You know what Portland does really well? Not start-ups, not yet. It has fostered an amazing array of web geek user groups. Check out this list of goings on in the local tech scene, and note that the calendaring app itself was developed by a collaborative effort that spawned from a user group:

http://calagator.org/

And the quality of discourse at some of these local meet-ups is astonishingly progressive and technical. It feels like Portland's start-up scene isn't the best indicator of our technical culture and potential. Our traditional start-ups stand in the long shadow of Silicon Valley, and may expend too much energy wondering when someone will swoop down and invest.

Portland will make a name for itself by doing business in a much different manner than is done in the valley. The absence of venture capital will force us to invent better models.

BTW, have you guys seen Urban Edibles? It's a collaboratively developed wiki detailing where one can find food growing in Portland's urban areas. http://urbanedibles.org/

My roommate used it to make 3 jars of golden plum jam entirely from foraged fruit.