Portland startups, open source, and tech news, jobs, and events #pdx
Every year I look forward to the results of the Portland Women In Tech (PDXWIT) State of the Community survey results. Not because the results are easy to hear. Or even stomach. Far from it. But they’re a clear indicator of where our community is broken. And where work can be done.
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As folks think through how to disentangle and deconstruct systemic racism in many of our institutions, it comes as little surprise that the tech industry falls under similar scrutiny. Long a falsely held “meritocracy,” our largely white industry has any number deeply troubling racist dynamics to it, from its current demographics to its culture to its technology. And it’s going to take long term work — and constant dedication to that work — to address these issues and implement necessary changes.
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The dynamics of venture funds are very much akin to the dynamics of startups. It’s rarely smooth. It’s often a series of fits and starts. And fundraising. And pivoting. Until a fund really hits its stride. But I’m happy to report that Black Founders Matter is beginning to get some early traction and has announced its first investment as part of the funding for A Kids Book About.
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Switchboard, a Portland company founded by Mara Zepeda — and one that powers the Portland Startups Switchboard — has announced the completion of a successful merger with a similarly minded business out of Chicago, Hearken. The combined entity will retain the Hearken name.
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Work to help diversify the tech industry needs to happen at all levels of the industry. From entry level to executive suite. So it’s always nice to see more programs that help folks get a foothold in the industry. Like Alchemy Code Lab partnering with PDXWIT (Portland Women in Tech) on a scholarship for Black and/or Indigenous women to participate in their professional software development program.
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While we’re all excited to have Demolicious back, it seems that maybe we’re not as excited for it to be a virtual event. So lead organizer Josh Carter is pressing pause on the event until we have the opportunity to get together, face to face.
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There is something about the Portland culture of collaboration that inspires collection, aggregation, and amplification. To make things easier to use. To raise the visibility of important conversations. And to use technology to make things more accessible. So it should come as little surprise to anyone that with something as undeniably important as the Black Lives Matter movement, Portland would have its own aggregated calendar of Black Lives Matter events.
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“No one wants to be the first one in the pool” is a truism regularly bandied about the venture funded startup circles. That’s because — for companies that choose that equity based financing route — landing that first check can be the most critical component of fundraising. But which venture capital firm or Angel is truly the most likely to be that “first money in” for your company? That’s what TechCrunch is seeking to answer with The TechCrunch List.
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If you don’t recognize the names in that headline, you should. Stephanie Ghoston Paul is a former Portland resident now living in Atlanta who worked closely with the Portland startup community. And Paige Hendrix Buckner is a current Portland resident who has been a serial founder and mentor here in town. And so when these two amazing women for whom I have the utmost respect got the chance to chat on Stephanie’s podcast, Take Nothing When I Die, it was a must listen for me. And I thought you might want to listen, as well.
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Portland startup Workfrom started its life as a database of alternative spots you could, obviously, work from. Cafes, brewpubs, coworking spaces… the list went on an on. Internet speeds, bathroom codes, noise levels, number of outlets… Workfrom could provide all of the details you needed to help you decide where to work when your office or home wouldn’t quite cut it.
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