Here’s a roundup of interesting startup links I came across today:
Conveyor uses AI to automate the painful process of vendor security reviews and RFPs with AI | TechCrunch
The new product has helped Conveyor attract more funding: a $20 million Series B led by SignalFire with participation from Oregon Venture Fund and Cervin Ventures.
Barbie-maker Mattel teams up with OpenAI, eyes first AI-powered product this year | Reuters
Mattel (MAT.O), opens new tab has teamed up with OpenAI to develop toys and games with artificial intelligence, and expects to launch its first AI-powered product later this year, the Barbie-maker said on Thursday.
Battery manufacturer Powin files for bankruptcy months after landing $200M loan | TechCrunch
Battery manufacturer Powin filed for bankruptcy on Wednesday. The Oregon-based company said it has more than $300 million in debt.The Chapter 11 filing will let the company continue operating while it restructures its debt.
Entrepreneur and Small Business Fair » Calagator: Portland’s Tech Calendar
The BUILDING BETTER BUSINESSES TOGETHER – 2025 Entrepreneur and Small Business Fair is a free public event showcasing the diversity of programs and services specifically designed for small businesses in the Mt. Hood Community College service area. Discover local city, county, state, and federal incentive programs, products and services available through financial institutions, the benefits of chambers of commerce, and how to access low to no-cost business advising and counseling services. Business owners will enjoy panel discussions on business and industry, one-on-one sessions, and networking opportunities with like-minded individuals. Registration is required for food and refreshment planning purposes. Local resources for your business
Bluesky backlash misses the point | TechCrunch
What’s missing in this current narrative is the fact that Bluesky’s social app is only meant to be one example of what’s possible within the wider AT Proto ecosystem. If you don’t like the tone of the topics trending on Bluesky, you can switch to other apps, change your default feeds, or even build your own social platform using the technology.
Startups Are Still Riding The Boozeless Booze Wave
Startups have played a big part in the sector’s growth. Over the past few years, investors have poured hundreds of millions into promising upstarts batch-producing nonalcoholic craft beer, mixed drinks, spirits and wines, Crunchbase data shows.
Wedding management platform Rock Paper Coin expands in event space – Portland Business Journal
Digital contracts and payments management startup Rock Paper Coin is finalizing an inside investment round that is expected to see about $1 million in new capital.
Seattle vs. San Francisco: Founders compare startup cultures after AI conference trip – GeekWire
What happens when you send Seattle founders down to San Francisco for a few days? Some hot takes on the stark differences in startup culture between the two cities.
Trump breaks historic Columbia River deal between U.S. government, tribes, Northwest states • Oregon Capital Chronicle
President Donald Trump on Thursday signed a presidential memorandum withdrawing the U.S. government from a Dec. 14, 2023 agreement to help restore salmon, steelhead and other native fish being decimated by federal hydroelectric dams in the Columbia River Basin. The memorandum refers to the commitments as “onerous,” “misguided” and as placing “concerns about climate change above the nation’s interests in reliable energy resources.”
You need a better testing strategy – by Casey Hill
The more time I spend around testing, the more I’m convinced that A/B testing is broken. First off, only 10% of A/B tests tied to revenue beat their controls. This means we’re not only spending an untold amount of time, energy and money on tests that don’t work; we’re actually losing millions of dollars putting these tests in front of our audience only to see conversion suffer.
Agentic Coding Recommendations | Armin Ronacher’s Thoughts and Writings
My general workflow involves assigning a job to an agent (which effectively has full permissions) and then waiting for it to complete the task. I rarely interrupt it, unless it’s a small task. Consequently, the role of the IDE — and the role of AI in the IDE — is greatly diminished; I mostly use it for final edits. This approach has even revived my usage of Vim, which lacks AI integration.
Intel memo says factory layoffs will begin in July – oregonlive.com
The memo doesn’t say how many factory jobs Intel plans to cut, or in what areas. Workers in other parts of the organization, who asked not to be identified speaking about their employer, said they believe their business units are on a similar timetable but have been given some flexibility to carry out layoffs in their own way provided they hit financial targets set by top management.
More Portland startup news
