Wanna work in tech? Are you wondering what kinds of jobs are available, whether your resume will stand out, and how to land your dream job? Join Airbnb, Adidas, eBay, Mathys & Potestio, Thinkful and Say Media as they discuss the ins and outs of the hiring process. Come for the panel, stay for the cocktails! If you work in tech already...bring a friend looking to break into the industry and make new friends at our reception afterwards!

Out in Tech unites the LGBTQ+ tech community. We empower aspiring tech leaders to improve our world by showcasing accomplished speakers, producing timely and thought-provoking events, and connecting our members to new opportunities and each other. As a 501(c)(3) non-profit, we provide resources and mentorship to ensure career access for the next generation of LGBTQ youth and provide web services to LGBTQ activists around the world.

In alignment with the TechTown PDX Diversity Pledge, we too believe it is necessary to do more than just talking about the need for a more diverse tech sector. As tech professionals, we think collective action and accountability are required to address the underrepresentation of women, LGBTQ+, and people of color in our industry.

Sponsored by Thinkful, the #1 coding boot camp in America by Course Report, join panelists from Chick Tech, Free Geek, Out in Tech, Lesbians Who Tech, WeWork and more for a discussion on how some organizations are continuously working to empower diversity and digital inclusion in our community.

Panelists: Justin Hulog - Out in Tech, Portland Chapter Founder Sara Rasmussen - Free Geek, Digital Inclusion Manager Janel Hull - ChickTech, Community Manager Heather Knight - Lesbians Who Tech, Portland Chapter Representative Marianne Moyer - WeWork, Community Manager

Moderator: Emma Holland - Thinkful, Community Manager

Thinkful is a career accelerator that supports graduates seeking high-growth careers in technology. We focus on the flexibility and accessibility offered online with the support and networking opportunities offered in-person. Thinkful grads are job-ready after working alongside professional engineers through 1-on-1 mentorship, in-depth curriculum and a learning model that emphasizes real-world application over theory. Ranked #1 best overall Bootcamp in America by Course Report, 91% of our graduates finding a job within six months. Find out more about Thinkful Portland on our website.

Come join Out in Tech Portland for our May Social at Crush Bar!

If you are interested in connecting with the Out in Tech PDX chapter, want to meet some fabulous people or are apart of / interested in the Tech industry, then come mingle with us and have a few drinks. We'll be at Crush Bar on Tuesday, May 1st from 6:00 - 9:30pm. We are looking forward to seeing everyone there!

Note: A BIG thank you to Diego Mancilla for volunteering his time and talent to build our beautiful graphics for this event. He maintains his little corner of the web over at http://di-nation.com/

1 in 4 LGBTQ+ folxs face discrimination at work. 4 in 4 of them are fearless and proud.

Join us on 12.12 for an all-star panel on being LGBTQ+ at work. Hosted at Adpearance, we will be talking to professionals from Adpearance, L2T Media, Nike, and Netlify about how they go about navigating professional relationships with both customers and colleagues while being LGBTQ+.

Come for the stories. Stay for the social. 🌈🍻

6:00 PM | Doors 6:30 PM | Panel 8:00 PM | Social

Featured Panelists:

Josh Beckel, Senior Sales Engineer, Adpearance/Foureyes Amber Daniel, Senior OEM Sales Manager, L2T Media Jarvis Sam, Senior Director of Sourcing and Diversity Recruitment/Programs, Nike Perry Eising, Community Strategy/Management, Netlify

Note: A BIG thank you to Diego Mancilla for volunteering his time and talent to build our beautiful graphics for this event. He maintains his little corner of the web over at http://di-nation.com or on his Instagram over at @itsdieguito

Come join Out in Tech Portland for our FIRST SOCIAL OF 2019 at Crush Bar!

Out in Tech unites the LGBTQ+ tech community, empowering aspiring tech leaders to improve our world by showcasing accomplished speakers, producing timely and thought-provoking events, and connecting our members to new opportunities and each other. As a 501(c)(3) non-profit, we provide resources and mentorship to ensure career access for LGBTQ youth and provide web services for LGBTQ activists around the world.

If you are interested in connecting with the Out in Tech PDX chapter, want to meet some fabulous people or are apart of / interested in the Tech industry, then come mingle with us and have a few drinks. We'll be at Crush Bar on on Monday, January 21st from 6:00 - 9:30pm. We are looking forward to seeing everyone there!

Note: A BIG thank you to Diego Mancilla for volunteering his time and talent to build our beautiful graphics for this event. He maintains his little corner of the web over at http://di-nation.com/

Are you a developer, data scientist, engineer, or product leader? Do you want to meet fellow LGBTQ+ folks who have created an app or have very strong opinions on the best programming language? We got you. Join Out in Tech PDX for Demos and Drinks at New Relic!

Apply to demo: bit.ly/PDXdemos

6:00pm | doors

6:30pm | demos

7:30pm | social + networking

Drinks & snacks available.

New Relic is located on the 27th floor.

Note: A BIG thank you to Diego Mancilla for volunteering his time and talent to build our beautiful graphics for this event. He maintains his little corner of the web over at http://di-nation.com or on his Instagram over at @itsdieguito

Come join Out in Tech Portland for our February Social at Crush Bar!

Out in Tech unites the LGBTQ+ tech community, empowering aspiring tech leaders to improve our world by showcasing accomplished speakers, producing timely and thought-provoking events, and connecting our members to new opportunities and each other. As a 501(c)(3) non-profit, we provide resources and mentorship to ensure career access for LGBTQ youth and provide web services for LGBTQ activists around the world.

If you are interested in connecting with the Out in Tech PDX chapter, want to meet some fabulous people or are apart of / interested in the Tech industry, then come mingle with us and have a few drinks. We'll be at Crush Bar on Tuesday, February 5th from 6:00 - 9:30pm. We are looking forward to seeing everyone there!

Note: A BIG thank you to Diego Mancilla for volunteering his time and talent to build our beautiful graphics for this event. He maintains his little corner of the web over at http://di-nation.com/

Come join Out in Tech PDX for our April Social at Crush Bar!

