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

I’ve been talking about the hardware renaissance that’s beginning to take shape around here. You see, as AI computing resources become more and more scarce, I hypothesize that we’re going to see people working to advance the technology to make things more efficient and effective. And a local startup helmed by Intel alums is definitely running that playbook. AheadComputing just raised $30 million bringing it to $53 million raised in total.

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

How Wicked Saints Studios Turned A Mission-Driven Game Into A Creator-Embedded Campaign For Real-World Connection

The approach reflects Wicked Saints’ broader thesis that games can be designed not just for engagement, but for activation. Founded in 2020, the studio was created to address a problem its co-founder and CEO, Jessica Murrey, encountered repeatedly across journalism, public-service media, and global peacebuilding: social-impact initiatives are effective at raising awareness, but far less reliable at helping people believe they can take action.

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

Eight Companies to Watch in 2026 — Oregon Venture Fund

Within the Oregon Venture Fund portfolio, eight stand out as rocket ships with a real chance of reaching escape velocity in 2026. Each is generating at least $10M to $150M in ARR and growing more than 40% year over year. Given their momentum and potential economic impact, they deserve to be household names, at least in the Pacific NW.

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

AI Has an Image Problem

I spent 2025 going from skeptical to genuinely excited about AI tools. My non-tech friends and family spent 2025 learning to hate them. The AI industry has fumbled this introduction so badly that we’ve turned a useful set of tools into a cultural flashpoint – but the damage isn’t irreversible.

I keep saying it. Agility Robotics deserves more attention. Here’s another perspective on why: If Oregon’s 2025 VC numbers look better to you, it’s largely because of Agility, according to Mike Rogoway at The Oregonian.

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

The TriMet Story

January 1969: Mayor Terry Schrunk appointed a seven-member Mass Transit Advisory Commission*, who ultimately became the foundation of TriMet’s first board of directors. On January 14, the Portland City Council passed a resolution to create the Tri-County Metropolitan Transportation District of Oregon, called TriMet, to take over the local bus systems and provide regional transit service.