Here’s a roundup of interesting startup links I came across today:
Innovation Takes Center Stage at the 2025 Oregon Tech Awards
On May 5, 2025, the Oregon Museum of Science and Industry (OMSI) in Portland buzzed with excitement as the Technology Association of Oregon (TAO) hosted the 41st annual Oregon Technology Awards. This prestigious event celebrated the state’s most innovative tech companies, visionary educators, and promising students, highlighting the vibrant growth of Oregon’s technology sector.
The Capitalist Hippie: Why This Startup Bet on Boats—and Found a $16 Billion Market Hiding in Plain Sight
In this episode, founders Marcelino Alvarez and Alana Kambury share how a focused go-to-market strategy, real-world use cases, and deep hardware-software integration are driving adoption in one of the most overlooked sectors in electrification.
Winners of Oregon Tech Awards 2025 – Portland Business Journal
More than 250 people gathered at the Oregon Museum of Science and Industry to celebrate companies ranging from pre-revenue to enterprise. The night also recognized technology educators at the high school level and two high school students.
AI used to make video of deceased victim deliver impact statement in court : NPR
That’s when the idea came to her: to use artificial intelligence to generate a video of how her late brother, Christopher Pelkey, would address the courtroom and specifically the man who fatally shot him at a red light in 2021.
OpenAI CEO Sam Altman: ChatGPT will ‘probably not’ replace Google as top search engine – GeekWire
A U.S. Senate subcommittee hearing on American AI competitiveness this morning stretched for more than three hours — long enough for the conclave to choose a new pope, as Sen. Amy Klobuchar noted — covering topics including chips, trade, data centers, regulation, energy, workforce, and competition with China.
Rocky Kev | From Outsider to Organizer: Building Communities That Matter · Luma
What happens when an introvert who hates crowds decides to build a thriving local tech community? This talk is about the awkward, vulnerable, and sometimes painful journey of showing up — even when you’re scared. You’ll hear what it’s like to organize meetups when no one comes, how to handle toxic behavior, and why creating safe spaces in tech matters more than ever. Whether you’re an organizer, an attendee, or someone who’s never felt like they belonged in tech, this talk will show you how to start small, build with intention, and create something that lives beyond you.
SakéOne, Oregon company that’s US leader, names new president – Portland Business Journal
Steve Vuylsteke, SakeOne’s CEO and president since 2009, gave Englert the president title last month. With Vuylsteke planning to step down next year, the move sets Englert up to become CEO.
Looking Back 10 Years, Seed Investors Envisioned A Different Future Unfolding
Turns out investors and founders alike are heavily influenced by the success stories around them. Both today and 10 years ago, we see their impact in the seed-funding arena.
This Seattle founder just sold his third startup — here’s his advice for other entrepreneurs – GeekWire
Swanson started and sold two enterprise software startups (Sometrics to American Express; DataScience to Oracle) before launching Protect AI in 2021 with his co-founders Badar Ahmed and Daryan Dehghanpisheh.
More Portland startup news
