Join us for a brief overview of Pitch Latino, a signature entrepreneurial showcase and pitch competition produced by Latino Founders. Designed to celebrate Latino entrepreneurship, innovation, and community impact, Pitch Latino provides founders with visibility, mentorship, and access to powerful networks and resources.

This webinar will walk through what Pitch Latino is, who it’s for, and how it works. We’ll also answer your questions live and guide you through how to participate—from eligibility to application tips.

Pitch Latino is industry-agnostic and open to Latino entrepreneurs across all sectors.

Think & Drink Trivia Night returns to OBI

Join us at the Oregon Bioscience Incubator for an evening of dinner, drinks, and friendly competition. Whether you come solo or with friends, we'll form teams of four or fewer to keep things fair and fun, so bring your A-game!

Your ticket includes a delicious catered dinner and two drink tickets to keep your mind sharp and your energy up.

Get ready for classic pub-style trivia with a mix of general knowledge questions. Not too tricky, not too simple, and just challenging enough to keep the competition lively.

Doors open at 5:30 PM for networking and mingling. Trivia starts promptly at 6:00 PM and yes, there will be prizes worth bragging about.

Come for the trivia. Stay for the community. Leave with bragging rights.

Summary:

Secure Boot and how to deal with the upcoming certificate updates that are going to be required when the old Microsoft CA expires in June. Many systems will need this update.

"I am hoping to go into the details of both installing your own certificates if you don't want to use the Microsoft certificates and how to deal with the Microsoft CA when you need to such as fulling the IT requirements for your employeer when you want to run Linux as your main operating system. I've had to deal with that to get my primary work laptop dual-boot enabled and with working Nvidia drivers that needed to be signed with a MOK."

Bio:

"While I got to play with my first Sun Workstation running Solaris back in 1996, but it was getting Red Hat Linux where my interest really took off. Since then, I have moved to better options and have spent some time contributing to various distributions and even a little time with FreeBSD ports. My primary job revolves around embedded engineering of some sort. I am currently working at Intel and am one of the very few people on the floor with an IT-approved Linux desktop for my primary workstation."

A toolkit for founders from Ali Maaxa, Ph.D., incubation product & marketing strategist (founder: ProductTheory.io, former: AWS AI, New Relic AI, Meta AI, Recreation.gov), guest VC expert Marianne Motus (UC Berkeley Business School), PDX startup dev team Semi-Decent, and leaders from CHIFOO and the ORPIB Incubator.

This is a FREE lightning workshop to help scrappy startup founders nail product-market fit (PMF) and go-to-market strategy (GTM). Be your own incubator, be nimble, and be ready to answer deep strategic questions for potential investors, flagship customers, or strategic partners — in a flash.

Sure, PMF and GTM are buzzwords thrown around constantly. But they stand in for due diligence that actually makes a difference. Skipping the fundamentals is the primary reason 91% of startups fail:

The classic frameworks that undergird successful incubations — from enterprise AI to EdTech startups Rigorous market research powered by smart AI context engineering Real-deal, progressive hypothesis-testing toward a heavy-hitting MVP In fact, 82% of "failed" founders say that challenging their assumptions about their market would have saved their business.

Most startups don't find product-market fit for one of two reasons: consultancies charge high overhead to run studies and then throw their findings over the wall — or founders rely on raw AI outputs without the frameworks and context engineering that hold up under VC scrutiny and real product + user discovery.

Founders need a toolkit they can use throughout their entire product and business development journey. Before you hire a fractional, take generic expert advice from someone who doesn't understand your context, or worse — guess your way into brand damage — let us help you develop your ProductTheory with startup-friendly canvases that will anchor your pitch deck and your upcoming rounds of critical business decisions.

Learn more about Ali Maaxa's work: https://www.linkedin.com/in/alimaaxa/

Get on board with ProductTheory.io: https://www.producttheory.io/

Take a break from panels, and meet the people building things in Portland.

This is a casual, walk-around event where early-stage founders will be demoing what they’re working on from small tables.

You’ll be able to:

• See what local startups are building

• Talk directly with founders and teams

• Meet others in the tech community

• Move freely between demos and conversations at your own pace

To help make those moments easier, we’re featuring Wyrl, a networking app built for in-person events. Wyrl shows you who’s around you in real time, lets you view their profiles, and message other attendees so you can connect while you’re attending this and other Startup Week events.

Free drink tickets are available with Wyrl sign up. Download it at wyrl.io/app

Hosted by Wyrl

Sponsored by TiE Oregon Foundation

Come join Community Broadband PDX to talk about building a publicly owned broadband network here in Portland.

See you there!

Pull your shorts out of the back of the drawer and don’t forget the sunscreen! 🍷

Join us on Wednesday, May 13 at 6:00 PM for a golden hour evening with friends, wine, and refreshing drinks at Company Wine Bar in SE Portland.

Note: Your RSVP is required in order to attend this event.

Let’s get together for an informal BEAM PDX hangout: coffee, conversation, and light co-working.

This is a low-key monthly meetup for folks working with Elixir, Erlang, Gleam, and other BEAM languages, aimed at reconnecting the local community and rebuilding momentum after a long quiet stretch. We'll holding this on the second Thursday of each month.

There will be opportunities to:

• Ask questions about Elixir and other BEAM languages
• Share what you’ve been working on (or stuck on)
• Get help with programming or design problems
• Co-work: get things done with like-minded folks nearby
• Brainstorm ideas for future talk-based meetups and identify potential speakers
• Bring your laptop if you’d like. It's totally optional.

New to BEAM languages, or just curious? You’re very welcome.

Please RSVP so we know roughly how many people to expect. If your plans change, un-RSVP when you can.