If you are interested in connecting with the Out in Tech PDX chapter, want to meet some fabulous people or are a part of / interested in the tech industry, then come mingle with us and have a few drinks. We'll be at Crush Bar on Tuesday, April 2nd from 6:00 pm - 9:30 pm. Please RSVP through Eventbrite using the link above. We are looking forward to seeing everyone there!

Out in Tech unites the LGBTQ+ tech community, empowering aspiring tech leaders to improve our world by showcasing accomplished speakers, producing timely and thought-provoking events, and connecting our members to new opportunities and each other. As a 501(c)(3) non-profit, we provide resources and mentorship to ensure career access for LGBTQ youth and provide web services for LGBTQ activists around the world.

Come join Out in Tech Portland for our May Social at Crush Bar!

Out in Tech unites the LGBTQ+ tech community, empowering aspiring tech leaders to improve our world by showcasing accomplished speakers, producing timely and thought-provoking events, and connecting our members to new opportunities and each other. As a 501(c)(3) non-profit, we provide resources and mentorship to ensure career access for LGBTQ youth and provide web services for LGBTQ activists around the world.

If you are interested in connecting with the Out in Tech PDX chapter, want to meet some fabulous people or are apart of / interested in the Tech industry, then come mingle with us and have a few drinks. We'll be at Crush Bar on Tuesday, May 7th from 6:00 - 9:30pm. We are looking forward to seeing everyone there!

Note: A BIG thank you to Ovidio Francisco-Juan for volunteering his time and talent to build our beautiful graphics for this event. He maintains his little corner of the web over at http://ovidio.design

Are you a developer, data scientist, engineer, or product leader? Do you want to meet fellow LGBTQ+ folks who have created an app or have very strong opinions on the best programming language? We got you. Join Out in Tech PDX for Demos and Drinks at Cloudability! Apply to demo: bit.ly/PDXdemos

6:00pm | doors 6:30pm | demos 7:30pm | social + networking

Drinks & snacks available. Note: A BIG thank you to Diego Mancilla for volunteering his time and talent to build our beautiful graphics for this event. He maintains his little corner of the web over at http://di-nation.com or on his Instagram over at @itsdieguito

Time to bust out the floral print because the sun is back from its winter-long hiatus, flowers are blooming, and that can only mean one thing: pride is just around the corner, and Out in Tech wants to party with you!

Come kick off your 2019 pride season with Out in Tech at New Relic on Wednesday, June 12th!

6:00 PM - 10:00 PM

Drinks & snacks graciously provided by New Relic.

Note: A BIG thank you to Diego Mancilla for volunteering his time and talent to build our beautiful graphics for this event. He maintains his little corner of the web over at http://di-nation.com or on his Instagram over at @itsdieguito

Out in Tech unites the LGBTQ+ tech community. We do this by creating opportunities for our 25,000 members to advance their careers, grow their networks, and leverage tech for social change. For more, outintech.com.

Come join Out in Tech Portland for our July Social at Jama!

That's right! Our monthly social is taking a hiatus from our amazing hosts at Crush Bar to bring you a few months of fun in the sun at outdoor venues. This month we are excited to be hanging out on the gorgeous Jama rooftop patio!

We'll be at Jama on Tuesday, August 6th from 5:30 - 9:00pm. Drinks will be provided. Please RSVP for your FREE ticket to attend.

If you are interested in connecting with the Out in Tech PDX chapter, want to meet some fabulous people or are apart of / interested in the Tech industry, then come mingle with us and have a few drinks. We are looking forward to seeing everyone there!

A BIG thank you to our FABULOUS sponsors who made this event possible:

Jama for graciously allowing us to use their beautiful rooftop patio space and donating for refreshments!

Ovidio Francisco for volunteering their time and talent to build our beautiful graphics for this event.

Check out our Code of Conduct.

Questions/Concerns? Please email [email protected]

Are you a developer, data scientist, engineer, or product leader? Do you want to meet fellow LGBTQ+ folks who have created an app or have very strong opinions on the best programming language? Are you working on collaborative, open-source, or community-based products or apps? Want to share your work with a supportive queer tech community?

We got you.

Join Out in Tech PDX for Demos and Drinks at Airbnb! RSVPs are required and free. Please RSVP through Eventbrite to attend.

Schedule 5:30pm | doors

6:30pm | demos

8:00pm | social + networking

9:00pm | closes

Drinks and hors d'oeuvres provided. Must be 21+ to drink. Arrive early to guarantee entrance.

A BIG thank you to our FABULOUS hosts Airbnb who made this event possible by graciously allowing us to use their space, and providing drinks and hors d'oeuvres.

And a special thanks to Ovidio Francisco for volunteering their time and talent to build our beautiful graphics for this event. They maintain their little corner of the web over at http://ovidio.design

Check out our Code of Conduct.

Questions/Concerns? Please email [email protected]

Note: We recommend arriving early. Unfortunately, RSVP does not guarantee entrance. If we reach capacity, we may be required to turn people away.

Presenters Rebecca Alexander Founder, AllGo

Michael Holland Mini Hotel Search App

Trang Ho and Trang Sharbaugh Founders, MasaFresh

Jeremy Abbot Proxy Croak Codes

As a 501(c)(3) not-for-profit entity, Out in Tech depends on the community it serves. We thank our generous members and sponsors for their financial and in-kind support.

Note: Free reservations required, please RSVP at the event's EventBrite page if you're planning on coming!

Join us for our monthly social @ Crush Bar!

We’re back at Crush Bar after a summer hiatus, and we’re ready to pack the house!

If you’re interested in connecting with the Out in Tech PDX chapter, want to meet some of the most fabulous folx in town or are apart of / interested in the Tech industry, then come mingle with us and have a few drinks. We’ll be at Crush Bar on Tuesday, October 1st from 6:00 – 9:30pm. We are looking forward to seeing everyone there!

Schedule

6:00pm | doors 7:30pm | announcements 9:30pm | social concludes

Check out our Code of Conduct.

