Feds Fuel Semiconductor Renaissance (Jul 17 2026) Oregon startup news [04Cp96NXMEc]
Funny how it works — the same week the Silicon Forest lands federal funding worth up to $160 million, the stuff that actually holds a community together is getting quietly built at street level. A machinist in Gresham shipping an AI tool for the shop floor, Latino Founders taking out a 15,000-square-foot building downtown for the entrepreneurs who chose to stay, a Pendleton drone accelerator opening a pipeline clear across the Pacific to Korea. The headline number is great — but honestly, it's the ground game that's got me fired up this week. CHAPTERS 00:00 Oregon startup news intro 01:55 Quick Oregon startup stories 07:36 Oregon FAST could mean $160 million 12:42 Swarf for AI powered CNC 15:33 Latino Founders creates a founder hub 23:53 Secrets LINKS Oregon FAST wins NSF Innovation Engine award — Oregon State University (announcement) — By a machinist for machinists: Swarf — Swarf — Latino Founders preps a new home: Founders Hub — Latino Founders — Oregon UAS Accelerator partners with Korea Investment Accelerator — Oregon UAS Accelerator (apply by Jul 19) — Bend Venture Conference 2026 opens applications — Bend Venture Conference — Chain React 2026: Putting yourself out there — FIND RICK TUROCZY ON THE INTERNET AT… - - - Portland Oregon startup news on Apple Podcasts - Portland Oregon startup news Spotify - Startup Stories on Spotify - Startup Stories on Apple Podcasts - The Long Con on Apple Podcasts - The Long Con on Spotify - - - ABOUT SILICON FLORIST ---------- For nearly two decades, Rick Turoczy has published Silicon Florist, a blog, newsletter, and podcast that covers entrepreneurs, founders, startups, entrepreneurship, tech, news, and events in the Portland, Oregon, startup community. Whether you're an aspiring entrepreneur, a startup or tech enthusiast, or simply intrigued by Portland's startup culture, Silicon Florist is your go-to source for the latest news, events, jobs, and opportunities in Portland Oregon's flourishing tech and startup scene. Join us in exploring the innovative world of startups in Portland, where creativity and collaboration meet. ABOUT RICK TUROCZY ---------- Rick Turoczy has been working in, on, and around the Portland, Oregon, startup community for nearly 30 years. He has been recognized as one of the “OG”s of startup ecosystem building by the Kauffman Foundation. And he has been humbled by any number of opportunities to speak on stages from SXSW to INBOUND and from Kobe, Japan, to Muscat, Oman, including an opportunity to share his views on community building on the TEDxPortland stage ( All because of a blog. Weird. #pdx #portland #oregon #startup #entrepreneur