This meetup is also part of our transition away from Meetup to a new home for the group, where we’ll be organizing future events.

Cloud Native PDX May: Change-driven Architecture and Serving Inference at Scale

This May is all about scaling; scaling your infrastructure management, or scaling your LLM inference serving. Join us to find out about some open source tools to make managing large modern stacks easier.

Date: Thursday, May 14 Time: 5:30–7:30 PM Location: Reperio Health, 4784 SE 17th Ave Suite 120, Portland, OR

Recording: Talks are typically recorded (opt-in by speakers)

A big thank you to Microsoft for sponsoring food & beverage, and to Reperio Health, our venue host.

Drasi, a new take on Change Driven Architectures: Aman Singh, Microsoft

Modern cloud-native systems constantly generate data changes, and applications often need to react to them. Building change-driven solutions that respond to specific changes in distributed data is challenging. This talk introduces Drasi, a CNCF Sandbox project that simplifies the design and implementation of change-driven architectures using Graph Queries and pluggable components. For example, with Drasi you can declaratively write automation to detect and respond to running containers with newly identified vulnerabilities across pods and deployments in a Kubernetes cluster. Join us for a walkthrough of real-world use cases that show how Drasi’s approach brings structure and responsiveness to complex distributed environments - without writing custom code.

Dynamo: Large Scale Distributed Inference David Zeir, Director, DL System Software, Nvidia Neelay Shah, Distinguished Engineer, Nvidia

This talk introduces Dynamo, NVIDIA's open-source Kubernetes-native distributed inference platform. We'll cover the problem space, walk through Dynamo's architecture — disaggregated prefill/decode, KV-cache-aware routing, and a transport layer that moves KV blocks directly between GPUs — and dig into the Kubernetes integration for scheduling, autoscaling, and graceful failure handling. We'll close with a demo of Dynamo serving a real workload.

This presentation introduces D3.js as a powerful tool for transforming complex data into clear, meaningful visual stories which non-technical audiences can understand and use. It explains what D3.js is, how it works with web technologies and why visualization is essential for revealing patterns and insights raw data alone cannot show.

This talk emphasizes designing visualizations with the audience in mind while also covering core D3 concepts such as data binding, scales, layouts and interactive graphics. Through examples, case studies, design principles and practical tips, this presentation demonstrates how builders can use D3.js to communicate ideas effectively and empower people to discover insights from data.

Join us for our very first Gresham Vibecoders Meetup! We'll kick things off with introductions — who you are, what you're building (only if you want to share), and what tools you're using. From there, we'll do an open show-and-tell where anyone can demo a project they've been working on, no matter how finished (or unfinished) it is. We'll swap tips, talk about what's working, what's broken, and what we're figuring out as we go.

Expect good conversation, a few laughs, and maybe a spark for your next build. Come as you are — beginner, builder, or just AI-curious. All are welcome!

Details

What to Expect:

Code and Coffee is an inclusive, informal co-working session. Drink some coffee, bring your laptop, and have engaging conversations. This is a great opportunity to learn from others, share your knowledge, and possibly collaborate on side projects, online courses, or even your day-to-day work tasks. Still uncertain? Let's chat on Discord!

Venue:

The Venue is at Roseline Café, who is graciously allowing us to host a space. WIFI, power outlets Recommended Parking: Smart Park, $7 all day https://www.portland.gov/transportation/parking/smartpark

Coffee:

Roseline Café has drip coffee and fixings available for it

Agenda:

10 AM - Arrival 10:15 AM - Introductions: Share your name Discuss your current projects or interests. If you don’t have a specific project, share what intrigues you! Mention your expertise and how you can assist others. Are you job hunting or hiring? Let us know! Community events you wanna plug. If none, that's cool too. 12:30 AM - Wrapping Up: You can stay longer, but we'll officially be done! We usually grab lunch as a group at near by food carts

That PLUG Clinic you like is coming back into style!

The PLUG Clinic returns again this month on May 17, from 1pm-5pm. Note the different venue this month, we are back at the Albina Branch Library. If you need help with your Linux computer, or want to offer help, you are welcome!

Volunteer helpers are as desirable as helpees. Helping is fun and rewarding. If you've ever helped out at a PLUG Clinic before, come checkout the space!

Thanks to the taxpayers of Multnomah County for the beautiful new building!

A meeting of folks interested in BSD operating systems and related technologies to get together, eat pizza, drink beer, and talk about what interesting things have been going on.

Topic

Writing proper alt text is hard. But it doesn’t have to be. There’s a minimum standard and an advanced approach. People who need alt text will appreciate you for the former and love you for the latter. There are a number of considerations for writing great alt text. In this talk, Mark Wyner outlines the many facets, and help you give screen readers something to talk about.

Agenda

The event begins at 6 pm; join early, starting at 5:45 pm for networking.

• 5:45 Networking
• 6:00 Introductions and announcements
• 6:15 Presentation
• 6:45 Q&A and discussion

About the presenter

Mark Wyner is an autodidactic polymath with over two decades of experience in design and development. His approach prioritizes usability, accessibility, and inclusivity. He’s also an antifascist humanitarian. So diversity and equity are overarching principles for everything he does in this space. Currently, as the Lead Product Designer at BookNook. His pronouns are he/him/his. You can follow him on Mastodon or his accessibility writings on his website.

Accommodation requests

If you have any accommodation requests, don't hesitate to contact us before the event to discuss.

PDXOSGeo connects again this week, Wednesday May 20, 6:30p Hot Lips Pizza @ the Natural Capital Center 721 NW 9th Ave, Portland OR. Join us for some show and tell and good open geo discussion!

