Portland startups, open source, and tech news, jobs, and events #pdx
Like most things Portland, there are a ton of awesome makers and manufacturers in town doing a ton of awesome things. But thanks to our culture of aggressive humility, we don’t always know about all of that awesomeness. That’s why it’s nice to have things like the Friends of Fictiv happy hour. If only to bring some of those hidden gems in our midst to light.
Sometimes, the biggest challenge can be finding ways to connect with community. That’s why I’m always glad to see events that help streamline those connections for startups. Like the Manufacturer & Maker Supply Chain & Innovation Opportunities Conference.
I know you’ve been busy making stuff. But I didn’t want you to lose track of the fact that the deadline for applying to be a maker at the Portland Mini Maker Faire is rapidly approaching. Like tomorrow.
Remember that awesome #FutureBus from Beaverton School District? You know that Magic-School-Bus-ish mobile makerspace that allows students in the district to creatively engage with technology and making? Obviously, it was designed to be taken on the road. But I just learned that they took it on a road trip. To Cascade Locks, Oregon. And that experiment resulted in an interesting experience—and an opportunity.
I’m not going to lie: I love that the increasing accessibility—both in terms of costs and programmability—of hardware is inspiring new and creative pursuits. Sometimes, they create new business concepts. Sometimes they’re just cool. And when folks give you an inside look at how they made it? That’s even cooler. Which is why I loved this LEGO Saturn V project writeup from Portland’s Asa Miller.
You’ve no doubt heard that Portland is a city of makers. Even if they’re not doing it professionally, it seems that we have a ton of folks who are mucking around with making things. Be it the latest technology — like 3D printing — or more traditional forms of making, we’ve got it in droves. And there’s no better gathering to showcase that than PDX Maker Week.
No doubt you’ve heard Portland has this “Maker” thing going for it. No. It’s true. It’s a thing. I swear. People make stuff here. Sometimes they make stuff out of stuff that’s been stuff before. Sometimes they make it from scratch. And sometimes they print it on machines that print stuff.
While PDX Maker Week is still a ways off, recent discussions around RSVPs and attendance have motivated me to start promoting events early and often. Rather than waiting until the last minute. That’s why I wanted to take the opportunity to share an event taking place in collaboration with Maker Week, Science Hack Day Portland.