It was entertaining for a while. But with all of the hours of gaming during the pandemic, that new gaming platform is less appealing than it once was. You need something different. And that’s why, you’ll be happy to hear that the Panic’s Playdate is now available for pre-order.
Read MoreMonth: July 2021
It’s not an actual IPO, but at least it’s actually Portland: Vacasa to go public via SPAC
After a long drought, there have been any number of “Portland area” companies going public or planning to do so. There’s just been one slight problem. None of them are actually Portland companies. But now there might be one. Vacasa is in talks to go public via SPAC at a valuation of $4.5 billion.
Read MorePortland startup Conversa Health acquired as part of $320 million deal
While they’ve been relatively quiet, Portland startup Conversa Health has clearly been building something attractive. They just got snapped up in a two company acquisition by publicly traded Amwell, totaling $320 million.
Read MoreStill virtual: Portland Lunch 2.0 is Wednesday and Founders Live Portland is Thursday
While it appears we’re edging ever closer to another lockdown, I remain hopeful that we continue to build and connect community regardless of what the future might hold. So if you’re interested in connecting with folks in the Portland startup community in a virtual environment, there are two events this week designed to do just that.
Read MorePortland fintech startup Sila raises $13 million Series A
In case you haven’t been tracking, former Simple cofounder Shamir Karkal has been quietly building another fintech startup here in Portland. But after today, it might not be “quietly” much longer. You see, that company, Sila, just raised $13 million.
Read MoreSila partners with Constitution Lending
Sila, a Portland fintech startup that provides an API and SDK that enable app developers to incorporate financial transaction functionality into the solutions they’re building, has partnered with Constitution Lending to help improve their real estate lending capabilities.
Read MoreAnother perspective on the impact of the Absci IPO
In case you were unplugged this week… former Portland startup now Vancouver, Washington, biotech company Absci went public, this week. Having been on an IPO team for a venture funded startup myself, I can attest to what a herculean effort this whole process entails. And how the Absci team deserves all of the accolades for pulling this off.
Read MoreOpenSesame garners $50 million in private equity
While the most beneficial paths to liquidity for investors and founders can be the subject of debate, getting a company to the point of a private equity investment has become one of the more common modes of achieving that liquidity, around these parts. Today, another one joined the ranks. OpenSesame announced that they had attracted a $50 million private equity investment from JMI Equity and others.
Read MoreFounder of 1859 Ventures provides advice for would be Angels and early stage LPs
Definitions change. And culture changes. Which means that communities have to deal with those changing dynamics. But sometimes, those changes mean that folks lose the thread. And lose track of the reasoning behind why definitions and roles exist.
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