We're striving to post our speaker a couple weeks in advance of the meeting, so watch this space!

Portland Indie Game Convention (PIGCON) is a brand new convention celebrating independent game developers from Portland and beyond! A weekend for indie developers to learn, share, and connect, PIGCON will consist of two days of showcases, workshops, talks, an artist alley, as well as events featuring familiar and under-the-radar indie game development talent. Saturday hours are 10AM-10PM and will feature an all-day talk track as well as a curated showfloor featuring ~40 indie games and an artist alley. Sunday hours are 10AM-7PM, featuring a second all-day talk track, an all-day workshop track, and a free and open-to-the-public BYO Game showcase where anyone can come to play games, and even bring their own games to set up and showcase! No sign up is required for the BYO game showcase, just show up and grab some table space and power.

Additional special events will be hosted on site both Saturday and Sunday night.

Thanks to Roseline Coffee for providing a physical location! Find inside the hotel and to the right, likely on the couches

Coffee, bagels and people working on their careers and code! We have 2-5 mentors every month ready to help people get started in the industry, get help with a particular problem, or get career advice. We offer resume reviews, portfolio reviews, and sometimes mock interviews (time permitting).

Online Teams Link: https://teams.microsoft.com/l/meetup-join/19%3ameeting_YTljOWRlMDAtNThmZS00NzljLWE1YTEtZDhlODMyYzI0OTRi%40thread.v2/0?context=%7b%22Tid%22%3a%2282ea9e81-6f10-49e0-a1f1-d75b0b4c2e7c%22%2c%22Oid%22%3a%22143ee9d3-21a4-4da7-a1e8-2472c358110e%22%7d

Or call in (audio only)

+1 872-240-8681,,882162595# United States, Chicago

Phone Conference ID: 882 162 595#

Thanks to Capital One Café for providing a physical location!

Discord https://discord.gg/nSCxgbcG7U

Details

What to Expect:

Code and Coffee is an inclusive, informal co-working session. Drink some coffee, bring your laptop, and have engaging conversations. This is a great opportunity to learn from others, share your knowledge, and possibly collaborate on side projects, online courses, or even your day-to-day work tasks. Still uncertain? Let's chat on Discord!

Venue:

The Venue is at Roseline Café, who is graciously allowing us to host a space. WIFI, power outlets Recommended Parking: Smart Park, $7 all day https://www.portland.gov/transportation/parking/smartpark

Coffee:

Roseline Café has drip coffee and fixings available for it

Agenda:

10 AM - Arrival 10:15 AM - Introductions: Share your name Discuss your current projects or interests. If you don’t have a specific project, share what intrigues you! Mention your expertise and how you can assist others. Are you job hunting or hiring? Let us know! Community events you wanna plug. If none, that's cool too. 12:30 AM - Wrapping Up: You can stay longer, but we'll officially be done! We usually grab lunch as a group at near by food carts

Thanks to Roseline Coffee for providing a physical location! Find inside the hotel and to the right, likely on the couches

Coffee, bagels and people working on their careers and code! We have 2-5 mentors every month ready to help people get started in the industry, get help with a particular problem, or get career advice. We offer resume reviews, portfolio reviews, and sometimes mock interviews (time permitting).

Online Teams Link: https://teams.microsoft.com/l/meetup-join/19%3ameeting_YTljOWRlMDAtNThmZS00NzljLWE1YTEtZDhlODMyYzI0OTRi%40thread.v2/0?context=%7b%22Tid%22%3a%2282ea9e81-6f10-49e0-a1f1-d75b0b4c2e7c%22%2c%22Oid%22%3a%22143ee9d3-21a4-4da7-a1e8-2472c358110e%22%7d

Or call in (audio only)

+1 872-240-8681,,882162595# United States, Chicago

Phone Conference ID: 882 162 595#

Thanks to Capital One Café for providing a physical location!

Discord https://discord.gg/nSCxgbcG7U

Share

Details

What to Expect:

Code and Coffee is an inclusive, informal co-working session. Drink some coffee, bring your laptop, and have engaging conversations. This is a great opportunity to learn from others, share your knowledge, and possibly collaborate on side projects, online courses, or even your day-to-day work tasks. Still uncertain? Let's chat on Discord!

Venue:

The Venue is at Roseline Café, who is graciously allowing us to host a space. WIFI, power outlets Recommended Parking: Smart Park, $7 all day https://www.portland.gov/transportation/parking/smartpark

Coffee:

Roseline Café has drip coffee and fixings available for it

Agenda:

10 AM - Arrival 10:15 AM - Introductions: Share your name Discuss your current projects or interests. If you don’t have a specific project, share what intrigues you! Mention your expertise and how you can assist others. Are you job hunting or hiring? Let us know! Community events you wanna plug. If none, that's cool too. 12:30 AM - Wrapping Up: You can stay longer, but we'll officially be done! We usually grab lunch as a group at near by food carts

Thanks to Roseline Coffee for providing a physical location! Find inside the hotel and to the right, likely on the couches

Coffee, bagels and people working on their careers and code! We have 2-5 mentors every month ready to help people get started in the industry, get help with a particular problem, or get career advice. We offer resume reviews, portfolio reviews, and sometimes mock interviews (time permitting).

Online Teams Link: https://teams.microsoft.com/l/meetup-join/19%3ameeting_YTljOWRlMDAtNThmZS00NzljLWE1YTEtZDhlODMyYzI0OTRi%40thread.v2/0?context=%7b%22Tid%22%3a%2282ea9e81-6f10-49e0-a1f1-d75b0b4c2e7c%22%2c%22Oid%22%3a%22143ee9d3-21a4-4da7-a1e8-2472c358110e%22%7d

Or call in (audio only)

+1 872-240-8681,,882162595# United States, Chicago

Phone Conference ID: 882 162 595#

Thanks to Capital One Café for providing a physical location!

