Portland Impact

Portland Impact was our attendees' opportunity to make an impact on a local Portland company or nonprofit facing a complex business or sustainability challenge or growth opportunity.

These 90-minute hands-on workshops were facilitated by students and professionals trained in principles of ‘design thinking.’  At each session, leaders of local start-up companies, business units, nonprofits, or government agencies shared their challenges with participants. With the help of dynamic ideation processes, participants brainstormed ideas and solutions for each challenge. 

To learn more about these organizations, check out this video or read on below.

FEATURED ORGANIZATIONS & IMPACT CHALLENGES

Dozens of local companies and organizations submitted proposals in hopes of being selected for a mini-consulting opportunity with current and up-and-coming leaders in business and sustainability – our conference attendees!

Participating organizations and Impact challenges:

The Bus Project is engaging new folks in democracy, developing new leaders and using person-to-person politics to move Oregon forward.

Impact Challenge: How does The Bus Project engage the millennial generation in philanthropy in a sustainable way in both the short and the long term?

Focus the Nation is supporting young leaders in every state between the ages of 18-28 with opportunities to accelerate the transition to clean energy.

Impact Challenge: What are innovative, replicable financing models that can be used by tax-exempt institutions to implement small to mid-sized renewable energy projects?

Go Box is a new service providing reusable to-go containers for the downtown Portland food carts and their customers.

Impact Challenge: What is the most efficient and profitable model for expanding GO Box beyond Portland?

Portland Pedal Power is accelerating the sales of sustainably-minded businesses through delivery of product and promotional services via bicycle.

Impact Challenge: How can Portland Pedal Power expand operations and leasing opportunities within the Portland market and then into other cities?

Upstream Public Health is working to advance policies that create the social and economic conditions where all Oregonians can thrive.

Impact Challenge: How can Upstream Public Health better communicate the harm of soda consumption in order to change behavior?