Portland Oregon startups, tech, news, events, jobs, and community

I knew it would happen. The second I started blabbing about the fact that I’m not a fan of pitch competitions I’d jinxed myself. Now…? All I seem to get are pings about pitch competitions. Here’s another one: the Technology Association of Oregon AI Startup Innovation Sandbox.

If a founder comes back to be part of the pitch event that they won last year…? That’s a pretty good sign that the pitch competition was valuable. And that’s exactly what’s happening with Akshay Gupta — who won $25,000 in investment during Westside Pitch 2025 with Sez Us. This year…? He’s the emcee. Which leads me to ask: Who is in the running to be emcee next year…?

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

Missouri town fires half its city council over data center deal – POLITICO

Voters in a small Missouri town, unhappy with the city council’s approval of a $6 billion data center, struck back at the polls last week, ousting all four incumbent council members running for reelection.

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

The 2026 AI Index Report | Stanford HAI

At Stanford HAI, we believe AI is poised to be the most transformative technology of the 21st century. But its benefits won’t be evenly distributed unless we guide its development thoughtfully. The AI Index offers one of the most comprehensive, data-driven views of artificial intelligence. Recognized as a trusted resource by global media, governments, and leading companies, the AI Index equips policymakers, business leaders, and the public with rigorous, objective insights into AI’s technical progress, economic influence, and societal impact.

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

Business Oregon Opens Applications for Venture Fund Program

Business Oregon is now accepting applications from venture capital fund managers for the Business Oregon Venture (BOV) Fund Program under the State Small Business Credit Initiative (SSBCI) program. Venture capital fund managers can play an important role in Oregon’s entrepreneurial ecosystem through leveraging fund managers’ expertise, networks, and private capital to develop and maintain a strong pipeline of high-growth opportunities.

Governor Kotek signed SB 1507 today. The bill that disconnects Oregon from several federal tax provisions — including the Qualified Small Business Stock (QSBS) exclusion that I’ve been writing and talking about for the past month. It’s law. And I’m not going to pretend I’m happy about it. But…

Are you sitting down…? Nectome — a Y Combinator Winter 2018 alum — has figured out how to preserve an entire mammalian brain with its cellular structure locked in place and minimal damage. (I mean, it’s a pig brain, specifically. But that’s probably more capable than my brain.) And it’s been frozen in a way that preserves every neuron and synapse. And they want to offer the same procedure to people who are terminally ill. So then they can wire those brains up to the Internet. For never ending oinking. Or maybe so Nic Cage would always have a friend.

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

The Prenup Nobody Wants to Sign: How Co-Founder Conflict Kills More Startups Than Bad Ideas

Most co-founder conflict begins quietly, almost invisibly. One founder is working weekends. The other keeps normal hours and doesn’t see the problem. One wants to raise a seed round immediately. The other thinks bootstrapping is the only honest path forward. One believes the product should go to enterprise customers first. The other is completely focused on the consumer opportunity. These are not small differences of opinion.

I’ve been waiting for this. The hackathons are a good sign. The gatherings and curiosity. The general chatter. But now, it’s beginning to result in actual inspiration and creativity. Creating stuff because you can. Not because it’s a billion dollar idea. But simply because it’s an idea. And you can. Like Doing.