UpStart Collective

​Let's kick off the first startup week in Portland in several years the right way. Bring your dancing shoes and be ready to connect with several hundred of your fellow startup community friends. Food and drinks will be served.

As a founder or entrepreneur starting a new venture, validating your early-stage idea can be challenging. Getting relevant feedback and understanding key considerations is crucial, especially for first-time founders.

That's why Be01 built Flyway - a tool to help founders, entrepreneurs, and idea builders brainstorm, validate, and strengthen early business or product ideas. It helps evaluate each idea across dimensions like market viability, feasibility, and profitability, while providing guidance to navigate the early exploration phase. It's a resource to aid those looking to start new ventures and to support the community of builders.

Come join the meet up to

• Get a live demo and early access to Flyway
• Q&A
• Come check it out

Flyway has been in closed beta and recently began expanding to more founders who can benefit from the tool.

Flyway founder Sungjoon Steve Won has helped bring new products to life, from startups to larger companies such as Coda, Microsoft, and Samsung. Steve is currently running Be01, a software studio focused on creating better tools for ideas and idea builders.

First Friday started as a way for UpStart Collective members to come together over happy hour to toast making it through another month as a founder. Over the months, we began opening it up to the broader community and have since made it a regular occurrence to focus on founders, the journey, and celebrate those that make Portland's startup ecosystem so incredible.

This month we are celebrating the close of Black History Month (since we didn't do a Feb First Friday) and the opening of Women's History Month. Come hang out and learn more about the UpStart Collective, meet the founders, and raise a glass to these critical entrepreneurs who make up this incredible ecosystem!

When you come to the building, enter on the Stark St. side and press #2505 on the door pad. The elevator will be unlocked to take you to the 7th floor.

It's that time again! First Friday is an open community event for those founders and ecosystem supporters who would like to raise a glass to getting through another challenging month. Come celebrate with your fellow founder community. Drinks will be provided.

It's also a couple of blocks from the Portland Night Market so feel free to swing by to pre-game before walking over to celebrate and support our CPG/Food/Bev founders!

• The evolution of voting rights and electoral systems
• Opportunities and challenges of technology in civic engagement
• Combating disinformation and preserving truth in democratic discourse
• Reimagining representative democracy for the 21st century
• Grassroots movements and their impact on democratic processes
• The role of education in fostering democratic citizenship
• Balancing individual liberties with collective security in democracies
• Economic inequality and its effects on democratic participation
• Global perspectives: Comparing democratic models across cultures

Ultimately, sessions are decided by attendees, and each session is a roundtable discussion that where all contribute and no one leads, pontificates or holds court. Everyone gets to participate and share equally.

RSVP: https://www.meetup.com/positivesocialimpact/events/303510680/

Demolicious is back! This monthly pitch event brings together founders and the community to learn about what is being built here and around Portland.

How this all works: If you are a founder, you will apply to pitch here. Don't worry. "Apply" simply means you want to pitch, but there's no real competitive process to be accepted. We just want to see what you're working on before we put you in front of a room full of people.

You will be given 3 minutes to pitch at the event.

The audience will be given a number to text and vote for their favorite one. The one with the most votes will go home with the Demolicious Championship belt.

The belt is not for you to keep as you will have to come back and "defend" it. However, you will be allowed to put your startup sticker (if applicable) on the belt for all to see and to live on forever in infamy!

We will post the projects/companies that will be pitching a week prior to the event. Which means you have until then to fill out the form.

Teams Pitching: Shotsy (Defending Champion) Denada Funnr Forcefield Fluency Deviceflow Benvision Goddess Mousse Prophetic

Will you be the next founder to pitch!?!

First Fridays are open to the general startup community and a way to connect with fellow founders, ecosystem partners, and general support orgs. Originally started at UpStart Collective as a way to blow off steam and celebrate the completion of another month in business, First Fridays are now open to all and a very low friction way to meet the community at large.

We typically showcase a founder from our community so keep an eye out for an update soon.

Hope to see you there!!