Questions/Concerns? Please email [email protected]

As a 501(c)(3) not-for-profit entity, Out in Tech depends on the community it serves. We thank our generous members and sponsors for their financial and in-kind support.

Join us for a panel of distinguished QTPOC (Queer/Trans People of Color) designers and illustrators to discuss designing for equity and inclusion! There will a Q&A inviting the community to come up with new solutions, challenge existing systems, and feel empowered to create a world that is designed for all people.

This is a DE&I-focused entered event meant to uplift and center BIPOC (Black, Indigenous, & People of Color). This event is all-inclusive. Allies of all identities are welcome.

Panelists:

Heldáy de la Cruz - https://www.heldaydelacruz.com/
Simon Sotelo - http://hiresimon.com/

more TBA

Schedule:

5:30pm | doors

6:00pm | short presentation

6:30pm | panel + audience Q&A

7:30pm | social + networking

8:30pm | closes

Drinks and hors d'oeuvres will be provided. Must be 21+ to drink. Arrive early to guarantee entrance.

A BIG thank you to our FABULOUS hosts Swift Agency who made this event possible by graciously allowing us to use their space.

Check out our Code of Conduct.

Questions/Concerns? Please email [email protected]

Whether we are posting to social media, messaging friends or crushing candy, most of us spend way too much time on our phones. Chances are you're reading this on a phone or tablet, right now! The future is mobile!

Join Out in Tech PDX on November 20th as we chat about all things mobile. Ever wonder how an app goes from being an idea to being a best seller in the App Store? Curious about what tools it takes to build an app? Confused about the difference between Apple and Android?

Our experienced panel of mobile developers will answer all these questions and more.

Please RSVP for a FREE ticket on Eventbrite to attend!

Schedule

6:00 | Doors

6:30 | Panel Discussion + Q&A

8:00 | Social Hour

9:00 | Event Ends

Featured Panelists

Lauren Lizardo (she/her) - Unity Game Developer

Zach Heusinkveld (he/him) - iOS/Android Developer, Kiva

Dan Melton (he/him) - Staff Software Engineer, Dipsea Stories

Morgan Lutz (she/her) - Android Developer, Kiva

Whether you are interested in technology, leading your own company, or just looking to connect with the LGBTQ+ tech community, this event is for you.

A BIG thank you to our FABULOUS sponsors who made this event possible:

eBay for graciously hosting us and providing food and beverages.

Ovidio Francisco for volunteering his time and talent to build our beautiful graphics for this event

Join Out in Tech Portland for our December Social at Bumped!

You navigated dinner with the relatives, survived the Black Friday madness and finally finished the Thanksgiving leftovers. Now what?

Come hang out with your extended family and share the stories!

We'll be at Bumped on Tuesday, December 3rd from 5:30 - 8:30pm. Drinks and food will be provided by our lovely host. Please RSVP for your FREE ticket to attend.

If you are interested in connecting with the Out in Tech PDX chapter, want to meet some fabulous people or are a part of / interested in the tech industry, then come out and join us. We are looking forward to seeing everyone there!

A BIG thank you to our FABULOUS sponsors who made this event possible:

Bumped for graciously hosting us and sponsoring food and beverages.

Ovidio Francisco for volunteering his time and talent to build the beautiful graphics for this event.

Questions/Concerns? Please email [email protected]

Join us for our monthly social @ Crush Bar!

New year, same social! We are super excited to bring you our first social of 2020. Come catch up with all your favorite people and hear about all of the awesome things Out in Tech has planned for the new year.

If you're interested in connecting with the Out in Tech PDX chapter, want to meet some of the most fabulous folx in town or are a part of / interested in the tech industry, then come mingle with us and have a few drinks. We'll be at Crush Bar on Tuesday, January 7th from 6:00 - 9:30pm. We are looking forward to seeing everyone there!

Please RSVP through Eventbrite for your FREE ticket to attend

Schedule

6:00pm | doors

7:30pm | announcements

9:30pm | social concludes

A BIG thank you to our FABULOUS sponsors who made this event possible:

Crush Bar for graciously providing us with the wonderful event space.

Diego Mancilla for volunteering his time and talent to build the beautiful graphics for this event.

Questions/Concerns? Please email [email protected]

As a 501(c)(3) not-for-profit entity, Out in Tech depends on the community it serves. We thank our generous members and sponsors for their financial and in-kind support.

Join Out in Tech Portland for Demos and Drinks at Bumped!

Are you a developer, data scientist, engineer, or product leader? Do you want to meet fellow LGBTQ+ folks who have created an app or have very strong opinions on the best programming language? Are you working on collaborative, open-source, or community-based products or apps? Want to share your work with a supportive queer tech community?

We got you.

We'll be at Bumped on Wednesday, January 22nd from 5:30 - 8:30pm. Drinks and food will be provided by our lovely host. Please RSVP for your FREE ticket to attend.

Schedule

5:30 | Doors

6:00 | Demos + Q&A

7:00 | Social Hour

8:30 | Event Ends

Featured Presenters TBA

Want to see your name here? Submit your idea to us! All experience levels and project stages are welcome. Apply here --> bit.ly/oitpdxdemos

Whether you are interested in technology, leading your own company, or just looking to connect with the LGBTQ+ tech community, this event is for you.

A BIG thank you to our FABULOUS sponsors who made this event possible:

Bumped for graciously hosting us and providing food and beverages.

Diego Mancilla for volunteering his time and talent to build our beautiful graphics for this event.

Questions/Concerns? Please email [email protected]

Love is in the air this time of year! The rise of U.S. dating apps has fundamentally altered how members of the LGBTQ community find partners and connect to one another. In fact, nearly two-thirds of gay and lesbian couples in the U.S. met online.

Join Out in Tech PDX as we chat about how technology has changed the dating game. You'll hear from the creators of online dating platforms and the stories of those who use them. We'll be discussing design, privacy, security and inclusion, as well as what keeps us hooked on these apps. There will be featured presentations, followed by a discussion panel with Q&A.

