Month: February 2025

This year in celebration of Black History Month, Built Oregon continued our tradition of sharing one Black-led consumer product company for each day of the month. It’s always amazing to see all of the products that folks have created and the businesses that they’re building. Buy their products if you’re in a position to do so, but also please please please follow them on social media and like and share their posts. Everyone is in a position to do that.

As the Metro Region Innovation Hub continues to build out their team, they’re not waiting around to get programming going as well. They just launched a new series of events called Startup Cafe, which will provide a regular opportunity for founders and other community members to spend time with one another at “the Hub.”

While local accelerator activity has quieted a bit over recent years, there are still some amazing accelerator programs in the state of Oregon that are generating significant impact. Take the Oregon UAS Accelerator, a drone-focused accelerator that recently announced its second cohort. (And it has an upcoming counter-UAS competition, as well.)

I know, I know. Expensify is a far cry from a local startup. But I still like to reference them from time to time. Just to remind folks that fintech is still a thing here. And that they’re here. Because Expensify is doing a great job of being engaged in community. And that glow up on the Midtown Beer Garden is always worthy of celebration. So please give me a little grace when I drop a post to let you know that Expensify has launched a new feature to help folks deal with travel.

Portland always does an incredible job of focusing on very specific aspects of the community. That’s why we always seem to have a strong “user group” level sort of event vibe. So I was incredibly happy to see this upcoming event to be added to that list — and even happier that they pinged me about it: WiCyS Oregon & VanderHouwen Staffing Present: A Stoplight Networking Event.

In the “on again off again” drama of Beneficial Ownership Information Reporting, it’s now required again. But there’s a new deadline: March 21, 2025.

I always love a startup that’s inspired by a founder’s specific pain point. That’s definitely the case with Shotsy. An app that serial founder Aja Beckett created for helping her better track her weight loss shots. And given the growing number of folks adopting similar regimens, VCs are seeing the potential the app has to grow.

I always love when accelerator programs think beyond their immediate cohort opportunity to more thoroughly engage their startup communities. So imagine how happy I was when I got word of the Oregon UAS Accelerator’s latest effort. It’s called the “Proven in Pendleton Challenge.” And it’s designed to inspire and identify compelling counter-drone concepts — with the winner landing a $100,000 cash prize.

As I mentioned when AheadComputing launched, it’s sort of rarity to see Intel spinouts, these days. So when one does occur — and seems to have traction — I’m definitely paying attention. And clearly, other folks are well. AheadComputing announced they have raised $21.5 million.