GRAYBOX Summer Bash 2024

We’re back and better than ever! Join GRAYBOX and Upstart Collective for an unforgettable evening on our stunning 7th-story rooftop decks overlooking the beautiful Willamette River.

Come for the frosty beverages, stay for the great music, and enjoy the company of amazing people. An excellent evening to celebrate the end of summer and Upstart Collective’s 2nd birthday!!

Things to know

When: Open to the Public @ 4:30 PM - goes till 🤷 Where: Olympic Mills Rooftop in SE, with breathtaking views of the Willamette River. Open Invite: Everyone’s welcome! Feel free to spread the word and bring your friends.

Our first StartupGrind event for PDX in a long time will focus on Early-stage startups, with discussion with founders who built successful products and bootstrapped through the pre-seed stage. Sponsored by UpStart Collective and First City Foundry

Join us for the first StartupGrind event in Portland in years, focusing on the journey of early-stage startups. This event will highlight insightful discussions with founders who have successfully bootstrapped their way through the pre-seed stage, navigating the challenges of building products from the ground up. Learn from their experiences, gain practical advice, and connect with the local startup community. Whether you're just starting out or looking to scale, this event is designed to inspire and equip you with the tools to grow your startup.

Sponsored by UpStart Collective and First City Foundry

Don’t miss this chance to network and learn from entrepreneurs who've been through it all!

What if the person who could further your career was already looking for you?

What if a room full of people knew exactly the insight you sought?

What if your knowledge could be someone else’s Eureka moment?

Welcome to Magnet. Where you can let your net...work.

Some of the feedback from previous Magnet events: "Genius."

"Amazing!"

"Brilliantly devised. 10/10."

"Where has this been my whole life?"

"Best Networking Event I've ever been to!"

Here's how it works. At the event, you write down on a sheet of paper something you need help with (aka "your ask") and tape it on the wall, for example:

I need a literary agent.

I need to chat with someone who has started a technology incubator.

I need to connect with someone at GOOD Magazine.

I need to hire a web developer capable of setting up a digital sales platform.

Does anyone have any contacts in Prague?

Does anyone know a good personal trainer?

Does anyone know how I can play a round at Augusta National Golf Club?

It can be anything!

Each sheet will have a unique number associated with it: (1, 2, 3, etc). You’ll have a name tag with that same number.

Everyone’s task will be to look at the board of opportunities and select at least 3 people you’d like to connect with, in whatever capacity.

How do you connect with them? You write your name and "sheet number" on a Post-It note and slap it on their sheet.

Join us for our monthly community gathering of founders at the UpStart Collective to connect, learn, network, and enjoy the incredible views from our westside balconies. UpStart Collective's First Friday is a monthly gathering of the founder community to better connect with other founders at the space over drinks and food.

This month we will be featuring UpStart Collective founder, Mirco Fiaschi who is a serial founder working to bring fresh local sustainable foods to the workplace through a low friction vending machine with technology meant to make it easy for patrons to buy the foods they want.

When you arrive at the UpStart Collective building at 107 SE Washington St, enter on the Stark St. side and enter #2505 at the keypad at the outside door. Once inside you can take the elevator up to the 7th floor.

It's that time again! Time to raise a glass and celebrate the startup ecosystem and meet incredible founders. UpStart Collective is hosting First Friday, presented by Colliers at the eastside location. The event is free and open to the public. Drinks and light food will be provided.

The few, the proud, the founders that start it up, don't raise money, kick it into gear, and get to over a million in revenue.

They know things.

What do they know?

Come find out.

From launch to millions in revenue with not outside investment funding, hell yes to that

RSVP (free): https://www.meetup.com/startup-your-startup/events/300398663/

Every month, UpStart Collective invites the community to join us for some drinks and networking with the founders of the space. Each month we feature a founder working on something incredible who are part of the UpStart Collective family. You will have the opportunity to learn more about what they are working on and ways you can be helpful. Come to hang out, have a drink, and enjoy the view from one of UpStart Collective's 7 balconies.

Doors open at 5pm.