Discord https://discord.gg/nSCxgbcG7U

Share

Details

What to Expect:

Code and Coffee is an inclusive, informal co-working session. Drink some coffee, bring your laptop, and have engaging conversations. This is a great opportunity to learn from others, share your knowledge, and possibly collaborate on side projects, online courses, or even your day-to-day work tasks. Still uncertain? Let's chat on Discord!

Venue:

The Venue is at Roseline Café, who is graciously allowing us to host a space. WIFI, power outlets Recommended Parking: Smart Park, $7 all day https://www.portland.gov/transportation/parking/smartpark

Coffee:

Roseline Café has drip coffee and fixings available for it

Agenda:

10 AM - Arrival 10:15 AM - Introductions: Share your name Discuss your current projects or interests. If you don’t have a specific project, share what intrigues you! Mention your expertise and how you can assist others. Are you job hunting or hiring? Let us know! Community events you wanna plug. If none, that's cool too. 12:30 AM - Wrapping Up: You can stay longer, but we'll officially be done! We usually grab lunch as a group at near by food carts

Thanks to Roseline Coffee for providing a physical location! Find inside the hotel and to the right, likely on the couches

Coffee, bagels and people working on their careers and code! We have 2-5 mentors every month ready to help people get started in the industry, get help with a particular problem, or get career advice. We offer resume reviews, portfolio reviews, and sometimes mock interviews (time permitting).

Online Teams Link: https://teams.microsoft.com/l/meetup-join/19%3ameeting_YTljOWRlMDAtNThmZS00NzljLWE1YTEtZDhlODMyYzI0OTRi%40thread.v2/0?context=%7b%22Tid%22%3a%2282ea9e81-6f10-49e0-a1f1-d75b0b4c2e7c%22%2c%22Oid%22%3a%22143ee9d3-21a4-4da7-a1e8-2472c358110e%22%7d

Or call in (audio only)

+1 872-240-8681,,882162595# United States, Chicago

Phone Conference ID: 882 162 595#

Thanks to Capital One Café for providing a physical location!

Discord https://discord.gg/nSCxgbcG7U

Share

Details

What to Expect:

Code and Coffee is an inclusive, informal co-working session. Drink some coffee, bring your laptop, and have engaging conversations. This is a great opportunity to learn from others, share your knowledge, and possibly collaborate on side projects, online courses, or even your day-to-day work tasks. Still uncertain? Let's chat on Discord!

Venue:

The Venue is at Roseline Café, who is graciously allowing us to host a space. WIFI, power outlets Recommended Parking: Smart Park, $7 all day https://www.portland.gov/transportation/parking/smartpark

Coffee:

Roseline Café has drip coffee and fixings available for it

Agenda:

10 AM - Arrival 10:15 AM - Introductions: Share your name Discuss your current projects or interests. If you don’t have a specific project, share what intrigues you! Mention your expertise and how you can assist others. Are you job hunting or hiring? Let us know! Community events you wanna plug. If none, that's cool too. 12:30 AM - Wrapping Up: You can stay longer, but we'll officially be done! We usually grab lunch as a group at near by food carts

Thanks to Roseline Coffee for providing a physical location! Find inside the hotel and to the right, likely on the couches

Coffee, bagels and people working on their careers and code! We have 2-5 mentors every month ready to help people get started in the industry, get help with a particular problem, or get career advice. We offer resume reviews, portfolio reviews, and sometimes mock interviews (time permitting).

Online Teams Link: https://teams.microsoft.com/l/meetup-join/19%3ameeting_YTljOWRlMDAtNThmZS00NzljLWE1YTEtZDhlODMyYzI0OTRi%40thread.v2/0?context=%7b%22Tid%22%3a%2282ea9e81-6f10-49e0-a1f1-d75b0b4c2e7c%22%2c%22Oid%22%3a%22143ee9d3-21a4-4da7-a1e8-2472c358110e%22%7d

Or call in (audio only)

+1 872-240-8681,,882162595# United States, Chicago

Phone Conference ID: 882 162 595#

Thanks to Capital One Café for providing a physical location!

Discord https://discord.gg/nSCxgbcG7U

Share

Details

What to Expect:

Code and Coffee is an inclusive, informal co-working session. Drink some coffee, bring your laptop, and have engaging conversations. This is a great opportunity to learn from others, share your knowledge, and possibly collaborate on side projects, online courses, or even your day-to-day work tasks. Still uncertain? Let's chat on Discord!

Venue:

The Venue is at Roseline Café, who is graciously allowing us to host a space. WIFI, power outlets Recommended Parking: Smart Park, $7 all day https://www.portland.gov/transportation/parking/smartpark

Coffee:

Roseline Café has drip coffee and fixings available for it

Agenda:

10 AM - Arrival 10:15 AM - Introductions: Share your name Discuss your current projects or interests. If you don’t have a specific project, share what intrigues you! Mention your expertise and how you can assist others. Are you job hunting or hiring? Let us know! Community events you wanna plug. If none, that's cool too. 12:30 AM - Wrapping Up: You can stay longer, but we'll officially be done! We usually grab lunch as a group at near by food carts

Thanks to Roseline Coffee for providing a physical location! Find inside the hotel and to the right, likely on the couches

Coffee, bagels and people working on their careers and code! We have 2-5 mentors every month ready to help people get started in the industry, get help with a particular problem, or get career advice. We offer resume reviews, portfolio reviews, and sometimes mock interviews (time permitting).