A BIG thank you to our FABULOUS sponsors who made this event possible:

WeWork for graciously providing their space for this event.

Learn from people in Portland Tech and hear from featured speaker Miki Demeter in this month's Out in Tech social!

About this Event:

Out in Tech PDX celebrates Women's History Month - but bringing a focus to intersectional practices and gender inclusion.

This event is open to all marginalized genders. Everyone is welcome including women, trans women, intersex people, gender non-binary people, gender non-confirming people, trans men, and those who may be questioning their gender.

Join us at The Riveter to learn from industry leaders while you network and hear a featured talk from Miki Demeter (she/her), Security Researcher at Intel and 2019 Best Speaker winner for Portland Women in Tech (PDXWIT).

Food and Drinks will be provided for all attendees.

Activity Table will be provided for youth - parents, please join us. We will not be providing childcare services, but we will be providing distractions.

This event is intended primarily for those of a marginalized gender. Allies are welcome. We will collect RSVPs up to the day of the event!

6pm - Doors Open & Networking

Sit and chat round-table with industry leaders in Engineering, Management, Data, Startups, Design and more.

7pm - Announcements & Speaker

Hear a featured talk by Miki Demeter and updates from your Out in Tech PDX Team

8pm - Goodbyes

Tremendous thank you to our sponsor team at The Riveter!

The Riveter is on a mission to change the future of work for all women. This means tough conversations, clear actions and key leadership on core diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) principles, advocacy and civic engagement.

Thank you also to our food sponsor, ProFocus!

ProFocus was built on a model of quality and integrity specifically designed to solve that problem for customers and candidates. Their business model is focused on only making careful introductions of the right candidates. They do this by fully understanding technology, our candidates, and the needs for each hiring position. _

Note: Out in Tech's Code of Conduct applies to all our spaces, online and IRL.

StartOut Growth Lab (“SGL”) is a startup accelerator that offers top quality mentoring, education, and networking opportunities for young companies that happen to be founded or co-founded by LGBTQ+ entrepreneurs.

As a part of the application period, we’ll be hosting a virtual ‘Ask Me Anything’ info session to talk through the program and answer your burning questions about the application process, the program and what to expect.

This session will be facilitated by the StarOut team and will feature past SGL founders.

For more information and to review guidelines on how to apply, visit: https://startout.org/growth-lab/

StartOut presents VC Relationship Building. Discover the best strategies and tangible steps on how to build authentic relationships in the small business world.

Our panelist will share their top tips on how to create and establish relationships with private investors.

Learn from their years of experience working with startup ventures and small companies to imprint actionable steps to grow your network.

Panelists:

Taj Ahmad Eldridge, Partner - Include Venture Partners Ngozi Bell, Partner - Trans-Sahara Investment Corporation (TSIC)

Moderator:

Kelly McDonald, Founder/CEO - Kyndoo

StartOut, a national 501(c)(3) non-profit organization, is the largest national organization to support LGBTQ entrepreneurs with 17,000 members nationwide. Its mission is to increase the number, diversity, and impact of LGBTQ entrepreneurs and amplify their stories to drive the economic empowerment of the community. StartOut helps aspiring LGBTQ entrepreneurs start new companies; supports current entrepreneurs as they grow and expand their existing businesses; and engages successful entrepreneurs as role models and mentors, on its online portal and through targeted events nationwide.

StartOUT's VC/Fundraising Programming Board Presents an "Ask Me Anything" discussion on early stage fundraising paneled by some of today's leading stars in the investment arena!

For a founder trying to raise funding, sometimes it seems like the whole process is just a knotted mess of confusion. Wouldn't it be nice to have a room full of qualified investors to simply answer your questions and help untangle the process? Come to StartOUT's Early Stage Fundraising AMA for just that opportunity.

We've assembled a group of today's leading investors who understand the value of diversity and inclusion and are willing to answer your most pressing questions. Questions will be answered during the event, no need to submit in advance, so bring them with you.

Panelists:

Kelli Jones, Managing Partner - Sixty8 Capital Lorenzo Thione, Managing Director - Gaingels Charlie O'Donnell, Founder/General Partner - Brooklyn Bridge Ventures Rei Tran, Investment Associate - Acceleprise

Moderator:

Jessica Bussert, Founder/CEO - Wave Therapeutics

StartOut, a national 501(c)(3) non-profit organization, is the largest national organization to support LGBTQ entrepreneurs with 17,000 members nationwide. Its mission is to increase the number, diversity, and impact of LGBTQ entrepreneurs and amplify their stories to drive the economic empowerment of the community. StartOut helps aspiring LGBTQ entrepreneurs start new companies; supports current entrepreneurs as they grow and expand their existing businesses; and engages successful entrepreneurs as role models and mentors, on its online portal and through targeted events nationwide.

Come as you are and unwind with StartOut entrepreneurs.

We'll have a new topic each month designed to facilitate a meaningful conversation and help establish connections that will help you on your entrepreneurial journey.

No matter how you arrive, you'll leave smiling and looking forward to the next one.

-

What's Blooming?!

Moderator: Kelly McDonald, Founder & CEO of Kyndoo

Looking to meet new professional contacts but want to skip the small talk? Interested in getting help in facing work challenges head on? Ready to learn the best way to have positive and supportive professional relationships to become a better leader?

Welcome to the power of peer coaching.

Peer coaching is awesome! It's a mutually supportive, powerful form of learning and development where peers work together to reflect, share ideas, teach one another, or solve problems in the workplace through deep inquiry, accountability, direct feedback, and encouragement.

Peer coaching also helps build emotional intelligence, which is indispensable when stepping into leadership positions. The best leaders take the time to learn and practice skills like active listening, empathy, open communication and effective feedback, which can all be learned through practicing successful peer coaching relationships.

