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

Oregon falls in Tax Foundation’s State Competitiveness Index – Portland Business Journal

Since 2019, Oregon has fallen 28 places in the nonpartisan foundation’s rankings. Oregon also fared poorly in CNBC’s America’s Top States for Business rankings, out earlier this year, falling from 28th place to 39th, the lowest score for Oregon in the history of those rankings.

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

Nvidia becomes first public company worth $5 trillion | TechCrunch

The biggest beneficiary of the ongoing AI boom, Nvidia has become the first public company to pass the $5 trillion market cap milestone.

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

Willie Wonka Inspired a Generation of Founders

That’s why, twenty years later, the kids who grew up with Gene Wilder became the entrepreneurs who built our modern world. They saw that the wildest dreams weren’t fantasy, they were prototypes. That science could feel like sorcery if you worked hard enough. That a factory could be a laboratory of joy. And that the song matters as much or more than the science.

You’re a startup founder — or an early employee. And you’re constantly struggling to figure out how to get the word out. Trust me. I get it. That was the crux of my motivation for starting this site 18+ years ago. I kept running into so many amazing startups, and was constantly asking “Why don’t more people know about this…?” The reality? Most founders don’t have the bandwidth to promote what they’re building. So I open sourced my marketing communications knowledge to make that happen. And now, it’s time to take that same concept to a different medium.

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

Food cart pod planned near Oregon Convention Center – Portland Business Journal

The cart pod is planned for 910 N.E. Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd., across the street from the Convention Center and the newish Hyatt Regency Portland hotel. It’s a high-traffic spot for visitors to the city who are often looking for “Portland things to do.”

Okay. Not an Oregon startup. But a startup in Oregon working on something hot. Literally. Mazama Energy has a location in Newberry, Oregon, that has some of the hottest rocks powering the world’s hottest enhanced geothermal system — which could be the key to solving the massive power needs of AI.

I thought the VC stuff was supposed to slow down this time of year…? But honestly, I’ll take it. ConductorOne — a startup with a significant Portland presence — just raised a $79 million Series B with some upper tier investors like Greycroft, Accel, and Felicis taking part in the round.

Acquisitions are always interesting. And nine times out of ten when I mention an acquisition around here, it’s a Portland startup getting snapped up by another company. But every once in a while, it’s the Portland company making the acquisition. Like today when I learned that LegitScript is acquiring Kompliant.

Finding a cofounder can be a challenge. Even for the most well connected folks. So it’s no surprise that there tends to be a steady stream of solutions to help you find a cofounder. Pioneer Square Labs has a different take on solving this issue. Best of all…? it’s not yet another “cofounder dating” attempt. It’s a “your AI co-founder.” Meet Lev.