OEN Member NewsOEN Member Conversations: Oregon Techworks Association

WE KNOW HOW TECH WORKS. That’s the catchy slogan for Oregon Techworks Association, a nonprofit organization dedicated to strengthening Oregon technology companies with resources to save money, limit liability, and streamline administration. Last month Oregon Entrepreneurs Network sat down with Oregon Techworks’ Executive Director, Tara Dahl, to learn more about their partnership with OEN and how they are supporting tech startups statewide. 

Can you tell us about Oregon Techworks and its mission?

Oregon Techworks Association is a non profit association centered on helping Oregon tech companies thrive. We partner with several different functional business service providers to bring our tech companies the services they need to really help grow their businesses and truly thrive. We bring those services to them at a discounted member rate. We’ve curated a team of partners that really help fill in the gaps and help businesses that are in that developmental or growth stage fill in the gaps for things that their businesses need but they don’t want to do themselves. Everything from employee benefits, to payroll, to capital management, website, SEO services,  bookkeeping, financial advisors, 401K plan. We are currently working on bringing a tech recruiting staffing partner. We have IT security and we partner with a workspace platform. We have found that those who are in the developmental/growth stage have a few people who are wearing many hats, for example you may have a COO who is trying to run payroll or bookkeeping and that’s not exactly what they want to or should be focusing on and that’s where Oregon Techworks can step in and take those items off their plate so they can focus on other tasks at hand. 

What inspired Oregon Techworks to support OEN and entrepreneurship in the region? 

Being a non profit ourselves we know how important it is to support the nonprofits in our community. We find a lot of value in helping an organization that helps entrepreneurs, because those entrepreneurs are building the companies that we can then in turn be supporting ourselves when they need additional support. When we are helping at those early stages,  we will be able to reach those companies where it makes sense for them to utilize our services as they grow. It is important that we are fostering that supportive environment and community and it also helps to have OEN’s broad reach helping spread our message, our brand, and name. 

How does Oregon Techworks align with OEN’s goals and values?

Similar to OEN we want to support the entrepreneurship community, we really want to support the tech entrepreneurs. Any business that can benefit from the tools and resources that we have to offer, aligns with OEN’s mission in the community. OEN focuses on the broad spectrum of entrepreneurship, while Oregon Techworks focuses on tech but being that this is a really tech heavy community, it is important to help those companies thrive. 

What impact do you hope to make by partnering with OEN?

I really hope that by partnering with OEN we can make a really big splash with the tech community. I know that OEN is really well known among the entrepreneur community, and my goal this year and next year is to find a way for us to help foster the growth of smaller companies. We really focus on the developmental and growth stage, but I would really like to make an impact with the start up phase, so that start ups know where they can turn when the time is right. I would really love to come alongside OEN and help make it known that we are here to help in any capacity. We want to grow up with startups. 

How has sponsoring OEN benefited Oregon Techworks and team?

Sponsoring OEN has built a stronger and more cohesive partnership. As that continues through 2024-2025 I believe we will have a mutually beneficial powerhouse relationship supporting entrepreneurs across the state. 

What would you tell another organization interested in supporting OEN through sponsorship?

If your goals and values align with what OEN is doing in terms of really supporting startups and entrepreneurship from the ground up, supporting OEN in terms of a sponsorship is really important to that goal and is vital to the entrepreneurship community. And vital to what we are trying to do here in Portland and beyond, which is help our businesses thrive, post covid and all the hardships that the community has faced economically. It is really important to help revitalize the entrepreneurship community. 

Are there any upcoming events or initiatives that Oregon Techworks is particularly excited to support?

We are thrilled to support AOBIO and AOTech because it is so fun to see what companies are out there, who’s coming up through the pipeline, where they are at in terms of growth, because those are the companies that are perfect candidates for Oregon Tech works. Those are the types of companies that we want to support and work with and help grow. It’s great to be a part of that and get to know those companies on another level. 

How can our supporters and followers learn more about Oregon Techworks?

Our website is a great place to start. It’s www.mytechworks.org and we have a ton of information on there, including blog posts. Our lLinkedIn is also a great place as well. We’re always resharing things from the community, whether it’s OEN, Technology Association of Oregon, Oregon Bioscience Incubator, and we also  like to reshare things from our partners and also promote our events. Those two resources are really great ways to learn more, but also coming to our events and hanging out with us. We do RAD Workdays, which are informal co-working days. Many of our partners join us for the day and we host a fun lunch and learn discussion topic. This is a great way to get to know us and our partners as well as all the other events we put on; look for us out in the community! 

What are your top business services that you offer if a business is interested?

Tough question, because all of them are so vitally important! But benefits plan, we are very unique in the fact that we have an association large group health plan. And that’s not something that can really be found anymore, especially in Oregon. That health plan generally provides better coverage and better rates than going to the marketplace. Our payroll services, we partner with paylocity, who provides a great platform, app, and desktop for payroll services and human capital management services which they provide at a 35% discount. Another one, one of our newest services, is our bookkeeping and financially advising services. I always tell anyone, start ups especially, that you need to have a bookkeeper. You need to keep your books from the earliest stage, and it will only serve you and help you grow. And of course, your website because you can’t market yourself without one! 

Is there anything else you would like to share about Oregon Techworks or the partnership with OEN?

Oregon Techworks Association is a small association and we are also growing and we really understand the need for companies to have the visibility and support to grow, because we are trying to do the same thing. I strongly believe in partnerships and being a part of a supportive community and being able to contribute to that. I am really excited about what this year holds for us, both in our partnership with OEN and other associations in the Oregon and Portland area.