Month: July 2024

Not so long ago, Pitch Latino was a single annual Portland event. Then they expanded to Seattle, Washington. And now, the expansion continues. Pitch Latino will be held in Bend, Oregon, on October 1, 2024. But before that happens, they need Latine-led companies to apply to take the stage.

Oregon Venture Fund cofounder and managing partner Eric Rosenfeld takes us through a few startup dilution scenarios to help founders understand when dilution is good — and when it might have less than positive consequences.

Curious about what engaging with the Oregon Venture Fund is like? Well, they’ve recorded a short walkthrough (embedding is disallowed so you’ll have to click through) to help you better understand what types of companies they’re seeking and how they’re looking to engage.

One of the downsides of the Portland startup community — and the aggressive humility of Portland founders — can be figuring out how to get engaged in the community. So I always like to remind folks about the resources in town that may be beneficial in helping them get connected to other folks. With it being summer, now seemed like a good time for that reminder.

If you’re the founder of a business which was disproportionately affected by cannabis prohibition, you may be eligible to join a cohort of 10 companies receiving guidance and mentorship on pursuing non-dilutive funding options. But you have to hurry. Applications close Friday, July 19, 2024.

When it rains, it pours. Recently, the state of Oregon has funded efforts to create Regional Innovation Hubs to support folks trying to navigate the startup ecosystem in Portland. And now Prosper Portland is standing up an Office of Small Business to do similar work for small businesses in Portland.

Last week, I had the privilege of attending a private gathering — a bit of a soft launch — at the Instrument offices. Was this some brand new startup or some bright and shiny new AI technological breakthrough that had me all excited…? No. It was something far more important. It was the reveal of a new offering designed to support some of the most promising startups in our midst by leveraging the skills and networks of some our community’s most talented and experienced individuals. Meet Vanport Studio.