If you’re among the folks in the Portland startup community awaiting more new on the Portland Metro Region Innovation Hub, get ready to be happy. The state-funded effort to create a wayfinding and connecting organization to facilitate innovation in our region has made significant strides over the past few weeks.
The Portland Metro Region Innovation Hub is dedicated to cultivating & sustaining an inclusive and equitable entrepreneurial ecosystem. The Innovation Hub’s primary focus is to increase support to the region’s business owners by leading with equity and true inclusion with a goal of providing effective access to their collaborative programs. This goal is shared by the Innovation Hub’s coalition of a growing list of 40 business service providers to support and uplift entrepreneurs from all backgrounds, particularly those from underserved communities, including business owners, start-up founders, and entrepreneurs. A new project building as of August 1, 2024, is in its first month and is currently funded by Business Oregon and has a focus of connecting the traded sector and or innovation based businesses of the region.
And as its first major step forward, the organization has selected its inaugural executive director, Rose Kaz, to lead the organization through its formative stages. According to a press release:
Kaz brings to this new position a robust background in entrepreneurship and a comprehensive suite of equity-focused business tools and resources developed over the past four years as a startup founder, and the past 20+ years as a queer leader & progress focused entrepreneur. Her expertise is expected to play a pivotal role in fostering an inclusive and dynamic environment for local businesses within the Washington, Clackamas, and Multnomah counties.
Kaz is building an equity-focused team of Ecosystem Navigators & Liaisons-In-Leadership who will help index and unite entrepreneurial resources in the region, and a DEI/ Equity Consultant to help guide the collaborative, equity focused team. The Innovation Hub will fortify and build bridges, eliminate existing silos and barriers to resources, and ultimately build lasting equity within the region’s business community.
“We’re very happy to have Rose on board as Director of the Metro Region Innovation Hub. She has already built relationships with many of the region’s entrepreneur support organizations, and has the energy and passion to truly knit together an equitable, accessible path to resources and services for innovation-based entrepreneurs in the region,” said Joseph Janda, assistant vice president for innovation at PSU, and one of the hub’s organizers.
Also joining the org is Kari Doherty, who serves as a Navigator.
For more information or to stay apprised of the organization’s progress, follow the Portland Metro Region Innovation Hub on LinkedIn.
[Full disclosure: I have participated as a representative of Built Oregon and PIE since the beginning of this conversation. I continue to serve on the Oversight Board/Community Partners.]
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