Seattle VC firm Flying Fish has a new cache of dry powder for Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning startups. And given that they’ve been active in Portland in the past, that could mean good news for AI/ML startups seeking early stage funding.
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New startup founder focused podcast
Realizing that there are a ton of podcasts vying for your ears, I always like to highlight local podcasts that may appeal to you. That’s why I’m recommending you add Kasey Jones’ new podcast, High Growth Founders, to your playlist.
Read MoreGet a ton of help on your startup over a very short period of time: Starve Ups Launch Pad
If you’re building a startup, you’re juggling a lot. A lot a lot. So time is of the essence. And valuable time is even more of the essence. With that in mind, the folks over at Starve Ups have made a habit of cramming a whole lot of valuable startup assistance into a single weekend. It’s called Starve Ups Launch Pad. And it’s happening for the 11th time — and for free — the weekend of May 20, 2022.
Read MorePortland startup UrbanForm expands zoning functionality to Seattle
For all of the talk of “disruption” over the past decade, there are still plenty of industries that remain faithful to the same processes and ways of doing business that has worked decade after decade. Architecture and construction are no different. But there’s a glimmer of hope that they might soon be realizing some efficiencies thanks to startups like UrbanForm.
Read MoreNew group forming for ‘underrepresented’ Portland startup founders

For more, visit Portland Startups Slack.
Corvallis-based Agility Robotics raises $150 million Series B
It’s a well-known fact that Oregon State University punches above its weight when it comes to intellectual property and patents. That being said, translating academic research and development into startups can often be a challenging transition. But when it works, it works. Like it has for Agility Robotics which just raised $150 million.
Read MoreSilicon Florist links arrangement for April 14, 2022 💐
Portland VC deals down after historic 2021, but trend points up
Venture capital investors closed fewer deals in the Portland metro area in the first quarter of 2022 compared with last year. However, activity wasn’t far off from the number closed in the first quarter of 2020 and was well above the number closed in the first quarter of 2019.
Read MoreChris Chen joins Portland fintech startup Sila as CTO
I’m always saying that we have a super interesting fintech cluster here in town. Thanks, in part, to the diaspora from early challenger banks like Simple. And a recent hire — by a company helmed by one of the cofounders of Simple — lends credence to that assertion. You see, Chris Chen, formerly CTO of Wyre, has joined Sila as CTO.
Read MoreKivo: Local serial entrepreneurs raise a $3 million round with local investors
You know what I always say. No. Not that. The other thing. The thing about serial founders. You know, the thing about how the Portland startup community needs to get to a point where it’s not burning out founders so much that they never start other projects. How we need more serial entrepreneurs and folks with startup experience starting new things. Again and again. That thing.
Read MoreRocket science: Portland startup Kubos sells assets to Redmond-based Xplore
With the advent of the fully remote world brought on by the pandemic, it’s difficult to tell what even constitutes a “Portland startup” these days. But given that the CEO and cofounder of Kubos lives here in town, I’m counting it. Which is why I was happy to see that Xplore has announced they’re acquiring Kubos’ Major Tom mission and flight control software platform for satellites and other assets.
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