Join StartOut for a 1-hour peer coaching event where attendees will:

Learn basic peer coaching strategies like active listening, asking open questions and giving/getting effective feedback Get matched with 3 new people and meet 1:1 together for 15 minute breakout sessions Get to know each other by sharing your story with conversation prompts, practice your new peer coaching strategies, and create meaningful connections Have the opportunity to stay in touch and continue supporting your new contacts throughout the year

About the host:

Hi! I'm Tracy (they/she), a StartOut programming board member. I design strategic programs for client companies who focus on community. In the past I've built experiences for Airbnb, Girl Scouts, Ketel One, the Alliance for Downtown New York, the Brooklyn Museum and more.

I'm also an independent creator, building events and programs like Lady Boss (curated talks and speed mentoring for womxn and non-binary people), Radical Sabbatical (a creative retreat to take a break and make some progress) and Queer Future (a community for LGBTQIA+ folx to talk about work).

I've also participated in many group coaching, peer-led or cohort-based learning experiences over the years, so I know a lot about collaboration, active listening, asking honest questions, and giving/receiving feedback.

StartOut, a national 501(c)(3) non-profit organization, is the largest national organization to support LGBTQ entrepreneurs with 17,000 members nationwide. Its mission is to increase the number, diversity, and impact of LGBTQ entrepreneurs and amplify their stories to drive the economic empowerment of the community. StartOut helps aspiring LGBTQ entrepreneurs start new companies; supports current entrepreneurs as they grow and expand their existing businesses; and engages successful entrepreneurs as role models and mentors, on its online portal and through targeted events nationwide.

StartOut in partnership with Zx Ventures invites you to a panel conversation:

We welcome emerging brands, and LGBTQ founders, as we look to the future of CPG/B2C in the food & beverage industry and the impact of COVID-19 on consumer behavior.

How have consumers changed?

How do we need to change to meet the new needs of our customers?

In this conversation we highlight the experiences and challenges of consumer and community-centric brands and what they are planning for their re-emerging in a post-pandemic world.

Moderator:

Tanner Cohen, Co-Founder of Babe Wine

Panelists:

Kadi Findling, Founder of myCoffeePass

Kadi is the VP of Sales & Marketing at Los Altos Coffee and founder of myCoffeePass. She aims to inspire people to support local — local coffee shops & local nonprofits. myCoffeePass is dedicated to giving 5% of profits back to local nonprofits in Texas.

Matt Cortland & David Duckworth, Co-Founders of The Cauldron Company

The Cauldron® Co. is a technology-led entertainment studio that delivers immersive experiences & products through hospitality. We blend science & tech with food, beverage, and retail.

Brandon Burrell, Founder of Alkaline Fresh

Brandon Burrell is a former Wall Street Banker, Serial International Entrepreneur & Founder of Alkaline Fresh. After years of enjoying an alkaline diet, he realized that most consumers have limited options to purchase quick, healthy alkaline meals and created Alkaline Fresh.

We know that investors often look for patterns, referrals and pedigree to make the investment process efficient, safely fitting into established norms.

The unintended consequence is that brilliant founders without the right connections are often passed over. This expresses itself in many ways but often we see that LGBTQIA+, Black, Latinx, and Native American founders are largely left out of the VC ecosystem.

Today, companies are creating specific, application based, Opportunity Funds - their goals being inviting more underrepresented founders into the global ecosystem. This looks like a diverse Investment Committee that includes members from both inside and outside of the investment institution, the goal being to review at early stage investments alongside growth investments.

The result? Underestimated founders have access to direct capital.

Join StartOut Founders, Morrison & Foerster, and Bank of America/Merrill Lynch as we discuss how investors set up these kinds of funds, what current programs look like, how to maintain these funds, and how to bring investors and entrepreneurs into this ecosystem.

Moderator:

Alexa Hall, Startup Program Manager - Google Cloud

Supporting Panelists:

Fredo Silva - Partner, Morrison & Foerster - Event Sponsor

Fredo Silva is one of the Partners of Morrison & Foerster. We are an international law firm with lawyers practicing throughout the United States, Asia, and Europe working with large businesses to secure their funds and support a diverse ecosystem.

Kimelyn Harris - SVP, ESG and Public Policy, Bank of America - Event Sponsor

Kimelyn Harris is an ESG Program Executive for the Racial Equality and Economic Opportunity initiative at Bank of America. In this role, she is responsible for executing programming to support the bank’s $1.25 billion, 5-year effort to advance economic opportunity, health care initiatives and racial equality, for people and communities of color. Kimelyn drives business planning and integration for this companywide initiative while also working to identify and build partnerships with organizations, institutions and community leaders.

Riana Lynn - CEO & Co-Founder, Journey Foods

Riana leads fast-growing software startup Journey Foods. The company is backed by top VCs in North America, Europe and Asia. Riana has served as a top consultant and VC to fortune 500 food and CPG companies. She's currently an angel investor and former Google Entrepreneur in Residence. She is one of just a few dozen black women that have raised more than a million dollars in venture funding. Riana has been featured in Forbes, MIT 35 under 35, USA Today, Fast Company, CNBC, Wired, TechCrunch, Entrepreneur Magazine and more.

A Chicago native and Austin-based that enjoys growing fruit trees, writing film scripts, and exploring black culinary and architectural heritage sites around the world. She currently sits on the board of AGLIFF, one of the country's largest annual and inclusive film fests.

Damola Ogundipe - CEO & Co-Founder, Civic Eagle + Advisor for Lunar Startups

Damola Ogundipe is the co-founder and CEO of Civic Eagle, a company building technology to make government policy tracking easier for people and organizations. Damola is a graduate of The University of Minnesota-Twin Cities where he earned a Bachelor of Science in Finance. He’s a 2018 Camelback Fellow and 2017 Google for Startups Entrepreneur in Residence. Damola is a member of Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc. In his free time, he enjoys sports and documentaries.

Dan Vaughn - Senior Director/Associate General Counsel, M&A and Equity for PayPal

How often do you take the time to invest in yourself, especially if you're consistently labeled as "underrepresented"?

StartOut welcomes BIPOC, LGBTQ+ founders and allies to connect in a space designed to uplift diverse identities.

