While they’ve been relatively quiet, Portland startup Conversa Health has clearly been building something attractive. They just got snapped up in a two company acquisition by publicly traded Amwell, totaling $320 million.
Read MoreCategory: Startups
Still virtual: Portland Lunch 2.0 is Wednesday and Founders Live Portland is Thursday
While it appears we’re edging ever closer to another lockdown, I remain hopeful that we continue to build and connect community regardless of what the future might hold. So if you’re interested in connecting with folks in the Portland startup community in a virtual environment, there are two events this week designed to do just that.
Read MorePortland fintech startup Sila raises $13 million Series A
In case you haven’t been tracking, former Simple cofounder Shamir Karkal has been quietly building another fintech startup here in Portland. But after today, it might not be “quietly” much longer. You see, that company, Sila, just raised $13 million.
Read MoreSila partners with Constitution Lending
Sila, a Portland fintech startup that provides an API and SDK that enable app developers to incorporate financial transaction functionality into the solutions they’re building, has partnered with Constitution Lending to help improve their real estate lending capabilities.
Read MoreAnother perspective on the impact of the Absci IPO
In case you were unplugged this week… former Portland startup now Vancouver, Washington, biotech company Absci went public, this week. Having been on an IPO team for a venture funded startup myself, I can attest to what a herculean effort this whole process entails. And how the Absci team deserves all of the accolades for pulling this off.
Read MoreGuest post: The Portland startup community is failing. Good.
Editor: Darius Monsef is a serial founder who has wrestled with the challenges of the Portland startup community, off and on, for nearing two decades. His first company, COLOURlovers, went through Y Combinator and merged with Creative Market before being acquired by Autodesk. He cofounded Sightbox which went on to be acquired by Johnson & Johnson. His latest pursuit is Brave Care, another Y Combinator alum that is rethinking the delivery of pediatric care.
Read MoreDearest startup communities, You’re succeeding despite your best efforts to fail and burning out your biggest fans
There’s a great concept in the book Startup Communities about how folks have to have a long view on building communities. It’s work that takes decades. And that decade starts again every single day.
Read MoreBend startup Zipcan launches to the public, trends on Product Hunt
After a successful closed beta, serial entrepreneur Fritz Brumder today officially launched the product from his latest pursuit, Zipcan, a product that — in my overly simplified take — resembles the functionality of the Intercom and chat buttons you see around the Internet but that — instead of engaging you in a pseudo conversation with a chat bot — immediately puts you into a video chat with a real human.
Read MoreLoss (of a) leader: Startup community builder Joe Maruschak is leaving Eugene and Oregon
For some folks, this may come as a shock. For many of us in similar roles, we’re like “Yep. It was only a matter of time.” Joe Maruschak, who has been instrumental in mentoring, advising, and investing in startups in the Eugene, Oregon, and Lane County region, is leaving because the role he’s been serving is not effectively supported from a financial standpoint.
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