UpStart Collective is opening its doors to the local founder community. Working on something cool? Working by yourself somewhere? Feeling like you're doing this all alone? Come hang out with a community of founders working on cool s**t!

We have two locations to choose from. You can come to work out of our original location on the eastside (107 SE Washington St) or our new westside location (2828 S. Corbett).

What if the person who could further your career was already looking for you?

What if a room full of people knew exactly the insight you sought?

What if your knowledge could be someone else’s Eureka moment?

Welcome to Magnet. Where you can let your net...work.

Here's how it works. At the event, you write down on a sheet of paper something you need help with (aka "your ask") and tape it on the wall, for example:

I need a literary agent.

I need to chat with someone who has started a technology incubator.

I need to connect with someone at GOOD Magazine.

I need to hire a web developer capable of setting up a digital sales platform.

Does anyone have any contacts in Prague?

Does anyone know a good personal trainer?

Does anyone know how I can play a round at Augusta National Golf Club?

It can be anything!

Each sheet will have a unique number associated with it: (1, 2, 3, etc). You’ll have a name tag with that same number.

Everyone’s task will be to look at the board of opportunities and select at least 3 people you’d like to connect with, in whatever capacity.

How do you connect with them? You write your name and "sheet number" on a Post-It note and slap it on their sheet.

Demolicious is back! This monthly pitch event brings together founders and the community to learn about what is being built here and around Portland.

How this all works: If you are a founder, you will apply to pitch here: https://forms.gle/sx81RaT6Nuqj9sWR7. Don't worry. "Apply" simply means you want to pitch, but there's no real competitive process to be accepted. We just want to see what you're working on before we put you in front of a room full of people.

You will be given 3 minutes to pitch at the event.

The audience will be given a number to text and vote for their favorite one. The one with the most votes will go home with the Demolicious Championship belt.

The belt is not for you to keep as you will have to come back and "defend" it. However, you will be allowed to put your startup sticker (if applicable) on the belt for all to see and to live on forever in infamy!

We will post the projects/companies that will be pitching a week prior to the event. Which means you have until then to fill out the form.

Will you be the next founder to pitch!?!

This special event is open to entrepreneurs, founders, executives, merchants, artists, makers, doers, tech partners, and agency partners.

Come network with others in the Portland business community. Enjoy a variety of lunch snacks and beverages followed by an engaging presentation by Steve Napolitan that will show you how to grow your business faster, while gaining your ideal life.

Steve Napolitan is a bestselling author, award-winning marketer, and international speaker. He's helped his clients reach millions in additional revenue, while helping them design the life they want and live it now. (Bio and more information below)

Day: Tuesday, March 5, 2024 Time: 11:30a - 1:30p

Where: GRAYBOX / UpStart Collective 7th Floor of the Olympic Mills Commerce Center 107 SE Washington, St., 7th Floor, Portland, OR 97214

Light lunch snacks and beverages will be provided.

Please RSVP

Venue Sponsor: GRAYBOX & UpStart Collective Food & Beverage Sponsor: HistoricPrints.com Special Thank You to Steve Napolitan

Join Cleantech Open (CTO) as we share the information about this year's upcoming 2024 Accelerator Program! At CTO we are the world's oldest and largest Clean Technology Startup Accelerator. We've had ~2,000 early stage startups successfully graduate our program since 2006. This time of year, we're looking for ambitious and innovative entrepreneurs that are trying to solve some of the world's greatest problems who are looking to grow their business to the next level using our proven curriculum.

It's a 12-week program starting in June and running through August, with a final competition in September and Culminating Event in October. By the time you're through CTO, you'll have everything you need to pitch to early-stage investors and Climate VCs. Join us to learn more!

Demolicious is back! This monthly pitch event brings together founders and the community to learn about what is being built here and around Portland.

How this all works: If you are a founder, you will apply to pitch here: https://forms.gle/sx81RaT6Nuqj9sWR7. Don't worry. "Apply" simply means you want to pitch, but there's no real competitive process to be accepted. We just want to see what you're working on before we put you in front of a room full of people.

You will be given 3 minutes to pitch at the event.

