The problem with Portland is talent seems to be hidden. I haven't explored too much in the time I have been here, but the bits of exposure I have had didn't seem too promising. Contrast that to a larger area like Seattle, or a very talent-dense area like Silicon Valley, and you have the opposite problem of sorting through talent.
Additionally, there are very few resources for people just starting out. There is the Oregon Entrepreneurship Network, but with their fee structure it seems to be more of a business than a resource for a small business. You have to pay annual membership dues, and from there you have to pay entry into their events. Want to go to their monthly pub talk? Yeah, that'll be $30 for non members, and $15 for people already registered with the OEN.
Of course talk is cheap, why not put together something myself? From the few events I have been to, the SNR was poor enough to be intimidating. 2/3 social media consultants, 1/4 looking for a free lunch and the rest as lost as me.
Additionally, there are very few resources for people just starting out. There is the Oregon Entrepreneurship Network, but with their fee structure it seems to be more of a business than a resource for a small business. You have to pay annual membership dues, and from there you have to pay entry into their events. Want to go to their monthly pub talk? Yeah, that'll be $30 for non members, and $15 for people already registered with the OEN.
Of course talk is cheap, why not put together something myself? From the few events I have been to, the SNR was poor enough to be intimidating. 2/3 social media consultants, 1/4 looking for a free lunch and the rest as lost as me.