This networking and professional development event is to represent the underrepresented entrepreneurs out there; particularly those that are Black, Indigenous, Latinx, AAPI, people of color and our allies/supporters. Breakout rooms with discussion moderators will lead safe-space conversations for how to keep the entrepreneurial spirit alive, challenges people of color experience while fundraising, leading/building an authentically diverse team, and how to activate your allyship to diverse founders.

As founders, we understand that a personal brand is the unique combination of skills and experiences that make you, you.

So how does that differ when you're an LGBTQ+ founder?

How can our personal brand as an Out founder build up resiliency in the companies we're leading?

What can we learn from marketing a company to also build our personal brand?

Join StartOut for a night of insight and networking from key marketing strategists. Together, we will make new connections, learn about key PR strategies, and get some useful tips on how to lead with your multiple identities and unique story while networking.

Moderator: AJ DeLeón, Co-Founder of Innovare

Innovare is an ed tech firm disrupting education via data strategy. AJ is a Latinx LGBT entrepreneur and networking master.

Featured Expert: Danielle Roberts

Danielle is a queer, multi-passionate entrepreneur. She co-founded Tail of Two Creatives, LLC., a Wordpress web design agency, alongside her wife in 2017. Through the agency, they built Inclusive Apparel Co., an e-commerce store, to fuel donations to LGBTQIA+ organizations, and they routinely build pro-bono sites for queer businesses and other non-profits that align with the company's values.

Danielle also began a coaching business in 2020, where she works alongside other ambitious millennials to uncover limiting beliefs and unlock the next level of their personal and professional lives through career development, business strategy, productivity techniques, and mindset support.

In her free time, she hosts a podcast called The Darn Good Life, loves cuddling with her two Australian Shepherd rescues, and enjoys biking to breweries on the weekends.

Whether meeting Danielle in a business meeting or for a beer, she shows up the same way in her work as she does in her life - out, proud, and ready to leave this world better than she found it. Connect with Danielle on LinkedIn here.

StartOut is excited to present the 2nd Annual StartOut Equity Summit, a virtual event that will focus on ways for underrepresented entrepreneurs to thrive across geographies and industries regardless of their background.

The Summit is envisioned as an environment for dialogue and action where every participant is prepared to share insights, reflect on experiences, and be prepared to pose new questions and reframe old answers. This Summit aspires to be dynamic, exploratory, and honest. We work to understand lived experiences, while shifting the conversations forward towards actionable initiatives.

The Equality Summit's programming will begin at 11:00am EDT / 8:00am PDT and will end by 4:00pm EDT / 1:00pm PDT, with networking opportunities immediately following.

Agenda 11:00AM ET - 11:30AM ET..............Welcome

11:30AM ET....................................Keynote Speaker

12:00PM ET....................................Break

12:15PM ET - 1:00PM ET................Session Group 1

1:00PM ET 1:30PM ET....................Break/Lunch

1:30PM ET - 2:15PM ET..................Session Group 2

2:15PM ET......................................Break

2:30PM ET - 3:15PM ET..................Session Group 3

3:15PM ET......................................Closing Session

4:00PM ET......................................Networking

Tracks & Sessions We will have 3 Session Groups during the event. Each Session Group will consist of 4 Tracks broadcasting simultaneously. You can view Track descriptions below.

Founder- How To Track How to Navigate a Tech Startup as a Non-Technical Founder - Session Group 1

Starting any company is an uphill battle, but starting a tech company as a non-technical founder can feel insurmountable. How to find a developer? What are the right questions to ask? How do I navigate moving from a prototype, to an MVP to beta testing. In this conversation we'll hear from founders who answered these questions and how their company evolved along the way. Moderator: Jules Allen Speakers: Hillary Lin, Evita Grant, Arthur Woods

Ageism in Entrepreneurship (Sponsored by AARP) - Session Group 2

If you were to be asked what an entrepreneur looks like, most people would imagine a young 20 something year old ready to shake things up. In this session, we welcome you to join various founders that are showing that entrepreneurship isn't a "young person's game". They will share their experiences launching later in life and how their journey has been. Moderator: Nii-Quartelai Quartey Speakers: Chip Conley, Jeff Tidwell, Betty Wong

Raising Intimacy: How SexTech Companies Raised Venture Capital - Session Group 3

Sextech is estimated to become a $37 billion dollar industry by 2023. Despite this, it's a challenge to find investors that are open to attaching their name to a historically taboo topic. Hear from founders that have successfully raised investment for their startups, what pitfalls to avoid when pitching and what challenges they still face. Moderator: Adrianna Samaniego Speakers: Lora DiCarlo, Brianna Rader, Rebecca Alvarez Story

Access To Capital Track Pitching your Authentic Self to Investors (Sponsored by SAP.io) - Session Group 1

Pitching your startup is arguably one of the most important parts of your launch! In this session, learn about what investors look for in a pitch, how to present your business model at every stage and how to maintain your authentic self every step of the way. Moderator: Max Kahn Speakers: Kelly McDonald, AJ DeLeon, Alicia Castillo Holley, PhD

The Unusual Suspects: Alternative Avenues for Funding - Session Group 2

Venture Capital is often the primary method of funding that founders focus on but it's not the only one. There have been an increasing number of options for funding startups from grants, to revenue based investment and equity crowdfunding and each one has its own formula for success. In this session we'll hear from industry experts on how to find these opportunities and what qualifications a company needs to successfully secure the capital. Moderator: Jessica Chin-Foo Speakers: Liz Skalla, Cheryl Campos, Dr. Roshawnna Novellus

Beyond the Check: A Fireside Chat with Elizabeth Gore and Navid Shahrestani (Sponsored by JPMC) - Session Group 3

Investor and Founder relationships can be complex but once you find the right groove, they can be very rewarding and successful. Join Elizabeth and Navid as they share their journey "beyond the check". They will share initial impressions, lessons learned and how to maximize your relationship with your investor.

