Recent Updates
January 08, 2012
Oregon Construction Defect Claims After Abraham
December 27, 2011
Portland Trust Dispute Attorney's Trust Litigation 101 Series
December 22, 2011
Trust Dispute Litigation 101: The Basics of a Trust Dispute
December 20, 2011
Smart and Proactive Brand Protection is Critical for Oregon and Washington Businesses
December 19, 2011
Return and Exchange Policies: Thinking Through the Policy is Good For Business
Archives
October, 2011
July, 2011
June, 2011
May, 2011
February, 2011
January, 2011
November, 2010
October, 2010
Web Resources
FindLaw
Thomson West
U.S. Courts
Oregon Courts
Washington Courts
Westlaw
United States Chamber of Commerce
FirstGov
Library of Congress
White House
Internal Revenue Service
Oregon State Bar
Oregon Trial Lawyers Assoc.
Multnomah Bar Association
American Bar Association
Oregonian
Portland Business Journal
Willamette Week
Portland Mercury
Seattle Post-Intelligencer
Seattle Times
Puget Sound Business Journal
Seattle Weekly
Wall Street Journal
New York Times
Yahoo!Legal Blog Directory
Oregon Entrepreneurs Network
8 – Business Incubator
Portland Entrepreneur
Portland Startup Business Funding Gets Shot in the Arm from Oregon Growth Account
Posted by: Phil Nelson
October 10, 2011
With funding provided by the Oregon State Lottery, the Oregon Growth Account is stepping to the plate to help create jobs and spur startup growth by directly investing in Oregon companies. The latest beneficiary? The Oregon Angel Network.
The Silicon Forest: Oregonian Reports What Portland Start-Up Business Attorneys Already Knew
Posted by: Phil Nelson
July 19, 2011
Though not as well known as its larger 'Valley' cousin to the South, Tech companies are coming back to (or ramping back up in) the Silicon Forest.
Both major tech companies with household names (think Apple, Microsoft, Dell, eBay, Google and Facebook) and small, growing tech businesses like Novellus, Linear Technology, Maxim Integrated Products, ON Semiconductor, and Microchip Technology, are once again making Oregon a technology hub.
Strategy Advice on Technology Licensing (Part 6)
Posted by: Steve Glista
June 09, 2011
Part six of this series on technology licensing and helping entrepreneurs consider licensing strategy from a university's perspective covers some early-stage considerations for keeping the innovators involved throughout the duration of a venutre, and also some methods for ensuring the ownership of future inventions.
Google 'Offers' Launches in Portland
Posted by: Kevin Parks
June 01, 2011
After getting turned down on its $6 billion offer to purchase Groupon, Google today launched its own deal-of-the-day platform right here in the Pacific Northwest.
Portland (and Groupon, LivingSocial, and Facebook Deals), say hello to "Google Offers".
Strategy Advice on Technology Licensing (Part 5)
Posted by: Steve Glista
May 26, 2011
Is your startup stymied on how to pay for a license up front? Caught in a catch-22? You need funding to pay for the license, and a license to secure adequate funding...right? What other alternatives are there?
Strategy Advice on Technology Licensing (Part 4)
Posted by: Steve Glista
May 25, 2011
In part four of his five-part series on Technology Licensing and helping entrepreneurs consider licensing strategy from a university's perspective, Steve Glista explores the advantages and disadvantages to a start-up in paying royalties versus upfront fees.
Strategy Advice on Technology Licensing (Part 3)
Posted by: Steve Glista
May 16, 2011
In part three of his five-part series on Technology Licensing, Steve Glista covers the Taking and Disposing of Equity, including pre-valuation equity. Using research university practices as a guide, Steve explains common practices and provides a recommended strategy for start-ups, including paying particular attention to exit plans that may interfere with the ability to raise additional funding in the future.
Strategy Advice on Technology Licensing by guest blogger Steve Glista (Part 2)
Posted by: Ben Stoller
February 17, 2011
Welcome to Part 2 of my blog on Strategy Advice on Technology Licensing. If you're new to this series, take a look at Part 1. The purpose of this blog series is to help entrepreneurs see things from a university's perspective, so that you can be more successful in planning the future of your business. Through my work and experiences I have developed an understanding of what the market for university technology looks like from the perspective of a start-up company. I classify the main topics on the issue into the following categories: Getting Skin in the Game, Taking (and Disposing of) Equity, Royalties vs. Upfront Fees, Options and Contingent Licenses, Keeping the Innovators Involved, and Owning Future Inventions. Today I will discuss the concept of Getting Skin in the Game.
