Stumptown Startups Blog

Graduating seniors should take advantage of startup opportunities

I realize many (if not, most) startup founders and employees have invested life savings, sacrificed time with families and taken risks based on years of experience in order to follow their passions and build businesses over time. They cringe at the idea startups only begin as portrayed in the movie, The Social Network.

But let’s face it: there are opportunities for the many graduating college seniors about to walk across a stage and into the “real world.” These barely-20-somethings with little experience and, often times, little to lose will be the ones willing to take a risk, enjoy a career adventure and grab onto an opportunity simply to prove themselves.

Vote for which startups should receive city money

Your vote will help decide which startup companies will advance in a new city of Portland startup program and use taxpayer dollars in the hopes of finding success. You have until Thursday, May 9 to voice your opinion.

A “match.com” for runners wins Portland Startup Weekend

Portland Startup Weekend is kind of like a 54-hour relay race. You have to pick your team, work together and hope to finish as the winners. And you can expect sweat, tears and beer by the end.

For a group of six guys (pictured), they ran it just right. LivFly took home the “Overall Winner” award with an idea to connect local runners.

Here's their idea: Match running partners using where, when, how fast and how far they run.

Portland-based brandlive wins Oregon Entrepeneurs award

It says something when a company gets the check from investors and the “favorite” vote from the audience. You must be doing something right, brandlive.

The Portland-based startup won the Oregon Entrepreneurs Network’s Angel Oregon 2013 Investment award as well as the “audience favorite” among the Launch Stage companies during Wednesday’s event. The OEN Angel Oregon award is $260,000 – so far. Fritz Brumder, CEO of brandlive, says he's already had "great conversations" with other investors for this funding round.

GlobalSherpa working with TriMet to test payment app

Portland’s GlobalSherpa is finding some business right in its own backyard.

The local tech startup, which makes mobile ticketing apps for transit systems, is working with TriMet to beta test a new payment app for Portland’s transit system.

KATU’s Kerry Tomlinson previewed the app in a story on Thursday.

Here’s an excerpt from Kerry’s story:

At least 1,000 people have already applied to be a beta tester for the free app that will be available on iPhone and Android devices this summer. TriMet has had such a big response that they will be ending the application process this Sunday at 5 p.m. They'll be choosing about 150 beta testers to try out the app.

Vizcards offer new way to be more visible online

Ever get that feeling you’re just not good enough on social media?

We all know by now that just signing up for the big sites like Twitter and Facebook doesn’t impress potential followers or future employers. You have to take it to the next level.

You’re supposed to be fun and professional, witty and informative - all at the same time.

Portland startup Vizify, which offers a quick and free way to create an interactive, online slideshow about your life, is now offering what the company says could be a cure to social media writer’s block: vizcards.

Nike, TechStars bring 10 tech companies under their wing

There are few other companies a fitness or athletics startup would want to be associated with as much as Nike. Now, ten are getting the chance.

The startups, which were announced this afternoon, are moving in today to a new, shared office space. It means the next cool gadget or app from the prestigious brand could come not from its Beaverton headquarters, but rather from the brains and sweat of people working out of Northwest Portland for the next few months. The office space is located at 1714 NW Overton.

The next big thing? Portland Seed Fund chooses next round of startups

Since starting my #StumptownStartups blog here at KATU, I've taken a special interest in the Portland Seed Fund.

As a journalist reaching out to the average TV viewer, the 90 day "business boot camp" for startups stands out because it uses a combination of private and public money (thanks to the state of Oregon and cities of Portland and Hillsboro).

So, Oregonians, here is the first public list for the next "class" of startups that you are helping along. The idea is that they'll find success and then bring jobs, tax revenue and recognition to the local area.

Which do you think will be the next big thing?

A Portlander's take on Austin's SXSW Interactive

As Portland startup mentors, hopefuls and success stories return home from a busy, and I would imagine pretty fun, few days in Austin, Texas for South by Southwest Interactive (SXSW), I find myself intrigued and a little jealous that I wasn’t there.

But thankfully, my co-worker got to go.

Lucid Energy first in U.S. to get investments through Israeli crowdfunding site

World collaboration just has a nice ring to it. Well, here’s more proof that innovation, creation and investing are more important than country lines or language barriers.

Lucid Energy, a Portland-based startup I wrote about in January that is doing a pilot project to put turbines in the city's main drinking water pipe and create clean energy, is the first U.S. company to receive funding from a new crowdfunding platform based in Israel, OurCrowd.