Online Teams Link: https://teams.microsoft.com/l/meetup-join/19%3ameeting_YTljOWRlMDAtNThmZS00NzljLWE1YTEtZDhlODMyYzI0OTRi%40thread.v2/0?context=%7b%22Tid%22%3a%2282ea9e81-6f10-49e0-a1f1-d75b0b4c2e7c%22%2c%22Oid%22%3a%22143ee9d3-21a4-4da7-a1e8-2472c358110e%22%7d

Or call in (audio only)

+1 872-240-8681,,882162595# United States, Chicago

Phone Conference ID: 882 162 595#

Thanks to Capital One Café for providing a physical location!

Discord https://discord.gg/nSCxgbcG7U

Share

Details

What to Expect:

Code and Coffee is an inclusive, informal co-working session. Drink some coffee, bring your laptop, and have engaging conversations. This is a great opportunity to learn from others, share your knowledge, and possibly collaborate on side projects, online courses, or even your day-to-day work tasks. Still uncertain? Let's chat on Discord!

Venue:

The Venue is at Roseline Café, who is graciously allowing us to host a space. WIFI, power outlets Recommended Parking: Smart Park, $7 all day https://www.portland.gov/transportation/parking/smartpark

Coffee:

Roseline Café has drip coffee and fixings available for it

Agenda:

10 AM - Arrival 10:15 AM - Introductions: Share your name Discuss your current projects or interests. If you don’t have a specific project, share what intrigues you! Mention your expertise and how you can assist others. Are you job hunting or hiring? Let us know! Community events you wanna plug. If none, that's cool too. 12:30 AM - Wrapping Up: You can stay longer, but we'll officially be done! We usually grab lunch as a group at near by food carts

Thanks to Roseline Coffee for providing a physical location! Find inside the hotel and to the right, likely on the couches

Coffee, bagels and people working on their careers and code! We have 2-5 mentors every month ready to help people get started in the industry, get help with a particular problem, or get career advice. We offer resume reviews, portfolio reviews, and sometimes mock interviews (time permitting).

Online Teams Link: https://teams.microsoft.com/l/meetup-join/19%3ameeting_YTljOWRlMDAtNThmZS00NzljLWE1YTEtZDhlODMyYzI0OTRi%40thread.v2/0?context=%7b%22Tid%22%3a%2282ea9e81-6f10-49e0-a1f1-d75b0b4c2e7c%22%2c%22Oid%22%3a%22143ee9d3-21a4-4da7-a1e8-2472c358110e%22%7d

Or call in (audio only)

+1 872-240-8681,,882162595# United States, Chicago

Phone Conference ID: 882 162 595#

Thanks to Capital One Café for providing a physical location!

Discord https://discord.gg/nSCxgbcG7U

Share

Portland 503 Day Block Party

Ankeny Alley

featuring local vendors + artisans, a silent disco dance party, live performances

InventOR Bootcamp Mentor & Judge Opportunities | Support Oregon Student Innovators

Join the PSU Center for Entrepreneurship (https://www.pdx.edu/entrepreneurship/) in supporting the 10th Annual InventOR, Oregon’s only statewide collegiate invention competition.

InventOR (https://www.inventoregon.org/) is an 8-week experiential program that helps collegiate inventors and innovators refine their ideas through mentorship, prototyping, storytelling, and exposure to Oregon’s startup ecosystem.

We are expanding our mentor and judge network and invite professionals from across industries to participate in one (or both) of the following InventOR Bootcamp opportunities:

---

Mentor Match Mixer

Saturday, May 2 | 6:00–8:00 PM
SEC Event Space, Portland State University
2130 SW 5th Ave, Portland, OR 97201

A speed-networking style event where student finalist teams and prospective mentors meet to explore mentorship fit.

How it Works

• ~20 student finalist teams participate
• Teams give a 60-second overview of their project
• Mentors give a 60-second intro/background
• Brief Q&A / discussion
• Participants rotate through multiple pairings

Important

Mentor matches are made after the event based on mutual interest and fit.
Attendance does not guarantee a mentor assignment.

Matched mentors receive a $500 honorarium for:

• Meeting with their team at least twice during the 8-week program
• Providing strategic guidance and feedback
• Virtual/Zoom meetings are welcome

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Pitch for Feedback Judge Session

Sunday, May 3 | 9:00 AM–12:00 PM
Embassy Suites, Downtown Portland

Help teams prepare for InventOR Finals by serving as a practice pitch judge.

Judges Will

• Listen to 3-minute student pitches
• Ask follow-up questions
• Provide written feedback
• Offer recommendations on design, strategy, and next steps

---

Interested?

Please fill out our Mentor/Judge Interest Form:
Get Involved: Support the Next Generation of Innovators!

Then email Stacey Hoshimiya at [email protected] to confirm your participation at one or both Bootcamp events.

---

Help us support the next generation of Oregon innovators!

Thanks to Roseline Coffee for providing a physical location! Find inside the hotel and to the right, likely on the couches

Coffee, bagels and people working on their careers and code! We have 2-5 mentors every month ready to help people get started in the industry, get help with a particular problem, or get career advice. We offer resume reviews, portfolio reviews, and sometimes mock interviews (time permitting).

Online Teams Link: https://teams.microsoft.com/l/meetup-join/19%3ameeting_YTljOWRlMDAtNThmZS00NzljLWE1YTEtZDhlODMyYzI0OTRi%40thread.v2/0?context=%7b%22Tid%22%3a%2282ea9e81-6f10-49e0-a1f1-d75b0b4c2e7c%22%2c%22Oid%22%3a%22143ee9d3-21a4-4da7-a1e8-2472c358110e%22%7d

Or call in (audio only)

+1 872-240-8681,,882162595# United States, Chicago

Phone Conference ID: 882 162 595#

Thanks to Capital One Café for providing a physical location!

