Sometimes funding rounds are put together to fund acquisitions. And that seems to be the case with Bend startup dutchie, which just announced a $200 million Series C and the acquisition of two partners. All of that equates to one thing. There’s a unicorn in Oregon with a valuation of $1.7 billion.
Read MoreMonth: March 2021
I would love to hear more about your startup. Literally.
I’ve been looking for an excuse to user Twitter Spaces, the audio only Clubhouse competitor. And an idea dawned on my that was basically an audio version of Silicon Florist. What if I held a Spaces event where founders got to pitch their startup or startup concept to an audience?
Read MoreDid you know the Portland connection to the “Hover Cat” meme?
With all the talk of NFTs, I’ve been thinking back about classic memes with a Portland angle. And how the creators of the works that inspired those memes might be able to get in on the whole NFT craze, too. Of course, the obvious one is KGW and “I like turtles.” But the classic Hover Cat meme has its connections to Portland, as well.
Read MoreA Kids Book About recognized among Fast Company most innovative companies
Portland startup A Kids Book About has been recognized by Fast Company for its innovative work with content for kids as part of FC’s ongoing recognition of innovative companies. It shares the honor with nine other companies on the inaugural 2021 list for North America.
Read MorePortland startup SheerID works to ensure extra COVID-19 vaccines don’t go to waste
One of the most challenging aspects of the COVID-19 vaccine rollout is the shelf life of some of the vaccines — and that effective doses can go to waste if they’re not used in a timely manner. In an effort to streamline the process and to help ensure that more doses make it to more people, Portland startup SheerID has partnered with Force4Good to create a vaccine notifier.
Read MoreA decade of GeekWire
I always like seeing startups celebrate milestones. I truly believe that there’s so much hard work, stress, anxiety, and difficulty in building a company, that we owe it to ourselves to celebrate the bright spots. No matter how seemingly insignificant. Which is why — contrary to their stance on the newsworthiness of anniversaries — I am incredibly happy to see GeekWire celebrating a decade of covering the Pacific Northwest technology community.
Read MoreRead any good startup books lately…?
For many of you, I’m assuming the answer to that question is no. Not because you don’t want to. Not because you don’t realize the value. But because you simply can’t seem to carve out the time in your busy schedule to get it done. Maybe some accountability and camaraderie would be helpful? Like a book club?
Read MoreSeattle’s Pioneer Square Labs raises $100 million for second early stage startup fund
It’s one of those weeks in Seattle. Founders’ Co-op announced their new fund. And now, Pioneer Square Labs has revealed Fund II, a $100 million fund focused on early stage startups in the Pacific Northwest.
Read MoreStudent loan forgiveness may unlock — or at least unburden — entrepreneurs
We see stuff talked about in the news all of the time. And on social. And amidst a 24-hour news cycle. And despite our best efforts, it tends to make us less and less receptive to the messages being conveyed. Which is why when one of these topics hits close to home, it seems to make it more tangible. Like student loan relief and Portland startup Nexgarden.
Read MoreWant to be an OTBC VIP? Applications for the Virtual Incubation Program are still open
These days, pretty much every incubator and accelerator program are virtual. But folks who have experience running these programs definitely have a leg up on those who have been forced into running virtual programs. Like the well established OTBC Virtual Incubation Program.
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