Portland startups, open source, and tech news, jobs, and events #pdx
It could be said that “nonessential businesses” are the very heart of Portland. That one wacky coffeeshop. The boutique that sells those things you don’t need but you desperately want. The brewpub that feels like your home away from home… And so when the current pandemic forced those businesses to close — and to stop generating revenue — the very fabric of our community’s culture was put at risk.
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Like many of us, I’ve been thinking a lot about our local food carts, restaurants, brewpubs, and coffeeshops in this new world order of social distancing and avoiding crowded spaces. How can we support these critical components of our Portland culture and economy without exposing ourselves and others to possible infection? (I honestly can’t believe I just typed that sentence. Oof.)
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It seems patently ridiculous that the so called “Land of Opportunity” would need a jumpstart for entrepreneurship. But that’s where we find ourselves. And once you peel back the veneer, there’s little surprise as to why. Rising cost of living, unaffordable healthcare, crushing student loan debt, lack of access to capital, lack of risk tolerance from investors… the list of negatives go on and on.
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Granted, Portland shops local year round. But there’s no more important time to put your hard earned dollars into the local economy than the holiday season. Because so many products and retailers rely on holiday traffic. Luckily, Portland also makes that easier. With things like My People’s Market and Little Boxes.
You’re in Portland. Of course buying local is in your blood. But that doesn’t mean that you shouldn’t get rewarded for that behavior. And what about finding new stores or boutiques? Shouldn’t there be some technology that helps you discover those places? That’s exactly why there’s a service like Little Boxes.
There’s just something about a pitch. Be it a Demo Day or a Demolicious or a Startup Weekend or even just one-on-one, I love hearing startups tell their stories. So when the fine folks at 1776—an early stage startup accelerator from the DC area—reached out to PIE to see if we could help them with the 1776 Challenge Cup, I jumped at the chance. Because it’s good for Portland to get that kind of exposure. And because pitches. Read More
Portland is known for buying local. Almost ridiculously so. Isn’t that right, Colin? So it only stands to reason that our technology purchases should follow similar suit. Which is exactly what the Portland Development Commission is proposing to the City of Portland. Read More