Portland startups, open source, and tech news, jobs, and events #pdx
There’s a common trope around the startup world that things tend to go quiet a week or two after Halloween. But around here, that’s been anything but the case. Now in its sixth year, Pitch Oregon always keeps conversations going into December. But only if your startup applies to pitch.
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I can confidently say that there will never be enough accessible capital to adequately support entrepreneurs. So we’ll always have that to complain about. But that’s also a massive opportunity. Because there is also plenty of room for new players — and new models — to emerge. And another one just did. From Sahil Lavingia, founder of Gumroad.
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“Risk averse. Conservative.… Out of touch.” They’re all complaints I’ve heard from Portland startup founders when describing the earliest stages of raising capital around these parts. But I always assumed that Seattle — with its extensive tech presence of major headquarters and massive regional offices — was a better environment. Apparently, it’s not. Those quoted comments are Seattle startup founders describing their Angel investment community.
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With funds raising larger and larger rounds, the economics of cutting smaller checks for seed stage companies get more and more lopsided. And that leaves a gap for the youngest and most vulnerable of companies. That’s why it’s always nice to see folks raising funds specifically targeted at early stage companies. Like Seven Peaks just did.
While Oregon still has a ways to go in terms of building a self sustaining startup ecosystem, any number of folks have been doing an impressive job of building up our early stage funding resources throughout the state. And one of those groups of early stage investors, Cascade Angels, is looking for some more companies in which to invest.
As Randy Fernando of Vault closed, “Let’s start a conversation.” No doubt, this is going to be a topic of conversation for weeks to come. From my vantage, it’s not an isolated story. And Randy’s post serves as an eloquent recounting of a personal experience—one that reflects numerous other fundraising stories circulating around Portland for early stage startups—and a plea for all of us to work to change it. Read More
While covering the lives of tech startups can good fodder for reality television, there are far more interesting story lines to be found. If you actually dig below the surface. Why do entrepreneurs do what they do? How do they get there from here? What’s it like building a startup in Portland? Read More
Yes, I know. 11 steps. Yes, most of these things are supposed to be 12 step programs, but this one—11 Steps for Getting Investor Ready—goes to 11. Besides, we’re looking to feed your addiction to startups. Not curtail it. Oh wait. I think step 12 may be “Profit!”
In any case, our friends over at OTBC in Beaverton are offering to coach entrepreneurs on pitching their ideas and companies to would be investors. All it takes is an hour, beginning at 4:30 PM on November 16. Read More
Seems like we’re going to need to change our tune about venture capital firms not being interested in Portland, Oregon, and the Silicon Forest.
Mike Rogoway over at The Oregonian reveals that DFJ Frontier in partnership with Capybara Ventures has opened another office for early stage venture capital—right here in Portland, Oregon. Read More