Portland startups, open source, and tech news, jobs, and events #pdx
I have to admit that, after the last three years, I’m feeling pretty out of the loop on the broader technology scene here in Portland and Oregon. I’m much more closely tracking early-stage startups in software, hardware, and consumer products. Often before they’ve established much of a presence. So it’s always nice to have a reference point like the Oregon Technology Awards.
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Every couple of years, a team of folks digs through a bunch of data, analyzes and assesses the flows of capital to small businesses and startups within the state, and reports out on what they’ve found. The latest version of that report — Oregon Capital Scan 2022 (PDF) — is now available for your reading pleasure.
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As a founder, I realize that you’re juggling a lot. That’s why I wanted to give you one last reminder about the event that Mark Grimes has organized for tomorrow, Tuesday, March 28, 2023. Because you will totally benefit from it. Not only will you get the chance to meet a bunch of startup support organizations in town, but you’ll also get the opportunity to meet other founders. It’s the PDX Founders Welcome Wagon.
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While pitch competitions may come and go, Pitch Oregon has been a community mainstay for a dozen years, featuring a variety of interesting companies on stage and as winners. This year promises to be no different with startups representing a spectrum of industries.
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While it wasn’t a key part of my coverage area when I started this blog, these days I try to make it a regular habit of paying attention to Bend, Oregon. Because it seems more often than not, there are as many interesting startup stories coming out of Central Oregon as the metro region, as of late. Like this one: Bend’s Shape, an advertising management platform, has been acquired by digital marketing management company NinjaCat.
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For all the news of economic downturns, founders are still out there, building businesses. And investors are still taking risks on those ventures. Because a downturn is often the best time to build the next great business. So it comes as little surprise that Portland startup ConductorOne announced its $15 million Series A.
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Blame it on the “Great Resignation” or whatever you will. We’ve seen a ton of turnover recently in the world of local foundations — which provide critical financial support for Portland’s nonprofit community. But now we’re also seeing similar behavior in the ranks of the nonprofits themselves. And that could cause yet another ripple in what’s already turning out to be a rocky environment for a Portland startup community struggling to recover from the effects of a multiyear pandemic amidst an economic downturn.
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As the Great Resignation continues to swell, seeking the next job you’ll be able to resign from can be top of mind for many people. Or maybe even the next job you’ll stick with. Which is why it’s nice to see that Oregon Venture Fund — the most dominant presence in the Oregon venture community — has launched a job board featuring openings at its portfolio companies. All thanks to OVF investor in residence Deepthi Madhava.
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Oregon state economist Josh Lehner is more optimistic about the next few years for the region. He spoke this week at Portland State University’s annual Harold G. Vatter Memorial Lecture about the future of the region’s economy. Here are four takeaways from his economic forecast.
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