It’s that time of year. You know, the time of the year when we look back. When we assess. And where we try to use that assessment to plot our paths forward. And to plan for a new year. Obviously this last year — perhaps more than any other of my professional career which, mind you, includes both the dotcom crash and the mortgage crisis — is one where I was desperately searching for a bright spot or two amongst all of the heartache and weirdness. And I was pleasantly surprised that I was able to find at least a couple of positives. I mean like they say, after all, hindsight is…
Read MoreMonth: December 2020
REMINDER: Add your startup — or a startup you know — to the list
I try and track as many Oregon startups as I can. Be they Web based or physical objects. Just so long as they have the potential to grow quickly and be efficient with revenue, they’re interesting to me. But even as much time as I focus on that effort, I’m still often surprised and delighted to learn of new companies right under my nose.
Read MoreMost popular stories on Silicon Florist in 2020
Since I don’t think I’m going to manage to write any barnburners in the last few days of the year, now seemed to be as good of a time as any to share the year end recap for Silicon Florist. So what were the most popular Silicon Florist stories written in 2020? I’m sure you’ll be shocked to learn many of them are pandemic related. Let’s take a look.
Read MoreREMINDER: 50% discount on Silicon Florist job board ends in 2021
2020. Am I right? Earlier this year — when the global pandemic started to directly impact employment — I did three things on Silicon Florist:
Read MoreHere for Portland
Help crowdsource a definitive list of all Oregon startups
It’s been a year, hasn’t it? Usually around this time of year, I’d likely be waxing philosophic about all of the amazing founders I’d had the chance to meet. Over coffee. Or a beer. But this year isn’t that year is it? (It’s not.) Which has me thinking that I have probably missed out on any number of amazing founders and companies over the past 10 months. And that’s why I’m wondering if it would be possible to get your help resolving that issue.
Read MorePlanning for the next 10 years of Oregon innovation and entrepreneurship
I’ve been tracking with interest the state of Oregon’s efforts to outline and plan for the next decade of innovation and entrepreneurship for all of its residents. Business Oregon and TEConomy Partners — the Ohio consultancy hired to build out the plan — recently updated the Oregon House Committee on Economic Development on their progress.
Read MoreThere’s a new venture capital firm in town
It’s always nice to see more capital focused on helping entrepreneurs around here. So it was a bright spot in all of this weirdness to see that there was a new venture fund in town. And it was an even brighter spot to see that the Oregon Growth Board had committed $350,000 to the new fund. Meet Include Venture Group.
Read MoreWillamette Week pops by Workfrom virtual cafes
The isolation is real. And many folks are missing previously simple activities like hanging out at a local coffee shop or brewpub as they get some work done. And while the reality of being able to do that again still seems a long way off, Portland startup Workfrom has come up with something to tide folks over for now — and potentially forever. It’s Workfrom virtual cafes.
Read MoreThe Wild wants to give you a tour of Tours
For all of the multitude of negatives that have come along with being submerged in a global pandemic, there are a few bright spots, here and there. Like the creativity inspired by the constraints of our current lives. We’re seeing any number of new platforms and companies coming into being. And some of those are appearing locally. Like Tours in The Wild.
Read More