Here’s a roundup of interesting startup links I came across today:
Tucked into President Donald Trump’s “one big, beautiful” agenda bill is a rule that, if passed, would prohibit states from enforcing “any law or regulation regulating artificial intelligence models, artificial intelligence systems, or automated decision systems” for 10 years.
Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick has blocked $48 million in federal funding for an advanced aerospace materials test bed in Spokane, triggering protests from lawmakers.
The Trump administration is revamping a tech development program, a move that will cost Oregon State University a $45 million award announced by the Biden administration in January. The Corvallis Microfluidics Tech Hub is one of six such programs that will have to compete for money again later this year under a new funding opportunity, the Commerce Department said.
Organizations such as Better Portland, a business advocacy group, and Built Oregon, which supports consumer goods companies across the state, as well as small business owners took to social media over the weekend to advocate for the work Prosper does for small businesses, workforce development and community.
Intel has considered divesting its network and edge businesses as the chipmaker looks to shave off parts of the company its new chief executive does not see as crucial, three sources familiar with the matter said.
Eagle-eyed readers of The Oregonian recently noticed a disclosure at the end of several stories published on OregonLive.com this month. “This story was drafted with the assistance of generative AI,” it says, “and reviewed by Oregonian editorial staff.”
“Venture Black is a 501(c)3 with a mission to connect, empower, and support the Black venture community by fostering relationships, sharing knowledge, and creating opportunities that are vital for a thriving and inclusive startup ecosystem at venture scale,” said Evan Poncelet, executive director at Venture Black.
Few indicators tell us more about the startup funding environment than the state of the Series B round. One reason is that companies at this stage tend to be both relatively youthful and capable of showing real traction. While risky, this is no wild bet on an unproven founder.
Thom Singer, chief executive of the nonprofit organization Austin Technology Council, said Austin remains a compelling tech city and believes its best days lie ahead. The city is improving infrastructure and fluctuating costs of living are stabilizing, he said. While the scale of opportunities and the AI hub in San Francisco can’t be denied, Austin has a unique sell, and it isn’t trying to compete with the coasts, he said.
“We thought it was important to have a fund focused on diverse founders here in Houston, given Houston’s diversity,” he said. Houston is one of the nation’s most diverse cities, ranking at number five. Asked if he was worried about the anti-DEI backlash, as his fund targets founders of color, Ellis offered a simple response. “We strongly believe that venture capital should be accessible to everyone and that underinvested and diverse teams offer a unique opportunity for significant returns,” he said.
Their bet on mobile seems like an obvious one in retrospect, but at the time, the notion of “mobile marketing” was unheard of — software developers were still the ones running their apps’ growth, relying primarily on the App Store as a distribution engine. The consensus path to make any real money in the mobile industry was to build for gaming apps. Existing enterprises like banks and retailers hadn’t yet built out their presence on mobile.
Specifically, Kotek mentioned withholding $1 billion of next year’s expected $1.64 billion tax refund in order to fund wildfire suppression and prevention. “That would be very helpful for the state,” Kotek said, arguing that the money would represent a transfer of wealth from urban to rural Oregon — a potential selling point for Republicans. “Most of the folks who are going to be paying that are folks who do not live in fire-prone areas.”
Since 1994 — when Gert Boyle received the very first Entrepreneurial Achievement Award — OEN has recognized the dreamers, disruptors, and builders powering Oregon and Southwest Washington’s economy. Now, it’s your turn to write the next chapter by nominating a company or a leader who’s charting a bold course.
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