The audience will be given a number to text and vote for their favorite one. The one with the most votes will go home with the Demolicious Championship belt.

The belt is not for you to keep as you will have to come back and "defend" it. However, you will be allowed to put your startup sticker (if applicable) on the belt for all to see and to live on forever in infamy!

We will post the projects/companies that will be pitching a week prior to the event. Which means you have until then to fill out the form.

Will you be the next founder to pitch!?!

Streamline your app development with a local-first database.
In this workshop we'll build a React app together, implementing basic data models in Fireproof, with automatic sync across devices using PartyKit. Once the basics are in place, we can explore using Fireproof in specific use cases, whether it's encrypted content management or offline inventory controls. We have a handful of starter kits you can use to fast-forward to working LLM chatbots, content editors, file uploads, etc.

Workshop participants should be familiar with Node.js and NPM or Yarn, React, and Git. We'll be working in VS Code but you can use whatever editor you prefer.

RSVP on Meetup.com
Space is limited, RSVP early and remember to bring your laptop!

-=== Schedule ===-
5:40-6:00 pm - Arrivals
6:00 - 7:00pm - Workshop ReactJs + Fireproof
7:00 - 8:00pm - Social hour & Networking

-======-
If you are new to the group, welcome! We hope that you find this community a friendly and open one. Join 2000+ other members in our Slack channel https://pdxreact.com.
To new and existing members, please take a look at the code of conduct for our group.
-======-

What if the person who could further your career was already looking for you?

What if a room full of people knew exactly the insight you sought?

What if your knowledge could be someone else’s Eureka moment?

Welcome to Magnet. Where you can let your net...work.

Some of the feedback from previous Magnet events: "Genius."

"Amazing!"

"Brilliantly devised. 10/10."

"Where has this been my whole life?"

"Best Networking Event I've ever been to!"

Here's how it works. At the event, you write down on a sheet of paper something you need help with (aka "your ask") and tape it on the wall, for example:

I need a literary agent.

I need to chat with someone who has started a technology incubator.

I need to connect with someone at GOOD Magazine.

I need to hire a web developer capable of setting up a digital sales platform.

Does anyone have any contacts in Prague?

Does anyone know a good personal trainer?

Does anyone know how I can play a round at Augusta National Golf Club?

It can be anything!

Each sheet will have a unique number associated with it: (1, 2, 3, etc). You’ll have a name tag with that same number.

Everyone’s task will be to look at the board of opportunities and select at least 3 people you’d like to connect with, in whatever capacity.

How do you connect with them? You write your name and "sheet number" on a Post-It note and slap it on their sheet.

First Fridays are back and Upstart wants to invite you to our 7th floor perch for a toast to the month ahead!

Join Portland-metro founders for a happy hour with views for days and inspiring conversations that will jump start your weekend.

Oregon Entrepreneurs Network (OEN) is excited to be partnering with GRAYBOX and Upstart Collective for our February Entrepreneur Mixer in SE Portland from 8:00 – 9:30 am on Thursday, February 1st.

During this event, you’ll have the opportunity to meet ambitious founders and entrepreneurs with a broad range of expertise and skills who are open to building new relationships and strengthening the regional innovation ecosystem. Enjoy coffee, tea and a light breakfast, networking, and the chance to learn from regional thought leaders.

Attendees will find out more about, and tour, Upstart Collective, a new experiment and collaboration years in the making. Through the continued efforts of startup leaders in Portland (and a generous contribution from partner company, GRAYBOX), UpStart Collective is now a highly subsidized creative space open to founders, funders, tinkerers, creators, doers, and idealists.

Pricing

OEN Member: Free Non-Member: $10

Light breakfast and coffee will be provided for attendees.

Ok let's try this again. We're bringing back Demolicious, but this time we're doing this at the UpStart Collective as a monthly event.

How this all works: If you are a founder, you will apply to pitch here (https://forms.gle/sx81RaT6Nuqj9sWR7). Don't worry. "Apply" simply means you want to pitch, but there's no real competitive process to be accepted. We just want to see what you're working on before we put you in front of a room full of people.