Discord https://discord.gg/nSCxgbcG7U

Kick off the month with First Friday at UpStart Collective, a relaxed happy-hour style gathering for good conversation, new connections, and a little end-of-week celebration. Join the UpStart Collective community on the 5th floor in downtown Portland for an easygoing hour of meeting people, catching up, and easing into the weekend with a festive vibe.

​Whether you’re stopping by after work or making this your first Friday tradition, it’s a great chance to unwind, share what you’re working on, and enjoy a welcoming space with a lively crowd. Come as you are, bring a friend if you’d like, and settle in for a fun start to the month.

A special fireside chat for startup communities with Brad Feld and Eric Ries.

Eric has a new book coming out on May 26 called Incorruptible. It's about how to build companies that stay mission-driven over the long term. While The Lean Startup helps entrepreneurs create valuable organizations, Incorruptible covers how and why to protect them.

Brad Feld is the author of Startup Communities and co-founder of TechStars. He recently published a new book called Give First: The Power of Mentoring.

In this virtual fireside chat, Brad and Eric will discuss the lessons learned as founders, investors, and advisors. The goal is to share useful insights and practical frameworks to accelerate your learning.

​Better Futures Club is a weekly event (alternating Tuesdays and Thursdays) focused on imagining and making better futures.

Imagine an artist community, a think tank, and a research center in the same building. People in all of those fields working alongside each other imagining and creating different futures together. Cross pollination and inspiration. Liberal Arts and STEM and R&D. Photographers, physicists, authors, astronomers, musicians, makers, mathematicians, designers, developers, fashionistas, climatologists and all manner of imaginative optimists.

All Better Futures Club events are covered by the Contributor Covenant Code of Conduct (https://www.contributor-covenant.org)

The Portland Linux Kernel Meetup for April 2026 will be at...

• Date: Thursday, April 23, 2026
• Time: 06:00 PM to 09:00 PM US/Pacific
• Location: Lucky Labrador Beer Hall, 1945 NW Quimby St, Portland, Oregon 97209 US

Come enjoy a beverage and chat with other people who are interested in the Linux kernel. All experience levels are welcome. This is a friendly and casual meetup. Look for a table with a plush Tux penguin.

To get timely reminders of Portland Linux Kernel Meetups, see https://ikluft.github.io/pdx-lkmu/subscribing-to-pdx-lkmu-events.html.

Tax day is in the rear view mirror!

PDXOSGeo connects again this week, Wednesday April 22, 6:30p Hot Lips Pizza @ the Natural Capital Center 721 NW 9th Ave, Portland OR. Join us for some show and tell and good open geo discussion!

We're striving to post our speaker a couple weeks in advance of the meeting, so watch this space!

The next wave of AI innovation is being built right here in the Pacific Northwest.

Join us on April 22 for the TAO AI Startup Innovation Sandbox — an exciting evening showcasing a curated group of early-stage AI startups with strong regional roots and bold plans to build across Oregon and Washington.

This live pitch competition brings together standout Pre-Seed and Seed-stage founders as they present their mission, product capabilities, and market opportunity — competing for recognition from a panel of investors who will vote on a standout winner.

What to Expect Investor “Reverse Pitch” Panel Hear directly from investors on their portfolio priorities, technology focus areas, and the gaps they’re actively looking to fill.

Live Startup Pitch Competition Watch a curated group of early-stage AI startups pitch their ideas and compete in real time.

High-Impact Networking Connect with founders, investors, and senior leaders shaping the region’s innovation economy. Agenda:

5:30 - 6:00PM: Arrival, Registration and Networking

6:00 - 7:30PM: Presenters

7:30 - 8:00PM: Networking

4/21: Sing em if you got em!

Techaraoke!

Tech meetup / networking event while we Karaoke.

$12 per person - all you can sing!

5pm - Pay admission and get nametags 5:30pm - Karaoke starts Sing, dance, network, hang out, connect on LinkedIn 8:30pm - Our room reservation ends grab those connections and head out!

Come hang out, build your network, build and strengthen our silicon forest community!!

Take the work out of networking!

To RSVP / ask questions email Jake:

[email protected]

TokioConf 2026

hosted by the Tokio Project ( https://tokio.rs )

That PLUG Clinic you like is coming back into style!

The PLUG Clinic returns again this month on April 19th, from 1pm-5pm, at Willamette University's space on the 2nd floor of the Ecotrust Building. If you need help with your Linux computer, or want to offer help, you are welcome!

Volunteer helpers are as desirable as helpees. Helping is fun and rewarding. If you've ever helped out at a PLUG Clinic before, come checkout the space!

Thank you Willamette University, for hosting us!

All about RSS! Wish you could have a dedicated place for all those newsletters in your email inbox? Got an RSS reader yet? Want your very own RSS feed for your blog? We'll help you get set up!

RSS LIBERATES YOU.

But what do #pdx and RSS have in common? A LOT! Try this. Download an RSS app on your phone. Go to @[email protected]'s website. "Share" the link to your RSS app, and click Add Feed. Never miss a local story or event!

Details

What to Expect:

Code and Coffee is an inclusive, informal co-working session. Drink some coffee, bring your laptop, and have engaging conversations. This is a great opportunity to learn from others, share your knowledge, and possibly collaborate on side projects, online courses, or even your day-to-day work tasks. Still uncertain? Let's chat on Discord!

