Portland really is a great city, and I think it's a lot calmer than Silicon Valley. Although your local pub might not be filled with a dozen angel investors, Portland has embraced the young startup culture. With groups like OMSI, DorkbotPDX, Cubespace, and recently TechShop, it's a haven for hackers of all types. Not to mention a great music scene, delicious food trucks, and the best microbreweries in the nation.
The crucial thing it's missing is a large technical school. And that's likely the reason it will never be able to touch Silicon Valley in terms of startups.
Not true. Portland State has a decent Engineering/CS school that's growing like a weed. It's just going to take a little while for it to build a bigger rep.
The crucial thing it's missing is a large technical school. And that's likely the reason it will never be able to touch Silicon Valley in terms of startups.