Here’s a roundup of interesting startup links I came across today:
Tale of two downtowns: How office recovery is playing out in the Pacific Northwest’s largest cities
Portland’s downtown vacancy rate of 27% is expected to keep rising for the next few quarters. More companies have put offices up for sublease or have shrunk their footprint by consolidating into smaller spaces, offsetting an uptick in leasing activity in the second half of last year, according to CoStar analytics.
Knowledge Work Is Dying—Here’s What Comes Next
Our entire society is built around knowledge as a scarce, precious resource. School systems, standardized tests, Ivy League pipelines, job interviews, LinkedIn profiles are all mechanisms to measure, prove, and reward how much you know. Hence the rise of over 1 billion knowledge workers: professionals valued for what they knew and could do, like lawyers, engineers, consultants, and programmers.
Community Economic Coalition rallies for NE hub – Portland Business Journal
The Community Economic Coalition is advancing a fundamentally different vision: one that grows the economy from the inside out. We’re not pitching Portland as a product — we’re building it as a place where opportunity starts from within. If we want a resilient, inclusive economy — one that works for the people who live here and looks good in pitch decks — we must invest in the communities and businesses already shaping Portland’s future.
Stephen Manning pioneers new approach to immigration law – Portland Business Journal
The approach allows a staff of 40 — consisting of equal parts software engineers, attorneys and organizers — to exert an outsize impact in the immigration law field and on individuals in need of representation. Manning estimates that Innovation Law has trained and deployed thousands of volunteers to work on immigration cases since its founding more than a decade ago.
República Hospitality closes De Noche, changes República, moves Lilia Comedor downtown – Portland Business Journal
De Noche’s space at 422 N.W. Eighth Ave. will become the new location for the group’s other restaurant Lilia Comedor, Medina said. The old Lilia space, 3159 S. Moody Ave., is going to No Sabo, a Mexican American food concept started in part by former República sous chef Sabrina Quintana. No Sabo has been operating as a pop-up at the cocktail bar Kaya. No Sabo will open in its new space June 13.
Grammarly secures $1 billion from General Catalyst to build AI productivity platform | Reuters
Grammarly has raised $1 billion in non-dilutive financing from General Catalyst to expand its artificial intelligence (AI) offerings, aiming to grow into a comprehensive productivity platform, the companies said on Thursday.
2025 Silicon Forest Tech Connect » Calagator: Portland’s Tech Calendar
Whether you’re looking to network with other experienced tech professionals and leaders, engage with local companies and community partners, meet tech recruiters, or recreate the magic of TechCrawl, the Silicon Forest Tech Connect is a can’t-miss event in Portland this fall.
10 Top Tech Companies in Eugene, Oregon | Built In
Eugene, Oregon, long known for its ties to education and the outdoors, is emerging as a growing hub for regional tech innovation. Supported by strong research institutions and local development incentives, the city and surrounding Lane County area have seen an uptick in startup activity and digital infrastructure investments in recent years.
The US direct venture capital secondary market is swelling – PitchBook
The market for venture capital direct secondary transactions in the US is swelling, according to new PitchBook research.
Startups, This Is Why Japan Can’t Be Ignored
The Japanese startup ecosystem is far from small. The country counts nearly 22,000 startups and 2,300 scaleups, according to data from the Tech Scaleup Japan report (produced by Mind the Bridge in conjunction with Crunchbase and downloadable here). Of those, 86 have raised more than $100 million, and two have raised over $1 billion, with six unicorns in total. This puts Japan on par with France and Germany — and significantly ahead of many other nations.
Oaks Amusement Park opened 120 years ago – OPB
On May 30, 1905, Oaks Amusement Park in Portland opened to the public. Today, it is one of the oldest continually operating amusement parks in the United States and the only remaining trolley park on the West Coast.
More Portland startup news