Securing Financing For Your Business
Posted by: Bill Du Val
February 08, 2011
Lenders are readily looking to lend capital to entrepreneurs and small businesses, but potential borrowers too often fail at the preparation and presentation level and are unable to secure financing.
These common problems can often stall or halt the growth of new businesses, but there are solutions available to help your new venture get off the ground.
Strategy Advice on Technology Licensing by guest blogger Steve Glista (Part 1)
Posted by: Ben Stoller
January 19, 2011
Daily headlines boast of the advances made by industry moguls like Apple and crowfunding start-ups like Scott Wilson and his MINIMAL design studio. What many Americans don't know is that the next big idea may currently be in development at a local university. The Oregon University System (go Ducks!) and many other universities have tech transfer offices (UOregon, OSU) that are assigned to identify inventions, assess their commercial potential, and offer licenses that could allow companies to deliver innovations to the public. Entrepreneurs often launch a start-up company specifically to take a license and then bring the invention to market.
Over the last year, I helped to survey technology license agreements issued by public and private universities in the United States. Our aim was to develop a better understanding of what the market for university technology looks like from the perspective of a start-up company. Our observations about the diversity of specific terms have been organized into the following categories: Getting Skin in the Game, Taking (and Disposing of) Equity, Royalties vs. Upfront Fees, Options and Contingent Licenses, Keeping the Innovators Involved, and Owning Future Inventions. I will discuss each of these topics in this blog series, my aim being to help entrepreneurs see things from the university's perspective, so that you can be more successful in planning the future of your business.
Upcoming Blog Series on Strategy Advice in Technology Licensing
Posted by: Ben Stoller
January 13, 2011
Daily headlines boast daily of the advances made by industry moguls like Apple and crowfunding start-ups like Scott Wilson and his MINIMAL design studio. What many Americans don't know is that the next big idea may currently be in development at a local university. In the coming days, we will tell readers more about a proven way to take advantage of the government-sponsored economic stimulus incentives to start or grow your business: have a conversation with one of the folks at your local university's technology transfer office.
Portland Entreprenuer: Start-Up Funding Advice
Posted by: Bill Du Val
November 17, 2010
Whether one's start-up company is at the seed stage, ready for launch, or looking to expand operations, an entrepreneur almost invariably faces the question: "Where will we find the funding?" Friends and family can help, but usually can only take you so far (well, depending on your friends and family), after which you'll be tasked with approaching other sources. Every entrepreneur has heard the words angel investor and venture capitalist, but how do you find these investors that for many entrepreneurs seem like mythical creatures of lore?
Can Google Make Finding New Businesses Even Easier?
Posted by: Bill Du Val
November 10, 2010
Whether you're starting a new franchise, forming a corporation or an LLC, or are just toying with the idea of creating your own organization or company, one of your primary thoughts should be: how am I going to attract new business?
Google might be making it even easier. The AP reports that Google is set to unveil its newest feature: "Instant Previews" for web searching.
Portland Entrepreneur: Funding Options
Posted by: Bill Du Val
November 08, 2010
When people think of funding sources for starting up a new business they don't often think of their own 401(k) retirement funds.
Portland Funding for Entrepreneurs Update: Kickstarter.com Funds Local Film Project
Posted by: Phil Nelson
November 01, 2010
We recently blogged on the inventive website for funding entrepreneurs, Kickstarter.com. Kickstarter raises funds for entrepreneurs virally, and disburses those funds with no strings attached. No equity, no debt.
Small Business Administration (SBA) Grants
Posted by: Bill Du Val
November 01, 2010
While the Small Business Administration (SBA) guarantees loans for entrepreneuers and start-up capital, they do not provide grants, per se.
Funding for Entrepreneurs
Posted by: Ben Stoller
October 26, 2010
As social media services such as Twitter and Facebook become one of the go-to marketing and advertising avenues for entrepreneurs, new online platforms have emerged to aid the entrepreneur in other ways. Whether it is the traditional start-up or the new wave of "lean start-ups," early-stage funding can be had at Kickstarter. Based on the maxim that a "good idea, communicated well, can spread fast and wide," Kickstarter takes a viral approach to fund "creative ideas and ambitious efforts."
You might know Twitter and Facebook, but has your company met Yammer?
Posted by: Ben Stoller
October 22, 2010
If you haven't already been introduced, meet Yammer. It's already working for Fortune 500 companies, why not your start-up?
