Portland Seed Fund borrows Y Combinator concepts, pledges 'tough love'

[turoczy]

http://www.oregonlive.com/business/index.ssf/2010/10/portland_seed_fund_pledges_tou.html

[mountaineer]

They're taking the Y Combinator name in vain. They charge to apply and are just giving out loans? Another very entrepreneur unfriendly approach to boosting the startup environment in Portland.

So, let's summarize. Portland Angel Network charges, Oregon Angel Fund charges, Angel Oregon charges, Portland Ten charges and now the Portland seed fund charges.

Book me a ticket to the valley when I'm ready to pitch my next startup!

[jonmacdonald → mountaineer]

Very true, but in all fairness it would appear that Portland Ten is not in the same vein as the others listed, as they do not invest in your company.

However, I do think it is dishonest for everyone to be using the y-comb name recognition as a selling point for their own programs.

[greglockwood]

$250 just to get your application looked at? I think someone here is missing the point (or maybe the concept) of shoestringing.

[ehoward]

Their intentions are are right, but execution is all wrong.

Besides the "pay-to-play" aspect, most entrepreneurs will chafe at the tight leash they are under if they are accepted into the program.

A bio-tech firm is going will definitely need more time than the typical Internet startup to gain traction.

The relationship between angel and entrepreneur should be more advisory than adversarial

[trevelyan]

They must not want very good companies if they're promising to make life difficult for them before they even invest.

[p01nd3xt3r]

The only thing that bothers me about this is that you must pay to apply. Even though the price is minimal I typically dont trust pay to pitch models.