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Category: Entrepreneurs

Tracking the impact of COVID-19 on entrepreneurs and small business: Portland Dreams Disrupted

Early in the onset of the our region’s reaction to the COVID-19 pandemic, the Portland Business Journal began capturing the stories of a number of local small businesses — tracking their journey through this life altering experience. Now, those stories have been amalgamated with stories from around the US in American Dreams Disrupted.

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So a bunch of ecosystem builders walk in front of a camera…

The past couple of years, I’ve been lucky enough to get invited to the Kauffman Foundation’s ESHIP Summit. A chance to gather and learn from folks who help entrepreneurs, participate in economic development, and generally try to make the whole world of startups more accessible to both founders and the mentors that they need.

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Celebrating Black History Month: 28 black Portland entrepreneurs in 28 days

First off, if you don’t follow Portland’s Stephen Green on Twitter, you’re missing out on a whole bunch of awesome information and insights and amazing founders. But his latest effort was one for the books. Throughout February, Stephen celebrated Black History Month by featuring a series of amazing black entrepreneurs in the Portland area. One for each day. Read More

Everything is a product management problem

Everything is a product management problem. Not just the product. Not just features. Not just platforms. Everything you do.

I was going through some posts I had written years ago for other blogs when I happened upon one that—while originally targeted at helping folks reassess their careers—seemed to play really well in the realm of being an entrepreneur and building startups.

The basis of the post is this: Everything is a product management problem. Not just the product. Not just features. Not just platforms. Everything you do. Read More

Startup Weekend Portland crams founders, builders, and promoters into a 54-hour entrepreneurial hotbox once again

Well get those entrepreneurial juices flowing, my friend. Because it’s getting near Startup Weekend time again. That’s right. Startup Weekend Portland is being held November 12 through the 14th at NedSpace Old Town.

So there you are. You’ve got a killer startup idea but you’re having a hard time finding someone to help build it. Or maybe you’ve got no ideas but you’re itching to build something. Maybe you just want to help someone realize his or her dream.

Well get those entrepreneurial juices flowing, my friend. Because it’s getting near Startup Weekend time again. That’s right. Startup Weekend Portland is being held November 12th through the 14th at NedSpace Old Town. Read More

Iron Man? Spider-man? Batman? Most super heroes are side projects. Just like yours.

Most of your favorite super heroes are actually side projects. Most super heroes don’t do that whole super hero thing as their full-time gig. In fact, most of them have got a day job.

I know you’re busting your ass, Mr. and/or Mrs. Startup type. I know you’re working hard on a side project or idea while continuing to slave away at the day job. All in the hopes that someday—someday—you might get to turn that side project into a full-time gig. But it can be taxing. I know it.

So every once in awhile, I like to try to give you a little motivation. A little help. A little something that makes staying up that extra four hours a little easier. And that little something today is this: Most of your favorite super heroes are actually side projects. Read More

A Portland entrepreneur and a Portland startup made Super Bowl ad appearances? Indeed they did.

You see, two Portland area Silicon Florist favorites made their Super Bowl ad debuts last weekend, entrepreneur Jason Glaspey and travel network BootsnAll Parislogue.

[HTML3]You know, sometimes you’re sitting there, watching one of the largest sporting events on earth. And you think you see something or hear something that has you doing a bit of a double take. Did I just see what I thought I saw? Did that guy just say what I thought he said?

Sure enough. In both cases. You see, two Portland area Silicon Florist favorites made their Super Bowl ad debuts last weekend, entrepreneur Jason Glaspey and travel network BootsnAll. Read More

What entrepreneurs and startups can learn from the whole Conan O’Brien debacle

Conan O’Brien was recently told that his show was going to follow Jay Leno at 12:05. His response? “No, it’s not.” And in those actions are valuable lessons for startups and entrepreneurs everywhere.

[HTML1]Unless you’ve been living under a rock for the past few days… What’s that? Oh. No, nothing against that. I mean, it’s a nice rock. I like that one part over there. I wasn’t being serious. It’s just a turn of phrase, you know?

Ahem. Anyway.

Conan O’Brien, the host of The Tonight Show—a dynasty of late night television—was recently told that his show was going to be bumped back to follow Jay Leno at 12:05. His response? “No, it’s not.” Read More

Wouldn’t it be great to see a bunch of startups in the Portland Business Journal 40 under Forty?

Every year, the Portland Business Journal releases a list of “40 under Forty,” the most notable business people who have managed to accomplish a great deal of business and civic good prior to hitting the big four oh. And every year, I anxiously thumb through the awards, hoping to see all of the awesome Portland entrepreneurs who are doing cool things every day.

Every year, the Portland Business Journal releases a list of “40 under Forty,” the most notable Portland people who have managed to accomplish a great deal of business and civic good prior to hitting the “big four oh.” And every year, I anxiously thumb through the awards, hoping to see all of the awesome Portland entrepreneurs who are doing cool things around here.

Unfortunately, I’m usually disappointed. I mean, there are a bunch of great lawyers and CPAs and such. But startup types? Not so much.

So this year, I thought I’d see if we could stack the deck a bit. You see, nominations for the Portland Business Journal 40 under Forty are open. Read More

For Oregon startups, nothing is certain but death and taxes. Perhaps both in conjunction, given these taxes.

What you may not know is that there are some new taxes on the books that—according to Oregonians Against Job-Killing Taxes—may make those two hurdles even higher.

If you’ve ever spent any time in the startup scene in the Silicon Forest, you’ve likely heard that there are two major hurdles for entrepreneurs around here: 1) that the State of Oregon—and sometimes the City of Portland—aren’t terribly friendly to startups and 2) that it’s really difficult to attract capital from investors.

What you may not know is that there are some new taxes on the books that—according to Oregonians Against Job-Killing Taxes—may make those two hurdles even higher.

How so? Well, they’re going to be discussing the impact of those taxes at NedSpace Old Town on Thursday October 22 at 4:30 PM. Read More