Here’s a roundup of interesting startup links I came across today:
Big Walk co-op game’s publisher is a Portland true believer – oregonlive.com
If Panic pushes up against what’s expected of a Portland tech company in 2026, it plays to type in other ways. His back to the “Capax Infiniti” mural, Sasser says he still treasures Portland’s small-market feel and never wants its tech scene to look like the Bay Area’s.
‘Fertile ground’: How an OSU professor built one of Oregon’s most valuable startups – Philomath News
OJP wanted to talk to Hurst about the state of robotics, the climate for growing a business in Oregon, the challenges he faces, and the social implications of robots in the workplace. The interview has been edited for brevity and clarity.
When Using AI Leads to “Brain Fry”
This problem is becoming more common. Firms are incentivizing employees to build and oversee complex teams of agents—for example, by measuring and rewarding token consumption as a proxy for performance.
How to Talk to Someone Experiencing ‘AI Psychosis’
Mental health experts say identifying when someone is in need of help is the first step — and approaching them with careful compassion is the hardest, most essential part that follows.
Oregon Legislature votes to round pennies after lack of federal guidance • Oregon Capital Chronicle
Under an emergency declaration, vendors would be able to immediately round cash purchases if Gov. Tina Kotek signs the bill
Oregon isn’t just losing businesses, it’s losing their growth – Axios Portland
Experts Axios spoke with were hesitant to put a precise dollar amount on the problem, given the variables involved, but say it’s costing the state billions in private investment, tax revenue and thousands of potential jobs.
AI Was Supposed to Free My Time. It Consumed It.
New research shows AI doesn’t reduce work—it makes you want to do more of it
I’ve studied MAGA rhetoric for a decade, and this is what I see in Hegseth’s boasts, action-movie one-liners and gloating over dominance
I’m a communication scholar who has studied MAGA rhetoric for a decade. I have observed how Hegseth and other officials in the second Trump administration refuse to abide by what recurring rhetorical situations – urgent public matters that compel speech to audiences capable of being influenced – typically demand of public officials.
The Series B Pipeline Looks Refreshingly Diversified
Startups securing the largest rounds run the gamut from biotech to robotics to security and more. Obviously AI is the leading theme, but the pipeline of funded companies is anything but cookie-cutter.
I don’t know if my job will still exist in ten years
In 2026, I’m not sure the software engineering industry will survive another decade. If it does, I’m certain it’s going to change far more than it did in the last two decades. Maybe I’ll figure out a way to carve out a lucrative niche supervising AI agents, or maybe I’ll have to leave the industry entirely. Either way, the work I loved is going away.
A New Chapter for Bluesky – Bluesky
As Bluesky matures, the company needs a seasoned operator focused on scaling and execution, while I return to what I do best: building new things. As part of this transition, Toni Schneider, former CEO of Automattic and partner at True Ventures, will join our team as interim CEO, while our board runs a search for a permanent chief executive.
National Governors Association Compact on Entrepreneurship
The National Governors Association (NGA) Compact on Entrepreneurship is a formal, non-partisan commitment from Governors to bring entrepreneurship back to the heart of the American story. In this anniversary year of America as a startup nation, the Compact reignites that spirit of creativity and invention — to ensure that where a person starts in life doesn’t limit how far they can go, to unleash the job-creating power of new enterprises, and to knit communities together across our differences.
More Oregon startup news