You will be given 3 minutes to pitch at the event.

The audience will be given a number to text and vote for their favorite one. The one with the most votes will go home with the Demolicious Championship belt.

The belt is not for you to keep as you will have to come back and "defend" it. However, you will be allowed to put your startup sticker (if applicable) on the belt for all to see and to live on forever in infamy!

We will post the projects/companies that will be pitching a week prior to the event. Which means you have until then to fill out the form.

Who's ready to pitch!?!

Join us for the AI Portland inaugural meetup, where we'll dive into how AI is superpowering our day-to-day work. Our first event will feature a dynamic roundtable discussion with sharing insights on using AI to supercharge everyday tasks. Discover ways to streamline your work, save time, and focus on what truly matters.

If you are interested in sharing the way AI has helped you in your job, please reach out to the organizers by email at aipdx.info@gmail.com to get more information.

First Fridays at UpStart Collective are back. Join us at our 7th floor perch for a toast to the month ahead!

Join Portland-metro founders for a happy hour with views for days and inspiring conversations that will jump start your weekend.

Learn How to Utilize Podcasting in your Online Marketing efforts.

If you are looking to learn from or meet other Podcasters and Content Creators then this meetup is the right place for you!

RSVP: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/portland-podcasters-meetup-tickets-741106789357

EDI (or DEI, JEDI, etc.) has become a buzzword that many still are trying to wrap their heads around: exactly, what, does, an, EDI, practitioner, do?

Hint: it is closely connected with Team Building, Innovation, and Leadership. It also has a lasting impact on Talent Acquisition and Retention, Competitiveness, and the Longevity of a Business. Watch this 3-minute video to get some ideas.

In this fireside chat, Sandra Hunter (she/her), Kjell van Zoen (they/them), and Zhou Fang (she/her) are going to share their stories, experiences and perspectives both as independent practitioners, business operators, and colleagues and peers for each other.

Important to note: just like any profession, all EDI and leadership practitioners share similarities and have differences at the same time. One does not fit all. Have a conversation, ask questions, process information, and find the practitioner(s) that speak to you and connect with your team.

Sandra Hunter (she/her) is a Women’s Empowerment Coach and an advocate for cross-generational collaboration and mentorship with a focus on empowering women of color. She has 19 years of experience as an English and Creative Writing professor and her own experiences with race and gender bias led her to create Wild Women Leaders of Color. Her work offers a holistic approach to professional development through somatic stress release and story-healing techniques. She’s also an award-winning author of three books that highlight social injustices and amplify young women’s voices. Her ultimate vision is to equip the next generation to combat racism and gender bias, creating a more inclusive society.

Kjell van Zoen (they/them) is a non-binary, multicultural, organizational culture nerd who loves to inspire people towards being less racist, sexist, ableist, ageist, homophobic, transphobic, and the intersectionality of all of those plus more. Combined with their background in business and entrepreneurship, Kjell enables organizations, teams, individuals, and leaders to develop efficient, resilient, agile, and equitable operations and communications systems.

Zhou Fang (she/her) is the founder and principal practitioner of Intersectional Group LLC, a leadership and equity, diversity, and inclusion (EDI) consulting practice with a focus on intersectionality, empathy and compassion, as well as curiosity.

Zhou is an advocate for pay transparency and equity, immigration reform and climate justice, as well as a committed ally for the LGBTQ+ and Indigenous communities.

Join us at UpStart Collective for a fun and productive day of co-working! Whether you're tired of working in the same space as service providers or just need a change of scenery, this event is perfect for you. Come work alongside like-minded individuals in our vibrant and collaborative space. Enjoy the opportunity to network, exchange ideas, and find inspiration. Our open community co-working day is a great chance to escape the distractions of home and get things done. Don't miss out on this chance to be a part of our awesome community!

Registration is required to work in the space for the day. Limited space is available.

As part of the 2023 National Congressional Startup Day, the UpStart Collective is proud to host Senator Ron Wyden (D-OR) to talk about how the government can better connect with the innovation community.