Investors Track Journey to Becoming an Angel Investor - Session Group 1

According to recent research, angel investing has seen about $3 billion invested each year since 2014. More and more people are taking the plunge and investing in a broad range of ventures. But when is the right time? How do you get started and how do you source deals? This session will cover everything you need to know to get started! Speakers: Silvia Mah, Pocket Sun, Lorine Pendleton

Diversify Your Fund: How to Create Inclusive Space for Founders - Session Group 2

As Venture Capital continues to grow, there is a responsibility to create diverse funds free from bias. In recent years we have seen efforts from some funds to be accountable and take actions with pledges and accelerator programs targeting diverse founders. Join these panelists as they share how they are investing in diversity. Speakers: Elizabeth McCluskey, Jasmine Edwards

The Blueprint for Growth for Diverse VC's - Session Group 3

Underrepresented fund managers are emerging all over the country and have invested in overlooked companies that have yielded positive returns. Expertise comes from experience but gaining that experience is often a barrier for first time fund managers or someone just starting out in Venture Capital. This session will focus on how to find the resources and people in your network to aid in your growth and development as a VC. Speakers: Vincent Diallo, Christine Tsai, Monique Woddard

Economy Track LGBTQ+ Entrepreneurs/ Community are Reshaping the Economy/ Landscape - Session Group 1

LGBTQ+ entrepreneurs often have an outsized impact on the economy relative to the funding they receive. In this session we'll dive into the impact that these entrepreneurs have and make the case for more investment in LGBTQ+ led companies. Speakers: Dr. Vivienne Ming

The Corporate Social Investor: How Companies are Supporting Underserved Founders (Sponsored by Vistaprint) - Session Group 2

Startups can innovate and pivot on various market opportunities faster than larger more established companies but lack the same level of capital to accelerate their ideas. Corporate leaders have become increasingly focused on Social Responsibility and have responded by creating new models for investment and partnership. Hear from organizations that have supported emerging businesses and why it often has zero to do with their personal financial bottom line.

Emerging Trends and the Future of LGBTQ+ Entrepreneurship (Sponsored by AWS) - Session Group 3

The pandemic exposed various inequities, the lack of efficiency of some industries and in some cases, completely reshaped the way that industries do business. In a post-COVID world how do these industries need to pivot to meet the needs of their customers and what trends are on the horizon. Hear from LGBTQ+ founders on how they met the moment and what new challenges await them. Moderator: Nii-Quartelai Quartey

The annual PDX Annual October Tech Writing Supermeetup returns, with the topic of "Maintaining Inclusion in a Remote Atmosphere". The topic will be presented by Zhou Fang and Betzabe Villareal from Portland Women in Tech (PDXWIT) organization. The Supermeetup will be hosted virtually on Zoom platform.

The schedule for the Supermeeting is as follows: 5:30 - Start meeting (general networking) 6:00 - "Maintaining Inclusion in a Remote Atmosphere" presentation by Zhou Fang and Betzabe Villareal 6:30 - Questions and Answers

When: Wed., October 20, 2021, 5:30-7:00pm (Pacific Time)

The PDX Annual October Tech Writing Supermeetup is brought to you by Write the Docs PDX, PDX UX Writing, and PSU Technical Communications Meetup.

https://www.meetup.com/Write-The-Docs-PDX/events/28136330

As another application season approaches, hear from Y Combinator on the hallmarks of a successful application.

After a short introduction and question and answer session, we’ll break out into small groups for hands-on application tips from investors and founders that have successfully applied to accelerators.

Featuring: Nick Vivion, Founder - Ghost Works Tamanna Khemani, Outreach - Y Combinator Robyn Exton, CEO - HER Anthony Scarpone-Lambert, Co-Founder & CEO of Lumify Care

AGENDA:

5:00pm - Welcome and Introductions 5:15pm - Y Combinator Interview + Q&A 5:30pm - Hands on workshop with YC mentors 6:00pm - Goodnight!

What does it take to get a tech or science-driven startup in healthcare and life-sciences off the ground?

Our panel of experts will provide an overview of the mission-critical aspects of founding a life sciences startup - and why it's different.

The panel will cover sourcing technology, finding co-founders and partners, continued mentorship resources, and creating an advisory board.

Bring your questions and hear our experts speak to their experiences fundraising, managing IP, growth, and marketing.

PANELISTS

Dr. Yi Wang (He/Him) - VP of Business Development at Isolere Bio

Hazel Valdez (She/Her), Associate Director of the Oregon Bioscience Incubator

Chris Wang (She/Her), Co-Founder of Shimmer Care

Jason Bellett (He/Him), Co-Founder of Eko Health

Registration through Zoom is required to gain entry to this virtual event

The wise video game director of “Tell Me Why,” Florent Guillaume said, “...authentic representation was crucial, in part, because video games can put you in the shoes of characters that you don't necessarily relate to.” Gaming is a big industry. With representation from all over the world, it takes more than just code to represent the authenticity of a character within a game. It also means that the people creating it are well represented in order to provide as accurate a representation of the cultures and behaviors enacted within a game.

Join PDXWIT for this panel discussion to learn more about how game acculturation is changing the gaming industry and what it takes to create characters and stories that you and I can relate to in a virtual environment.

Facilitated by Crystal Sincoff and Hazel Valdez, you will hear from Kate Edwards, Executive Director of Global Game Jam, as well as game developers including Lauren Lizardo and Zach Deocadiz as they discuss what’s happening in the gaming industry today.

You will also hear from our host and find out if they have open positions.

Agenda: 12:00 p.m. - Event opens/networking 12:05 p.m. - Introductions 12:10 p.m. - Panel discussion begins 12:50 p.m. - Q&A 1:00 p.m. - Event ends

Purpose: PDXWIT is building a better tech industry by creating access, dismantling inequities and fueling belonging. Our events are inclusive. ALL people who support our purpose are welcome.

Registration through Zoom is required to gain entry to this virtual event

A new year is upon us and with that often comes a financial check in. Join PDXWIT, Simple X, and First Tech Federal Credit Union for industry tips exploring the basics of getting your finances in order.

