of those things would have a scary due date. Like tomorrow. That’s when you have to have your Pitch Oregon application done.
There are any number of opportunities for startups to get on stage and pitch. But it’s always more interesting when there’s a focus. Like celebrating women founders. Which is exactly what happens with Women Led and their pitch event.
When it comes to Portland coworking, it’s a story of constant growth. And new players entering the game. But you have to take notice when the leading company in coworking, worldwide, continues to invest in Portland. So if you’re a startup looking for a workspace and you want to check out the newest WeWork, I’ve got some good news.
One of the consistent Portland themes I always mention is the concept of “accidental entrepreneurship.” By that I mean, the innumerable creative folks in town who were inspired to build something to solve a problem they had simply for the sake of solving it. And then someone or someones said, “Hey, I’d pay for that.” And suddenly, they’re a startup.
People go to events for all sorts of reasons. For some, it’s a networking opportunity. For others, it’s for personal or professional development. Sometimes, it’s just because you’re hoping to get the opportunity to connect with someone who isn’t terribly accessible. But whatever the motivation, getting a ticket and to the event can often be a hardship. Luckily, PDX Women In Tech is working to lighten that burden by #InvestingInYou.