Portland startups, open source, and tech news, jobs, and events #pdx
Like Stephen Green says, “You’ve got to see it to be it.” Role models. They’re incredibly important. If you don’t have folks with whom you identify, it’s even more difficult to keep fighting the good fight. That’s why I love things like Portland xFounders and their upcoming xCite whiteboard pitch session. Because it’s specifically designed for to highlight those role models. Read More
Portland has no shortage of hackathons. But it’s always nice to see something with a particular focus or centered around a certain community. And what’s even nicer? When they happen on a regular basis. Which is why I’m psyched to see We Code—a women’s hackathon hosted by Nike and Puppet Labs—which is taking place for the second time. Read More
As we work to create a more welcoming and diverse startup and tech scene, it’s important to recognize that there are any number of individuals who have already spent untold hours on this effort over the years. Making inroads without a great deal of support. Laying the foundational groundwork that will enable a more diverse community. And championing the effort tirelessly. Read More
If you want to build products that are used by a wide variety of people, it’s incredibly important that you have a wide variety of people building those products. That’s why I’m always happy to see events that help diversify the Portland tech and startup scene. Like ACT-W Portland, which is coming up this weekend. Read More
Portland is home to its fair share of hackathons, but it’s not often that they’re held by major corporations in town. That’s why I’ve been watching the Nike Women’s Hackathon with interest. It’s sold out. But they have a waitlist if you’d like to sign up. Read More
As Executive Director of Portland Code School, I’m getting out and about a lot these days into Portland’s increasingly robust tech community, which is bristling with venture-funded entrepreneurial life. Our graduates are a foundational part of the ecosystem, helping to provide continuity of brain power for all these new enterprises. Read More
I’ve been lucky enough to get the chance to work with some amazing developers, CEOs, investors, and leaders in the Portland tech community. And, in my experience, some of the strongest voices have been women. But my experience belies the ratios that drive the businesses of our community.
So just how many women are there in the Portland tech startup scene? For such a loaded question, Ruth Brown at Willamette Week has managed to take an objective look at the diversity in the Portland startup scene. Read More
When it comes to hacking, the stereotype is predominantly male. But fact of the matter is that Portland has some awesome women hackers. And that’s why it’s great to see them getting together. To hack.
Introducing Women Who Hack. Read More
Today is Ada Lovelace Day, a day to celebrate women who are excelling in the world of technology.
Who was Ada Lovelace, you ask?
Augusta Ada King, Countess of Lovelace was born on 10th December 1815, the only child of Lord Byron and his wife, Annabella. Born Augusta Ada Byron, but now known simply as Ada Lovelace, she wrote the world’s first computer programmes for the Analytical Engine, a general-purpose machine that Charles Babbage had invented.
That got me to thinking. I’m incredibly lucky to get the chance to work with a number of extremely talented and technically adept women. And I get the chance to work with many of them on a weekly basis, which is awesome. Many of you are just as lucky as me.
So I thought I’d list some of the cool female geeks in Portland whom I am proud to know:
She’s the co-founder of Open Source Bridge, has had code committed to PostgreSQL, attends and speaks at any number of conferences, served as one of the original board members for Legion of Tech, and provides some exemplary guidance on killing chickens.
She’s the other co-founder of Open Source Bridge, a founding member of Legion of Tech, a celebrated Rubyist, the driving force behind Calagator, and one of the most creative thinkers in the Northwest.
She’s a wizard with Yahoo! Pipes, a sage with community development, a hardworking startup type with Shizzow, one of the founders of Legion of Tech, and from what I understand, one mean werewolf player.
All of these women have been an absolute inspiration for me. And I’m truly honored that I get the chance to work with them on a regular basis.
And just as I’m in the midst of writing this post, I see a tweet come across from Steven Walling, validating my choices—and adding Amber Case, who is amazing in her own right.
But for as much as I love the local scene, I’d be remiss if I didn’t mention two other incredibly inspiring women in the tech scene who have gained—and will continue to have—my utmost admiration.
She’s an incredible speaker and thought-provoking writer whose Creating Passionate Users completely changed the way I thought about marketing and writing—and was a direct inspiration for Silicon Florist.
She’s taught me how to think about the power and the promise technology holds for doing good. And her Gnomedex performance, last year, remains one of the coolest technological experiments I’ve ever seen—even though it had very little to do with technology and everything to do with people.
If there are women in technology who inspire you, I’d love to hear about—and I’m sure they would, too. Who are the other women in Portland technology or Silicon Forest technology who deserve some recognition? Why not take a few minutes to write something up? There’s still time.
(Image courtesy Anyaka. Used under Creative Commons)
Well, okay. Maybe I’m jumping the gun. But BlogHer ’09 could be held in Portland. It could be, that is, if you exercise your right to vote.
Elisa Camahort writes:
I’ve heard a lot of rumbling out there wondering where BlogHer ’09 will be. Well, just like last year, we’re going to poll the community. We included the below poll in the post-conference survey for attendees, but we want to make sure those of you who didn’t attend can also weigh in.
That’s right, the premiere event for women bloggers is asking you to help choose where BlogHer will be held in July of 2009. And I can’t think of any better spot than Portland.
Why?
So what do you have to do to make this dream a reality? Vote! Female blogger or otherwise. Vote, and let’s see if we can bring BlogHer to the Rose City next year.
(Hat tip Jeff Martens)