Here’s a roundup of interesting startup links I came across today:
The Doom Loop – by Angel Medina – Between Courses
But I do think we’re stuck in something quieter and more dangerous than collapse. A loop where perception hardens faster than reality. Where metrics replace trust. Where goals are mistaken for solutions. Where the people who still show up every day are asked to keep believing without being shown much in return.
AddyOsmani.com – 21 Lessons From 14 Years at Google
When I joined Google ~14 years ago, I thought the job was about writing great code. I was partly right. But the longer I’ve stayed, the more I’ve realized that the engineers who thrive aren’t necessarily the best programmers – they’re the ones who’ve figured out how to navigate everything around the code: the people, the politics, the alignment, the ambiguity.
From stronger consumer rights to harsher criminal penalties, these Oregon laws are now official • Oregon Capital Chronicle
Thursday marks the first day of the 2026 new year, and with that, a new set of laws passed by the Oregon Legislature will take effect.
Who’s running for office in Oregon in 2026? • Oregon Capital Chronicle
Next November, Oregon voters will elect a U.S. senator, six members of Congress, governor, labor commissioner, 15 state senators and 60 state representatives, as well as hundreds of local officeholders.
These Were The Largest Funding Rounds Of 2025
A total of 15 companies secured venture funding rounds of $2 billion or more last year, per Crunchbase data. Among them, they amassed more than $100 billion from those financings.
Solo Founders in 2025: Why One Third of All Startups are Flying Solo
For decades, the conventional beliefs have been clear: you need a co-founder. Y Combinator practically mandates it. VCs view solo founders with the same suspicion they reserved for some hardware startups or edtech companies. A founder flying solo is a often considered red flag, a sign of someone who couldn’t convince anyone else to join them in their mission.
When Good Actors Can Trust Each Other, Great Things Happen
Y Combinator combines a multitude of best-practices which are constantly being improved upon but these are the factors I believe matter most for establishing trust.
The first meeting isn’t to get money
Fundraising is about trust, not transactions. No one writes a check after a single call. Investors want to see how you think, how you follow up, and how you execute over time. The real magic happens between meetings — when you show progress, clarity, and consistency.
Portland’s Proposed Foie Gras Ban Solves Nothing That Actually Matters
Portland doesn’t need a symbolic ban. It needs leadership that understands how food systems actually work, how change happens on farms, in kitchens, and in markets—and how many of our chefs have worked tirelessly leading this charge. Education, incentives, and partnership move the needle. Prohibition just makes noise.
