The more things change, the more things change. So I wanted to be sure that you — yes you — had the best guidance on getting connected to folks in the Portland startup community, since we’re at the midyear point. As always, the big ol’ list of resources for the Portland startup community is an on going project. This is more about a quick primer designed to you get connected and get shit done, right quick.
Your primary go-to resources:
- Portland Startups Slack — With more than 8,000 profiles — many of them, admittedly, lurking or long dormant — the Portland Startups Slack still holds a special place in the community as the spot to find and connect with folks. With a stack of channels to focus conversations around whatever most interests you, it’s probably your most straightforward path to getting plugged in. Best of all, it’s totally free and open to anyone with an interest in Portland startups.
- Portland Startup Events + Calagator — Two calendars, one job: helping you find where the community is gathering. The Portland Startup Events calendar on Luma pulls together a running list of what’s coming up. And Calagator — the open-source, aggregated tech calendar that’s weathered a decade-plus of fits and starts — still gets the job done, so you don’t have to go hunting across Eventbrite and Meetup and Luma and whatever else. Between the two, you can keep tabs on what’s happening when. Or promote the events you’re organizing. Also, Wyrl has started aggregating events, as well.
Important community nodes:
- AI Portland — “A gathering of enthusiasts, professionals, and the AI-curious from all walks of life, committed to fostering an inclusive environment where everyone is welcome to explore, learn, and innovate. Whether you’re taking your first steps into the world of AI or you’re a seasoned professional looking to push the boundaries of what’s possible, AI Portland offers a space to collaborate, share knowledge, and drive positive change.”
- Portland AI Engineers — “A community of software developers passionate about building practical applications using generative AI technologies. Our core focus is on solving real-world problems by leveraging language models and AI tools.”
- Rose City Techies — “An inclusive community of techies dedicated to building, creating, and exploring the future of technology together. This is a place for those who want to find inspiration and forge meaningful connections, all focused on the central theme of our work. Rose City Techies is founded on non-traditional and creative perspectives, offering a fresh approach to the tech and startup scene.”
Monthly-ish gatherings:
And hopefully, that gets you going. Have additional questions…? Come ask on the Portland Startups Slack and we’ll get you the help you need. Have other resources…? Submit a pull request and we’ll get them added.