Category: Portland

This is the kind of inspiration and creativity I love to see. Is it someone chasing a billion dollar valuation…? No. Is it someone looking to take over the world…? No. Is it someone who recognized a problem and then used technology to help create a solution that makes the world a better — and more well informed — place…? Absolutely. Meet TickCheck. (I mean, Tick Track Toe was right there. But I digress…)

If you happen to around Bend next weekend (I don’t know. Maybe you live there or something.), Bend Startup Central is putting me in the hot seat for a fireside chat and a panel on the past and future of Oregon startups. I’d love to have you swing by and share your views. Or ask your questions. Or even just sit quietly and wonder what exactly you’ve actually gotten yourself into and where the nearest exit is.

Here’s a roundup of interesting startup links I came across today:

Seattle, we’ve got an image problem – GeekWire

You may disagree with those headlines. You may dislike the politics behind them. But rhetoric, image and storytelling matter — especially in a moment when cities are competing fiercely for talent, investment, startups and relevance in the AI era.

Every once in a while, I like to check in on you, startup founder. Especially when you’re quiet and not asking. To make sure that you’re doing okay. Because startups are hard. And stressful. And debilitating. And it’s always nice to see that I’m not the only one who appreciates the struggle you’re going through. Like this survey came across my desk today: the Founder Mental Health Survey.

If your home is the most important physical thing you own — or hope to own — why is it so difficult to find ways to take care of it properly…? Better yet, how can you be sure you’ve accurately documented every piece and part of all of the components that make that home a functional and protective entity…? Those questions were enough to inspire a Portland startup. Meet VillaFact.

As a startup, you often need to gravitate to where the resources are. Sometimes, it’s talent. Sometimes, it’s customers. And more often than not, it’s the mentorship and guidance you need to build your company. Which is why Portland companies landing spots in incubators and accelerators outside of the region is a fairly common occurrence. This time, it’s Kreneon, which was just selected to participate in the Maritime Blue Ventures Seattle Incubator cohort for 2026.