Support for Entrepreneurs

The City is supporting the startup business community through coaching, mentoring, and connections to people, programs, and capital to help fuel their success.

Support is mainly focused on high growth industry clusters with national/ international markets, including:

High-tech manufacturing
Software and media services
Biotechnology
Medical devices
Digital health
Clean tech

In addition to related traded-sector industries with high levels of manufacturing, software, data analytics, and advanced materials.

The City is able to provide services to scalable startup companies

Enterprise Level: Providing direct services to entrepreneurs and connecting them to specific people and programs based on their needs.
Ecosystem Level: Helping to fill resource gaps in the region, including educational programming, the creation of seed/angel capital, and other infrastructure necessary to support the overall ecosystem.
Strategic Level: Raising awareness about entrepreneurship and helping to coordinate resources among economic development groups, local governments, higher education, and industry.

Residents can request entrepreneurial assistance free of charge! We will put you in touch with the right resources to grow your business.

Local Resources For Entrepreneurs and Tech Start-ups

Take a look at the Business Resource Guide for additional support options in the Portland metropolitan area.

Business	Business Planning	Startup & Seed Capital	Networking	Education
Built Oregon connects, amplifies, and accelerates Oregon's consumer product companies and ecosystem
Entrepreneur Networking Groups in Hillsboro comprise a dynamic community of entrepreneur-focused meetup groups.
Food Innovation Center resource for client based product and process development, packaging engineering and food product testing
Oregon Entrepreneurs Network connects people to services and capital through the state’s largest entrepreneurial organization
Oregon Nanoscience and Microtechnologies Institute accelerates research and brings breakthrough ideas to market
Oregon Technology Business Center (OTBC) is a tech startup incubator
Oregon Translational Research and Development Institute translates scientific research into commercial ventures
Oregon Venture Fund is a professionally managed angel fund
Portland Seed Fund provides emerging companies capital and mentoring to help them grow
Portland State Business Accelerator provides resources for growth-focused entrepreneurs
SBIR/STTR Program helps companies find and apply for federal small business innovation research grants
Technology Association of Oregon supports entrepreneurs, connects peers and decision makers, and helps establish the Northwest as a global hub for innovation
TiE Oregon provides mentoring, networking and funding for entrepreneurs
VertueLab focused programs and funding that specifically supports cleantech startups