Month: October 2024

Like the Blockchain, the relevant applications of NFTs has been a challenge. And yet, Portland companies continue to find creative — and relevant ways — of applying these technologies to modern day problems. Like Cascadia Carbon. Which is holding an event that shares more on how NFTs and carbon sequestering could be a key to the future.

Word around the campfire is that bipedal robot startup Agility Robotics is chasing another $150 million round that would value the company in the unicorn range of $1 billion. Bloomberg broke the news.

With Bend Venture Conference happening, Demolicious got timeshifted a bit this month. But it’s still happening. And it’s happening tonight. At UpStart Collective Westside. But what’s a pitch competition without folks pitching, am I right…? So I thought you might want to know who was taking the stage.

I always try to make a habit of coming back to things I think I know. Trying to approach them again with fresh eyes. Hoping to ensure that I actually know what I think I know. This year, Bend Venture Conference inspired some reflection along these lines. And then a number of other recent conversations caused me to double down on the topic. The subject…? As a Portland startup, what are the accessible early stage Venture Capital resources with a Portland presence and/or focus…?

I got so excited about my time down at Bend Venture Conference this year, that I had to quickly tell you about BVC while I was still there. And then I actually shared more about prevailing themes once I got back. But I never posted about the winners. (You’d think after 17+ years of doing this, I’d be better at it. But no.) So who actually won at Bend Venture Conference 2024…?

Portland pop-ups. They’re a thing. But they’re often a hard to find sort of thing. Sometimes they, ahem, pop up on social media. Sometimes they’re just word of mouth. Every once in a while, they have a full on marketing campaign. But whatever the case, for a town that loves pop ups, they should be easier to find. And that’s why there’s Pop-ups Please.

It’s always nice to see startups getting the capital they need to grow their businesses. It’s even better when those are local startups garnering investment from local investors. Like Platformr, a Bend startup that just raised $2.5 million. Oregon Venture Fund led the round with participation from Cascade Seed Fund.