During the first half of the presentation, we’ll share how to build a plan for getting out of debt and how to save in ways that fit your budget. . The second half of the presentation will focus on ways to secure your financial future that go beyond saving a little bit every month.

We recognize that not everyone has had the opportunity or means to save, and that the financial sector has historically been set up to benefit existing racial and class hierarchies. We will spend some time touching on these important themes, and the myths that back them, during the event.

Agenda: 12:00 p.m. - Event opens/networking 12:05 p.m. - Introductions 12:10 p.m. - Presentation begins 12:50 p.m. - Q&A 1:00 p.m. - Event ends

Purpose: PDXWIT is building a better tech industry by creating access, dismantling inequities and fueling belonging. Our events are inclusive. ALL people who support our purpose are welcome.

Registration through Zoom is required to gain entry to this virtual event

Our career successes don’t happen in a vacuum. During this Black History & Futures Happy Hour, we’ll explore the vital role that community and networks play in the career journey.

We will feature dynamic lightning talks by Dr. Amber Lenon, Astrophysicist and Data Analyst at iRobot, as well as Tanisha Payne, Software Engineer at Puppet. We’ll also highlight some Black-led organizations in the PNW and beyond.

In keeping with the theme of community, this month we’ll be holding more space for community networking–but you don’t have to wait until then to meet someone new! Connect with folks in the chat throughout the event as well.

P.S. If you were hoping to meet with recruiters, check back next week for Job Board LIVE!

We will have ASL interpretation and closed captioning throughout. Please get in touch at [email protected] with any additional accessibility needs you may have.

Hope to see you there!

Join our Slack channel to continue the conversation: http://pdxwit.org/slack Get in touch: [email protected]

Agenda: 12:00 p.m. - Event opens 12:03 p.m. - Introductions + Announcements 12:10 p.m. - Guest speakers + Women in Tech History 12:35 p.m. - Face-to-Face Networking/On-camera networking 1:00 p.m. - Event ends

We are building a better tech industry by creating access, dismantling barriers and fueling belonging.

Registration through Zoom is required to gain entry to this virtual event

PDXWIT Job Board Live: The networking event that comes to you!

Are you ready to get hired up?!? Then this event is for you. PDXWIT’s Job Board LIVE is tailor-made to help you find the career of your dreams.

We’ll get you fired up with a lightning talk, then companies with open roles on the PDXWIT job board will share their open positions (local and remote) during our Recruiter Roll Call. You’ll have a chance to chat with them in breakout rooms after the presentation, so bring your questions, your professional statements, and be ready to share your brilliant skills and qualifications.

And don’t forget to bring your up-to-date resume! We’ll have a team dedicated to reviewing resumes so you can make an even better impression. .

In order to create a productive and thoughtful space, we are limiting capacity to the first 50 attendees.

We will have ASL and live closed captioning for this event. Please reach out to [email protected] with any additional accessibility needs you have.

Agenda: 12:00 p.m. - Event Begins 12:03 p.m. - Intros, Announcements, Lightning Talk 12:10 p.m. - Recruiter Roll Call 12:20 p.m. - Breakout Rooms (Recruiter and Networking) 1:00 p.m. - Event Ends

Mission: We are building a better tech industry by creating access, dismantling barriers and fueling belonging. Our events are inclusive. ALL people who support our purpose are welcome.

Every product has challenges and risks that must be managed to ensure success, help turn your unknown risks into known ones through the FMEA process.

An MVP (Minimum viable product) is a basic, launch-able version of your product that supports minimal yet must-have features (which define its value proposition).

Failure Mode and Effect Analysis (FMEA) is a methodology for analyzing potential problems early in the product development cycle where it is easier to take action to overcome potential issues, thereby enhancing reliability through design. The tool is used to identify relationships between process and product requirements and the potential for unacceptable outputs and their effects.

In this session you will: Review the various forms of product risk analysis used in different industries. Use a basic template to ensure all product challenges and risks are accounted for + managed with your teams. Access a set of case-study examples to help ensure successful use of the tool in the future.

This workshop is all about pitching...whether it's for investors, at a networking event (live or virtual) or to decide on a collaborator.

What does it really take to make a powerful pitch?

What are the pitfalls to avoid at all cost?

How can you master the art of pitching with your own style, personality and brand?

Join Career Coach/StartOut Workshop Facilitator, Jim Arnoff, who will give you the career coach's top tips for pitching with conviction and results.

What you'll learn:

Tips on how to prepare How to read the person you're pitching how to engage with & anticipate every question If you ever wondered what it really takes to do a successful pitch, this workshop is for you!

In recent years, one of the most exciting developments in the world of investing has been the development of investment crowdfunding.

With this new type of investing, there is a chance you could make money from startups, expanding businesses, and even real estate in a way that hasn't been possible before.

This interactive series brought to you by StartOut's VC and Investor Programming Board, in partnership with iFundWomen, will be paving the path to making investments outside of traditional portfolio tools.

Moderator: Alex Cox-Cuzzi, SMBX Speaker: Ashley Olafsen, Startup Coach, iFundWomen

Join StartOut entrepreneurs as they present their solutions at StartOut Demo Day, generously sponsored by ZenDesk, AWS, Silicon Valley Bank, and Embroker.

This year's virtual Demo Day will highlight LGBTQ-led, scalable tech startups to investors. A judging panel will be made up of angels, VCs, entrepreneurs and corporate partners, with a public audience to cheer you on and network with after.

Top prizes include $5k for first place, $3k for second place, and $2k for third place winner.

Join us for an evening of discussion among some of the brightest entrepreneurs and investors in our community.

Looking to meet new friends? Searching for new opportunities? Or simply looking to be in a queer space with other fellow humans celebrating Pride Month?

Come join Out in Tech PDX at Crush Bar on Wednesday, June 7th, from 6pm to 9pm.

Whether you're interested in tech, working in tech, or you're tech-adjacent (hint: that's everyone), come mingle with us, have a beverage of choice, and meet the fabulous members of your PDX Out in Tech community.

We are looking forward to seeing everyone there!