Venue:

The Venue is at Roseline Café, who is graciously allowing us to host a space. WIFI, power outlets Recommended Parking: Smart Park, $7 all day https://www.portland.gov/transportation/parking/smartpark

Coffee:

Roseline Café has drip coffee and fixings available for it

Agenda:

10 AM - Arrival: Head to the top by the glass rooms 10:15 AM - Introductions: Share your name Discuss your current projects or interests. If you don’t have a specific project, share what intrigues you! Mention your expertise and how you can assist others. Are you job hunting or hiring? Let us know! Community events you wanna plug. If none, that's cool too. 12:30 AM - Wrapping Up: You can stay longer, but we'll officially be done! We usually grab lunch as a group at near by food carts

Free public library workshop on how to minimize your digital trail using the Activist Checklist

Come join Community Broadband PDX to talk about building a publicly owned broadband network here in Portland.

RSVP to be added to our mailing list!

See you there!

Join us in the "Rocket Room" here at the Portland State University Engineering Building and see all of our awesome open source projects! Check out:

• Launch Vehicle No. 3.1, our latest amateur rocket ready to fly this May 17th!
• Our fully operational liquid fuel rocket engine test stand!
• The first bits of OreSat1, our third open source, student designed and built nanosatellite!
• Plans for our existing and future satellite ground stations!
• Plans for our future 100 km capable rocket system!

The event is free! Bring your friends and family for a night of aerospace engineering, space nerddom, and delicious snacks and drinks.

Our open house is also on the PSU Spring Day of Giving, so it’s also our annual fundraiser and a major source of income for our student group! Your donations provide opportunities for our university students and the projects that help to boost their future careers and help contribute to open-source aerospace for everyone around the world.

We look forward to seeing you!

Portland Java User Group

April's topic: AI Assisted Software Development

AI tools are accelerating the pace of software development. These tools are transforming the way that software engineers deliver systems.

In this talk, we will examine how software teams can take advantage of new AI tools. We’ll discuss the pro’s and con’s of artificial intelligence in software engineering. Attend this talk if you are curious about new software tools and emerging engineering practices.

Launching a life sciences company requires more than a breakthrough idea—it demands building the right corporate foundation from day one. In this Virtual Lunch & Learn session, aspiring founders will gain practical, actionable insight into two core pillars of early‑stage biotech company formation. First, we will cover why corporate formation matters and what founders need to get right early on: choosing the appropriate corporate structure, properly issuing founder equity, creating and maintaining a clean cap table, establishing a functional board of directors, and preparing for future financing. These elements are essential for attracting investors, protecting founder ownership, and avoiding preventable legal and operational pitfalls.

Second, attendees will learn what to expect when in‑licensing foundational intellectual property from a university, academic medical center, or research institution—the critical step that often enables company formation in life sciences. We will demystify the tech transfer process, discuss typical economic and diligence terms, and highlight common negotiation and operational considerations so founders understand both the opportunities and obligations that come with licensing core IP. Whether you are preparing to launch your first venture or exploring commercial pathways for your science, this session will provide clarity, context, and confidence as you take the next steps on your entrepreneurial journey.

HackUP is Portland's first intercollegiate hackathon: a 24-hour tech innovation marathon where students and industry leaders converge to network, compete for major prizes, and build something meaningful.

Ever wondered how someone can go from working in fast food to building a career in tech and cybersecurity?

Starting a career in tech without a clear path can feel overwhelming, especially when coming from a non-technical background. With the right approach and consistency, it becomes much more achievable.

In this live Tech Talk, Kevin Apolinario, Security Analyst and career mentor, will share how he began his journey in tech and what helped him transition successfully. He will cover developing your personal brand, learning the fundamentals, and mastering technical interviews.

If you are new to tech or exploring a path into IT or cybersecurity, you will walk away with practical steps to help you get started.

Save your spot now and join us on Friday, April 10 at 1 PM PT | 3 PM CT | 4 PM ET to start building your path into tech.

RSVP Here: https://www.meetup.com/techacademy/events/

Let’s get together for an informal BEAM PDX hangout: coffee, conversation, and light co-working.

This is a low-key monthly meetup for folks working with Elixir, Erlang, Gleam, and other BEAM languages, aimed at reconnecting the local community and rebuilding momentum after a long quiet stretch. We'll holding this on the second Thursday of each month.

There will be opportunities to:

Ask questions about Elixir and other BEAM languages Share what you’ve been working on (or stuck on) Get help with programming or design problems Co-work: get things done with like-minded folks nearby Brainstorm ideas for future talk-based meetups and identify potential speakers Bring your laptop if you’d like. It's totally optional.

New to BEAM languages, or just curious? You’re very welcome.

Please RSVP so we know roughly how many people to expect. If your plans change, un-RSVP when you can.

This meetup is also part of our transition away from Meetup to a new home for the group, where we’ll be organizing future events.

April dMob will be held at Wonderlove in SE Portland on Wednesday, April 8 from 6-8pm.

🍲 Food, drink, fun? What's not to love at Wonderlove! 🍻 🗣️ Join us at Wonderlove Food Cart Pod in the Central Eastside on Wednesday, April 8th, 6-8 PM for a chance to chat, connect, and talk all things design.

Whether you're in it for the food, drinks, or networking, dMob is guaranteed to be a good time. The event is free, but there are a plethora of food carts to choose from and a full bar, so grab a drink and some dinner and try something new. We look forward to seeing you there! 🕶️

What is dMob? dMob is a FREE social event launched by AIGA Portland in 2003. Hosted on the 2nd Wednesday of every month, it’s a great way to get out and connect with members of Portland’s energetic design community while exploring the city’s various neighborhoods. AIGA Portland wants to encourage discussion, business development, and foster a more dynamic design community in Portland. You’re bound to find inspiration, and opportunity with this friendly, laid-back group of design professionals!