This town hall style event will be open to the general public, but space is extremely limited. You will hear from local, state and other leaders and have an opportunity to ask questions.

About Senator Ron Wyden: Ron was elected to the U.S. Senate in 1996, after serving in the U.S. House of Representatives. He holds the Senate seat once held by his mentor, the late Wayne Morse.

In the Senate, Ron is known for being a consensus builder in solving major challenges, his effectiveness in getting things done, and his innovative approach to addressing tough problems - particularly in the areas of health care, technology, and protecting the environment.

He is the Chairman of the Senate Finance Committee and the leading Senate Democrat on the Joint Committee on Taxation. He also serves on the Committees on Intelligence, Budget, and Energy and Natural Resources.

We're back with another meetup for language model enthusiasts and technology integration developers. We'll once again navigate cutting-edge technologies and learn from others' experiences.

📅 DATE: July 27th ⌚ TIME: 5pm - 7pm 🌍 LOCATION: GRAYBOX, 107 SE Washington St #700, Portland, OR

An evening of LLM exploration and app development with key development concepts and integration code through knowledge-sharing and collaboration.

🎤🖥️ FANTASTIC Presentations:

For this meetup, we are going to try two speakers for the first hour (instead of three) to allow more Q&A and follow-up with each speaker.

1. Some supervision required: How to build with LLMs at scale
   • Devin Gaffney
2. How to create multi-LLM apps using Azure Prompt Flow
   • Doug King

👩‍💻👨‍💻 ONE Hour of Hands-On Experience:

Develop your LLM app or start with an API, surrounded by skilled and like-minded developers. Bring your app ideas to life. We will have beginner, intermediate, and advanced breakout workshops!

🤔✅ JOIN US!

Mark your calendar, grab your laptop, and experience an unforgettable night of coding, networking, and app development!

• Your organizers, Brady & Marty

ChatGPT Unconference

Why an Unconference? An unconference is a unique, participant-driven event that challenges the traditional conference model. Instead of a predetermined schedule and set speakers, attendees of an unconference collaborate to determine the agenda and lead discussions on topics that interest them. It fosters an environment of...

RSVP PDQ https://www.meetup.com/startupchatgpt/events/293029616/

Learn from those that went before you and get dialed in

Panelists: Jim Foote, First Ascent Biomedical (Techstars Boston 2021) Leah Weiss - Skylyte (Techstars Workforce Development 2022) Trang Ho - Masa Fresh (Techstars Social Impact 2021)

Moderator: Sarah Studer, Director of Platform - Techstars Seattle

Come spend the day working in Portland's #1 Founder space, the UpStart Collective. Come hang out, get some work done, and hear more about what the founders of the space are working on. This event is free and open to those founders working on anything that is not a client-based business (accountant, consultant, designer, development and/or marketing agency, etc). Why no service providers? Because the space is designed for founders working on other types of businesses and not having service providers in the space allows them to be open to being vulnerable as well as sharing their challenges without the fear of being "sold to."

Anyone coming to the space must RSVP through this link: https://forms.gle/TE8rLBoDndcWsbia9

If you do not sign up via this link, you will not be given access to the space.

This month we'll be hosting Scott Schiefelbein, a Managing Director at Deloitte Tax LLP, and to put it mildly, Scott is a tax expert and a technical lead in the region who knows the blockchain.

We recently sat down and had a wide-ranging discussion; one of the areas most interesting and timely are the conditions and potential future outcomes related to the impacts of regulation at the Federal level, but especially the diverse set of circumstances materializing around US State-level tax regulations.

Come be a part of this interactive discussion on the state of Portland startups, past, present and future

Kick off 2023, connect w/ fellow founders and when the event is done please feel free to stay for the day and cowork with a wide variety of entrepreneurs and such

Get your year off to a great start

RSVP https://www.meetup.com/startup-your-startup/events/290263269/

UpStart Collective, a new founder space in Portland to help foster connections through collaboration, is hosting a summer bash/Open House! The evening will be filled with conversation, fun, and music.

No need to RSVP, just show up to the space and have fun!