In down economy, Portland-area campuses and community benefit from innovation workshop

The Invention to Venture workshop held in February in Portland, Oregon provided an excellent opportunity for more than 125 attendees to hear directly from entrepreneurs and business professionals about what it takes to turn an idea into a successful venture. Several speakers specifically took on what they called the myth of "you can't start a venture in the current economic downturn" and provided out-of-the-box examples of successful ventures they have recently launched. In the midst of this serious recession, it is very important for people to see or hear about events like I2V that bring together a mass of energized young people who are fired up about turning their ideas into companies and eager to learn how to do it. 

Jon Down

Director of the Center for Entrepreneurship

University of Portland