--- title: 'Silicon Florist links arrangement for July 15, 2025' date: '2025-07-15T12:30:55-07:00' type: post word_count: 707 char_count: 7041 tokens: 920 categories: - Portland --- # Silicon Florist links arrangement for July 15, 2025 Here’s a roundup of interesting startup links I came across today: [VC investment in Portland metro nearly doubles in Q2 – Portland Business Journal](https://www.bizjournals.com/portland/inno/stories/fundings/2025/07/14/venture-monitor-vc-investment-q2-2025.html) ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- For the first half of 2025, investors have pumped $438.2 million into companies across 62 deals in the Portland metro. This data includes investment in Southwest Washington companies. That’s compared to $205.6 million invested in the first half of last year, also across 62 deals. [Women founders CHASM Grant Application](https://form.typeform.com/to/wL9xemQu) ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- This grant is designed to support women entrepreneurs and those building businesses that advance equity for women and girls. [The Impact of Antitrust Enforcement on Startup Exits -Vanderbilt Law School | Vanderbilt University](https://law.vanderbilt.edu/the-impact-of-antitrust-enforcement-on-startup-exits/) --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Start-up founders and their backers traditionally plan for an “exit”—either through an Initial Public Offering or a sale to a strategic buyer—because that is how early investors and employees convert paper wealth into cash. But in recent years, the startup exit playbook has changed. [SaaS 2.0](https://benn.substack.com/p/saas-20?utm_source=tldrfounders) ----------------------------------------------------------------------- But another way to describe Salesforce is as a playbook. Selling stuff to people—especially big stuff; especially if you’re selling it to large companies; especially if many people are involved in closing a deal—is a complex operation that requires a lot of coordination and collaboration. [Intel CEO says it’s “too late” for them to catch up with AI competition — reportedly claims Intel has fallen out of the “top 10 semiconductor companies” as the firm lays off thousands across the world | Tom’s Hardware](https://www.tomshardware.com/tech-industry/intel-ceo-says-its-too-late-for-them-to-catch-up-with-ai-competition-claims-intel-has-fallen-out-of-the-top-10-semiconductor-companies-as-the-firm-lays-off-thousands-across-the-world?utm_source=tldrnewsletter) ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Talking to employees around the world in a Q&A session, Intel’s CEO allegedly shared these bleak words: “Twenty, 30 years ago, we were really the leader. Now I think the world has changed. We are not in the top 10 semiconductor companies.” [US AI startups see funding surge while more VC funds struggle to raise, data shows | Reuters](https://www.reuters.com/business/us-ai-startups-see-funding-surge-while-more-vc-funds-struggle-raise-data-shows-2025-07-15/) --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- U.S. startup funding surged 75.6% in the first half of 2025, thanks to the continued AI boom, putting it on track for its second-best year ever, even as venture capital firms struggled to raise money, a report from PitchBook on Tuesday showed. [☕ + 🏓 = Summer Socials with AI Portland](https://mailchi.mp/e397ef3c1b8e/recap-thanks-navigating-the-ai-revolution-event-12929074) ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Summer’s in full swing, and we’re keeping things casual and connected. [OBI’s Accelerate Biotech Happy Hour » Calagator: Portland’s Tech Calendar](https://calagator.org/events/1250482115) -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Come mix and mingle with innovators, entrepreneurs, and bioscience professionals at our August Accelerate Happy Hour! Whether you’re building a startup, supporting the ecosystem, or just curious about what’s next in biotech and digital health, you’re in the right place. [Intel’s retreat is unlike anything it’s done before in Oregon – oregonlive.com](https://www.oregonlive.com/silicon-forest/2025/07/intels-retreat-is-unlike-anything-its-done-before-in-oregon.html?lctg=67c898c067cc37882605be29&utm_source=Sailthru&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=Newsletter_morning_briefing%202025-07-15&utm_term=Newsletter_morning_briefing) ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Intel has embarked on an unprecedented and sustained campaign to shrink its business in response to a series of technical and financial crises. And Oregon is bearing the brunt of the pain, with Intel making the deepest cuts to its local workforce ever. [Accelerators See Downturn – Los Angeles Business Journal](https://labusinessjournal.com/featured/accelerators-see-downturn/) ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- “We’re not abandoning our commitment to the startup ecosystem,” Alderton said. “We are just moving it over from a physical incubator to doing it through the law firm and the law firm infrastructure.” [It Was Bittersweet For The Bitter Housewife](https://www.forbes.com/sites/jeanettehurt/2025/07/12/it-was-bittersweet-for-the-bitter-housewife/) ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ “It truly is bittersweet,”says Brazelton. “My gut says that people are changing the way they drink and the way they spend money on drinks. While there is a rise in (non-alcoholic beverages) and they may be drinking less, there is a shift, as people are more intentional on how they spend their money on alcohol, and a really discretionary product like bitters isn’t on their list.” More Oregon startup news ------------------------