🎉 We're throwing open the doors, and it's time to celebrate! UpStart Collective is officially moving into our new home at Big Pink — one of Portland's most iconic buildings — and we want you there to kick things off with us on the 5th floor.

​Come raise a glass (or a coffee cup) with Josh and the rest of the crew as we toast to new beginnings, fresh space, and everything that's ahead. Whether you've been with us from the start or you're just now hearing about UpStart Collective, this is the perfect moment to walk through the door, look around, and feel what we're building together.

​We'll start the morning off right with a ribbon-cutting with Portland Mayor, Keith Wilson. After that, we'll have programming from our partners at Plug and Play and the Komputational Kulture team.

​Swing by on the morning of April 8th, take in the views from the 5th floor, and help us make some noise in our new space. See you at Big Pink! 🩷

Thanks to Roseline Coffee for providing a physical location! Find inside the hotel and to the right, likely on the couches

Coffee, bagels and people working on their careers and code! We have 2-5 mentors every month ready to help people get started in the industry, get help with a particular problem, or get career advice. We offer resume reviews, portfolio reviews, and sometimes mock interviews (time permitting).

Online Teams Link: https://teams.microsoft.com/l/meetup-join/19%3ameeting_YTljOWRlMDAtNThmZS00NzljLWE1YTEtZDhlODMyYzI0OTRi%40thread.v2/0?context=%7b%22Tid%22%3a%2282ea9e81-6f10-49e0-a1f1-d75b0b4c2e7c%22%2c%22Oid%22%3a%22143ee9d3-21a4-4da7-a1e8-2472c358110e%22%7d

Or call in (audio only)

+1 872-240-8681,,882162595# United States, Chicago

Phone Conference ID: 882 162 595#

Thanks to Capital One Café for providing a physical location!

Discord https://discord.gg/nSCxgbcG7U

Are you wondering how to stand out and land your first role in tech?

Breaking into tech can feel overwhelming, especially with so many candidates competing for the same opportunities. Knowing how to position yourself through your resume, portfolio, and interview skills can make all the difference.

In this live Tech Talk, Mahindra Guman, learning and development professional with extensive experience in recruitment and career coaching, will share how new developers can effectively position themselves for success. He will cover building a strong resume and portfolio, preparing for interviews, and practical job search strategies to help you stay motivated and consistent.

Get the actionable steps you need to stand out as a candidate, whether you’re writing your first line of code or landing your next interview.

Join us on Friday, April 3 at 1 PM PT | 3 PM CT | 4 PM ET. Save your spot now and take the next step toward your first tech role.

RSVP Here: https://www.meetup.com/techacademy/events/

Join us for OBI’s Accelerate Biotech Happy Hour on Thursday, April 2, from 5:30 to 7:00 PM.

Kick off spring at OBI’s April Accelerate Happy Hour! Whether you’re reconnecting with colleagues, meeting new people, or just curious to learn, everyone is invited to join the conversation. The evening is proudly sponsored by Davis Wright Tremaine with beverages provided by Ramsey Cox Media Relations and Public Affairs.

This relaxed event is a great opportunity to build meaningful connections, strengthen relationships across the community, and discover new ideas to accelerate your work.

Whether you’re new to OBI or a familiar face, we’d love to have you join us.

When: Thursday, April 2 | 5:30 to 7:00 PM Where: OBI Event Space | Suite 230

RSVP and join us for an easy, welcoming evening built around connection and good company.

Join us for OBI’s Accelerate Biotech Happy Hour on Thursday, April 2, from 5:30 to 7:00 PM.

Kick off spring at OBI’s April Accelerate Happy Hour! Whether you’re reconnecting with colleagues, meeting new people, or just curious to learn, everyone is invited to join the conversation. The evening is proudly sponsored by Davis Wright Tremaine with beverages provided by Ramsey Cox Media Relations and Public Affairs.

This relaxed event is a great opportunity to build meaningful connections, strengthen relationships across the community, and discover new ideas to accelerate your work.

Whether you’re new to OBI or a familiar face, we’d love to have you join us.

When: Thursday, April 2 | 5:30 to 7:00 PM Where: OBI Event Space | Suite 230

RSVP and join us for an easy, welcoming evening built around connection and good company.

​Better Futures Club is a weekly event (alternating Tuesdays and Thursdays) focused on imagining and making better futures.

Imagine an artist community, a think tank, and a research center in the same building. People in all of those fields working alongside each other imagining and creating different futures together. Cross pollination and inspiration. Liberal Arts and STEM and R&D. Photographers, physicists, authors, astronomers, musicians, makers, mathematicians, designers, developers, fashionistas, climatologists and all manner of imaginative optimists.

All Better Futures Club events are covered by the Contributor Covenant Code of Conduct (https://www.contributor-covenant.org)

Have you ever wondered what it’s really like to work as a Developer Advocate?

Developer Advocacy sits at the intersection of technical depth, strategic communication, and community building. It blends coding, content creation, and relationship-building to help bridge the gap between engineering teams and the developers they serve.

In this live Tech Talk, Jeremy Rivera, Full-stack Software Engineer and Developer Advocate, will explore the three pillars of modern developer relations: code, content, and community. He will share real-world lessons from working between engineering and marketing, and explain how advocacy can scale impact through education, open source, and accessibility.

Whether you are exploring Developer Advocacy or looking to expand your influence beyond writing code, you will walk away with practical insights on how technical skills and communication work together.

Save your spot now and join us on Friday, March 27 at 1 PM PT | 3 PM CT | 4 PM ET to discover life as a Developer Advocate.