The holidays are upon us. And with them, the beginning of the rampant discounting and voracious consumerism of the season. Suffice it to say that I, for one, don’t want you to feel left out. So I thought I would throw a discount your way.
Read MoreMonth: November 2019
Puppet now has an active hand in supporting the next wave of Portland startups
Earlier this week, Puppet announced that they would be serving as the workspace for more than two dozen early stage Portland startups. For some, this might seem like a surprising move. But in actuality, it’s core to the culture of the company. And has been a hallmark of its existence, ever since Reductive Labs relocated to Portland.
Read MoreIf you listen to one podcast this week, make it this one
You know how sometimes things on the Internet just blow up in the most positive of ways? And every so often, a Portland person gets inextricably tied to the ongoings in a way that not only furthers the conversations, but genuinely reflects the amazing caliber of founders that we have in our midst? Well that’s what happened late last week with a tweetstorm from David Heinemeier Hansson, the creator of Ruby on Rails and cofounder of Basecamp (nee 37signals) about the Apple Card credit selection algorithm. And Portland founder Mara Zepeda wound up as part of the conversation.
Read MoreHelping underestimated founders prioritize mental health
If I’ve said it once, I’ve said it a million times: being a founder is hard. For everyone. But unfortunately, it’s even more taxing for founders who identify as women, LGBTQIA+, and/or people of color. That’s why I’m a huge fan of the work that Anthony Ware is doing. And as luck would have it, he’s in Portland this week. Focused on your mental wealth.
Read MoreRound up: What folks are saying about the latest round for SheerID
While I’m not one to celebrate fundraising for the sake of fundraising, I’m also one to admit that a growing local company raising a single round of financing that’s north of $50 million is still a bit of a rarity. And therefore, notable, at the very least. So I thought I’d capture the coverage of SheerID’s latest round.
Read MoreCould the newest Portland Trail Blazer have startup impact off the court?
Short note. Even if you’re not a basketball fan, you’ve probably heard the news that Carmelo Anthony is signing with the Portland Trail Blazers. If you are a basketball fan, this is probably feeling a bit like the time that the Blazers signed Pippen. Or maybe that’s just me. In any case, I’m admittedly more interested in ‘Melo’s potential impact off the court. Because when he’s not on the hardwood, he’s also an aspiring investor—with a successful exit. So this could potentially be an interesting addition to the Portland startup community, as well. We’ll just have to wait and see.
Revisiting the Startup Champions Network Portland visit
Sometimes, it takes an outside perspective to help you better understand your world. Earlier this year, Portland had the opportunity to host the Startup Champions Network, a group of startup ecosystem builders who mentor one another on what’s working in their respective communities. And as much as it was a pleasure to introduce folks to what was happening in Portland, getting feedback and insights from a variety of viewpoints was the true reward of putting the event together.
Read MoreLooking for something awesomely startuppy to do this weekend? How much time have you got?
This is one of the last weekends before the holiday craziness begins. Good craziness. But craziness nonetheless. So why not take these last few waning moments to spend time with the Portland startup community? We’ll all be better for it. And there are a couple of great options to do so, this weekend.
Read MoreYou’ve procrastinated long enough. SXSW Pitch 2020 applications are due November 15, 2019.
I know. You had the best intentions. You were going to get it done the weekend before last. But then that server crashed. Or there was the family thing. Or whatever. It happens. But now, the deadline is rapidly approaching. So please take a few moments to complete your application for SXSW Pitch 2020.
Read MoreWinklevoss crypto play, Gemini, is ramping up hiring in Portland
Like many shiny new tech objects, Portland was drawn into crypto early. From experimentation with the Blockchain to Dogecoin. And then, as is our particular wont, we seemed to grow bored of that exploration before it truly matured into a market. But not everyone moved on so quickly. Gemini, the cryptocurrency exchange backed by the Winklevoss twins, has quietly had an ongoing presence here for years. And now, it looks like they’re ramping up to grow that footprint.
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