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

Anyone who has spent any time in our community has encountered the “too much good stuff” issue of having to decide among multiple events that often conflict. There are only so many days in the week, afterall. But, if you happen to be one of the folks who are trying to decide between attending Pitch Latino Portland and having Clarence Bethea tell you things VCs won’t say, get ready to be happy. You can do both.

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

Nimbus Aerospace tests quarter-scale prototype in Oregon as hybrid-electric race ramps up – GeekWire

In June and August, the startup conducted two test flights of its NX1 prototype at the Pendleton Airport UAS Range in Oregon. The aircraft, which has a 15-foot wingspan and weighs 200 pounds, flew for 3 minutes 42 seconds in the first flight and 6 minutes in the second.

Last week, we gained two valuable insights into the platforms for Tina Kotek and Christine Drazan, the two candidates for governor of Oregon. And a rematch of the Oregon governor’s race the last time around. I know you’re busy. So I wanted to be sure that I provided some insights on each candidate from a startup perspective, based on their published plans and a recent forum where each candidate spoke.

Sometimes, the most promising opportunity is in a space that appears to be overcrowded and dominated by major brands. Like selling handmade goods. With Etsy and ebay and any number of other competitors, that may seem like a solved problem. But, then again, Google wasn’t the first search engine. It just entered a cluttered market and did the job better.

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

The Sports Bra deserves our support – Portland Business Journal

As most readers know, The Bra, as it’s known to fans, is a women’s sports bar launched in 2022 by Portland native Jenny Nguyen. As many of you may also know, the establishment has recently been targeted by anti-trans rights protesters.

If you’ve been eagerly awaiting the list of companies that won the competition to take the main stage at Bend Venture Conference, this year, your wait is now overly. BVC has released the list of the five early stage companies selected for 2026.

Interested in getting together with folks…? Well, there are plenty of events this week to give you the opportunity to do just that. Hopefully, there are any number of interesting topics and opportunities for you in the list below.