Portland startups, open source, and tech news, jobs, and events #pdx
It’s always nice to see Portland companies featured in national media. Especially when it’s folks who you know have been hard at work, building amazing companies, with little to no media recognition for what they’ve been doing. Like Walker Tracker, which was just featured in Forbes as an example of the participants in the XXcelerate Fund.
Used to be, Portland had a plethora of unconferences for folks to attend. On any number of topics. But as of late, those opportunities have been few and far between. Luckily there are still opportunities like the Women Led Unconference.
I’m always a fan of events that highlight more voices in our community. So it will come as no surprise that I’m psyched to see Black Women in STEM 2.0 being held in Portland, next week.
I realize that it’s not going to come as a shock to anyone that Portland needs more diverse speakers and viewpoints and topics in its startup events. You know, something to stem the neverending tide of manels around here. And that’s why I’m really happy to get the chance to share two new events focused on women entrepreneurs.
There are any number of opportunities for startups to get on stage and pitch. But it’s always more interesting when there’s a focus. Like celebrating women founders. Which is exactly what happens with Women Led and their pitch event.
People go to events for all sorts of reasons. For some, it’s a networking opportunity. For others, it’s for personal or professional development. Sometimes, it’s just because you’re hoping to get the opportunity to connect with someone who isn’t terribly accessible. But whatever the motivation, getting a ticket and to the event can often be a hardship. Luckily, PDX Women In Tech is working to lighten that burden by #InvestingInYou.
Startups often like to test things. And then iterate. And test again. Before making a big leap. So it stands to reason that an organization that spends its time working with startups would take a similar tact. That’s why local startup accelerator PIE has been working with a handful of companies to beta test its new offering, PIE Shop.
Last night, the Technology Association of Oregon (TAO) held their annual Oregon Tech Awards celebration gala, their biggest event of the year. (Coincidentally, GeekWire held their big Seattle tech awards last night, too.) And the Portland startup community was well represented.
If I’ve said it once, I’ve said it a thousand times: PDX Women in Tech is the best thing going in the Portland tech community right now. From startups to established corporations, the organization continues to provide an impressive—and ever growing—center of gravity for our community. And now, they’re formalizing the leadership of the organization with the hiring of their first executive director, Elizabeth Stock.
I’m a firm believer that founders do best with multiple forms of mentorship. And peer mentorship is a critical component of a well-rounded mentor pool for any founders. That’s why I’m always glad to see organizations furthering the model. Like Women Led, which is looking for participants in their mastermind groups.