Here’s a roundup of interesting startup links I came across today:
The Last Days Of Social Media
Social media promised connection, but it has delivered exhaustion.
Jon Maroney leaves Oregon Venture Fund – Portland Business Journal
He plans to step out of his role at the end of September, Maroney said in an email to community partners. Taking the reins of community outreach is OVF Partner Deepthi Madhava, said fund founder Eric Rosenfeld.
‘Kiss the ring:’ Silicon Valley CEOs struggle to respond to Trump’s involvement in their businesses – POLITICO
Interviews with more than a dozen technology executives over the past week revealed that the Trump administration’s announcements of government stakes in companies such as Intel have had a chilling effect, with executives now filtering many decisions through the prism of how the White House might respond. The executives — among them CEOs, founders and investors — requested anonymity to avoid drawing the ire of the administration.
New(ish) Podcast for Startup Community Builders – Feld Thoughts
Every other week, Chris will do a deep dive on a specific topic. I saw his topic list, which numbers over 100+ draft episode titles, so we are covered for the next few years. This list is based on his continued leadership in this area and the countless conversations he continues to have with community and ecosystem enthusiasts all over the world.
Portland’s Lil America Food Cart Pod Is Going Through a Shakeup | Eater Portland
Big changes and a rebrand are coming to Lil’ America, a food cart pod that initially made headlines for its mission to exclusively host BIPOC- and LGBTQ-owned food carts. Opened by local restaurant group ChefStable in April 2023, Lil’ America promised to provide mentorship to its tenants, host cultural events, and offer amenities like dry storage, a dish pit, and a walk-in fridge. On August 29, ChefStable asked three out of its six total carts to leave by the end of October. All three were part of the original Lil’ America lineup: Hainan chicken cart Hawker Station, vegan comfort food and beverage cart Speed-O Cappuccino, and Filipino fast food-inspired cart Makulít. Korean fried chicken cart Frybaby gave notice that it also intended to leave before October’s end.
Meet the Metro Region Innovation Hub » Calagator: Portland’s Tech Calendar
Are you an entrepreneur, community leader, or simply curious about fostering innovation in the Portland metro region? Join us for an engaging Information Session to learn about the Metro Region Innovation Hub!
How Successful Sales Teams Are Embracing Agentic AI
In this article, we’ll examine how successful sales teams are beginning to use agentic AI. The examples below are drawn from both our research or our consulting experience.
The 9 most sought-after startups from YC Demo Day | TechCrunch
As with recent batches, the majority of startups presented AI-centric solutions. However, a clear evolution was evident. Instead of “AI-powered” products, many companies are now building AI agents or the infrastructure and tools needed to develop them. For instance, this batch had a flurry of voice AI solutions and new businesses focused on helping others monetize the “AI economy” with ads and marketing tools.
Robinhood plans to launch a startups fund open to all retail investors | TechCrunch
Robinhood announced Monday it has filed an application with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission to launch a new publicly traded fund that will hold shares of startups. The idea behind the “Robinhood Ventures Fund I” is to allow every retail investor access to make money on the hottest startups before they go public.
Portland airport earns Fast Company design award – Portland Business Journal
Fast Company magazine gave Portland International Airport its Best Design in North America award as part of its Innovation by Design Awards, praising its “soaring 54-foot-tall slatted-wood ceiling; large skylights and windows that let natural light permeate the interior; and more than 5,000 plants and mature walnut, ficus and olive trees indoors.”
Portland wearables startup teams with 3Step Sports, faces tariffs – Portland Business Journal
According to regulatory filings the company recently converted previously raised money into equity. The $3.3 million filing included $877,821 in new cash investment, according to documents. The new capital was needed to help ensure inventory, which is an element the company has struggled with as it tends to sell out of product quickly. Pell noted the company may try to raise a bit more.
The old SF tech scene is dead. What it’s morphing into is sinister.
In the year 2025, billboards advertising artificial intelligence have become inescapable, crowding the city’s skyline and sneering at us from every corner. To the average person, they’re both dystopian and indecipherable, and for cash-bloated executives behind these campaigns, that’s the point.
A terminal command that tells you if your USB-C cable is bad – Kaushik Gopal’s Website
You have a drawer full of USB cables. Half are junk that barely charge your phone. The other half transfer data at full speed. But which is which?
