Portland startups, open source, and tech news, jobs, and events #pdx
I’m hearing from a lot of founders that can’t make the commitment to be part of a startup accelerator program. Because it seems like another thing on their plate. Another stressor. Another obligation. And I get it. People are dealing with a lot right now. More than a lot. And this fall is only going to get messier. So why take the chance of applying for a startup accelerator?
Read More
As we head into the fall, any number of accelerators and pitch competitions are seeking applicants for their programs. So many, in fact, that it can be hard to keep track. Which is why I’m reminding you to check out the Beaverton Startup Challenge, a program that boasts the “highest rated mentoring in the state of Oregon.”
Read More
Stop me if you’ve heard this one before. A company manages to land early stage capital and, in so doing, decides to move their headquarters from their founding city to a city closer to their investor. Of course you’ve heard it. It’s something that regularly happened to Portland companies not so long ago. But today, there’s a new twist. Instead of companies leaving town, folks are starting to relocate those headquarters to Portland. And this time, at least part of that decision was thanks to a local investor.
Read More
When I started in Portland area startups, way back when, a lot of us were located way out in Hillsboro. And then the momentum started to shift to Beaverton. And then suddenly all of the activity seemed to be in Portland proper. But there may be a shift in that momentum with Bigleaf Networks.
Read More
A lot of my focus tends to fall on companies that call Portland home. But that doesn’t mean that’s the only spot in the region with amazing startups. Beaverton, Vancouver, Bend, Eugene, Corvallis… they’re all over the state. And I need to do a better job of highlighting that. So let’s start with Beaverton startup Bigleaf, who just so happens to be holding an open house, this week.
Tucked back away in the recesses of my brain are any number of trivial Portland startup community facts I’ve gathered over the past two decades. One of those tidbits — for which I rarely have use — is the fact that Brad Fitzpatrick, the creator of the iconic LiveJournal — arguably one of the earliest and most popular harbingers of the modern social media world — grew up in Beaverton and attended Aloha High School.
I get it. You’re busy. You’re building your company. And you meant to get those startup accelerator applications done last weekend. But time just got away from you. Well, you better carve out some time this weekend, or you’re going to miss out altogether.
Remember that awesome #FutureBus from Beaverton School District? You know that Magic-School-Bus-ish mobile makerspace that allows students in the district to creatively engage with technology and making? Obviously, it was designed to be taken on the road. But I just learned that they took it on a road trip. To Cascade Locks, Oregon. And that experiment resulted in an interesting experience—and an opportunity.
It’s almost time for another Portland Startup Week. And while it’s great to see all of the startup focused events taking place around Portland, it would be totally remiss to ignore the equally awesome see stuff that’s happening outside of the city limits, as well. Most notably, in Beaverton and Vancouver, WA. Read More