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Category: Oregon

WTF is wrong with the Portland startup community?

I get one question, consistently. The same question that I get asked — time and time again — exponentially more than any other question. It doesn’t matter if it’s someone who was born and raised in Portland or if it’s someone who just moved here. It doesn’t matter if they are super well connected or don’t know anyone. It doesn’t matter if they’re employed at a major corporation or if they’re out starting their own thing. And it’s one of those questions that seems to confound practically every single person who has an interest in entrepreneurship or startups around here. And that question stuck on incessant repeat is this: How do I get connected with other people in the Portland startup community…?

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PitchBlack is back, but this time, it’s in Beaverton

No single event on the West Coast does more to showcase — and support — Black entrepreneurs than PitchBlack. So it only stands to reason that the next version of the pitch competition will take place during Black History Month. What may come as a surprise, however, is where the Portland-born event is taking place, this time around.

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Bold Reuse and Rapta selected as alternates for 2023 SXSW Pitch competition

It’s always nice to see local companies popping up in international competitions. And while no one from the area managed to make the main stage as of this writing, two local startups have been selected as alternates for the 2023 SXSW Pitch competition: Bold Reuse and Rapta.

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Stephen Green to take the helm of Business for a Better Portland… temporarily

Things change fast around here. It seems like just six months ago we were talking about Karin Power taking over the interim executive director role at Business for a Better Portland. But now, Karin has been pulled back into service at the state level by Oregon’s new governor Tina Kotek. So that’s where Stephen Green comes in. For the next 90 days, at least.

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Getting that itch to pitch? Well if you’re on the Westside, you’re in luck

Thankful that Malia Spencer reminded me about the upcoming Westside Pitch competition for local startups. Which is still a ways off. But applications are due soon. Like the end of the month soon. Should you be interested? Are you eligible to even apply?

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Kickoff 2023 with some coffee and some other founders

One of the few consistent morning startup events in town, Coffee w/ Co-Founders, is kicking off another year of connecting the community. And if you’re a founder — no matter what the stage of your startup — you’re invited to join the group to meet other folks who are building something new.

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If you’re reading this before 9AM PST on January 12, 2023, you have the opportunity to be helpful

If there’s one truism that gets repeated more than any other in the world of early stage startups, it is this: Go talk to potential customers. It doesn’t matter how great your idea is. It doesn’t matter how needed and obvious it seems to be. It doesn’t matter that you’re an expert in the field. If customers don’t see the need for your product, all you’ve got is a hobby.

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