Internet startups Blog

By Play Video Jordan Nickerson (background) is making these prosthetic hands with a 3-D printer.

It’s dubbed Pitchlandia, but it’s more like a local version of Shark Tank than Portlandia. Portlanders pitch their best business ideas and the audience decides who walks away with cash.

Ultimately, we get to see the new startup companies emerging in Portland, and maybe use their products, while the startups get a little extra financial support.

By Jorge Guzman

A Portland State University graduate says his professor stole his surfboard startup business and now the former student wants to reclaim what he believes is his.

By Summer Kramer created her own line of sun-protective clothing after she was diagnosed with skin cancer and discovered few clothing options.

When doctors diagnosed Summer Kramer with skin cancer in 2007, she knew she had to change how she protected herself from the sun.

“For me it was life-changing, I was a 26-year-old who thought I was immune to every type of ailment you could find, ” Kramer said. “It’s terrifying.”

By A screen capture from the WebCease home page.

Have you ever thought about what happens to your Facebook account when you die? What about your iTunes and Amazon accounts? Even reward programs, like airline miles, are considered your digital assets that could ultimately be vulnerable to identity theft and leave your family members stressed and confused.

Research shows the average American has $55, 000 in digital assets, so Portland startup WebCease is working to help grieving families sort it all out. Founder and CEO Glenn C. Williamson is officially launching the company this week but pursued the idea after his own mom died a couple years ago.

By Play Video

Pitch your idea and get paid; that is, if the crowd likes it.

By

Making a profit and doing good for society: is it possible? Can companies find success when the bottom line is a top priority, but not the only one?

By Michelle Oulman (not pictured) and her daughter, Emelia, have agreed to be videotaped and added to the ReelDX video library for future learning.

Not every startup can say that.

PORTLAND, Ore. – You’re never too young to LOL.

That’s what Vin Thomas is banking on, at least.

“Rather than just throw them into the deep waters of the internet, we wanted to find a way to introduce them to email, messaging and the internet in a fun and safe way, ” he said.