Oregon Entrepreneurs Network (OEN) PubTalks, presented by Columbia Bank, are where Oregon’s entrepreneurial energy comes to life.

What makes a startup break through while others stall and how do investors spot opportunity before the rest of the market catches on?

On Wednesday, August 12th Cara Turano, President and Executive Director of Oregon Entrepreneurs Network, will be sitting down for an engaging fireside chat with Thomas Thurston, a researcher, investor, and strategist known for uncovering the hidden forces that shape markets and innovation.

From pioneering research at Intel and collaborations with Harvard Business School to leadership in venture capital and investment banking, Thomas has spent his career studying where systems get stuck and what it takes to unlock growth. Through his years working alongside the legendary Clay Christensen, author of The Innovator’s Dilemma, Thomas gained an understanding of the quantitative research that leads to startup failure or success.

In this dynamic conversation, Cara and Thomas will dig into the patterns behind standout startups, how investors evaluate emerging opportunities, what signals de-risk a potentially high risk investment, and the market dynamics that often determine who scales and who stalls.

Whether you are building, investing, or simply fascinated by innovation, this conversation will offer fresh insights into the science, strategy, and signals behind startup success.

Featuring

Cara Turano
President & Executive Director
Oregon Entrepreneurs Network

Thomas Thurston
Chief Technologist
Ducera Partners, LLC

Details

Location: Miller Nash, 1140 SW Washington Street, #700, Portland, Oregon 97205

Hashtag: #OENPubTalk

Cost: $15 for OEN members; $25 for non-members. *Sorry, no refunds.* 

Not yet an OEN member? Join today, and you can get a free pass to a PubTalk!

August 5-Minute Pitch

At each PubTalk two companies are invited to wow the crowd with a five minute pitch. OEN is delighted to welcome these companies for our August PubTalk.

If you are interested in having your company pitch at a future PubTalk please click here to email Rylee O’Brien.

Give It A Wyrl

We are bringing back Wyrl to our June PubTalk.  Wyrl shows you who’s around you in real time, making it easy to connect with people who share your interests or professional goals. Built for networking at conferences, meetups, and events, it helps you quickly identify the right people and start meaningful conversations when it matters most.

   

Thank You Sponsors