Written by Leo Ochoa, Executive Director
Earlier this year, VertueLab began exploring a hypothesis: Portland's urban mobility sector may hold untapped opportunities to support local entrepreneurs and strengthen connections across the region’s cleantech ecosystem.
We set out to test that idea, learn more about the sector’s challenges, and connect with entrepreneurs and community partners. In June, we partnered with Prosper Portland to host the Portland Urban Mobility Innovation Summit, bringing together entrepreneurs, industry leaders, and public agencies to explore opportunities and challenges in urban transportation.
The summit sparked meaningful new connections, including with Ryan Hashagen of Icicle Tricycles and Cat Plein of Forth. Cat’s invitation to the Roadmap Conference opened the door to a fall of collaboration and learning.
From Pacific Northwest Climate Week in July, where Ryan joined fellow innovators to highlight emerging solutions to the Roadmap Conference in Seattle, our conversations kept evolving.
Across each of these experiences, one thing became clear: innovation doesn't happen in isolation. It grows through relationships, shared challenges, and opportunities to put ideas into practice.
On November 10, we’ll join municipal agencies and innovators at Icicle Tricycles’ EV Demo Day, hosted in partnership with Papé's Carts Division. This event offers a hands-on look at electric vehicles designed for real-world community services, like street cleaning & deliveries and is a great example of how our regional network is turning ideas into action.
Building on this momentum, VertueLab is co-designing and piloting an urban mobility-focused cohort for winter 2027 with Hande O. Buyuksahin, Community Partnership Manager for Portland State University’s School of Business Senior Capstone Program. Icicle Tricycles and other summit companies are confirmed participants. Students will tackle real-world business projects, entrepreneurs will receive support, and VertueLab will provide mentorship.
What began as a hypothesis is taking shape through relationships, collaboration, and practical experimentation.
For VertueLab, this is what ecosystem building looks like: connecting entrepreneurs, industry partners, public agencies, and universities to create new pathways for innovation and business growth.
We’re still learning, testing, and refining the model. These early steps are helping us explore how stronger connections across the urban mobility sector could support local businesses, address gaps in the startup ecosystem, and accelerate climate innovation across our region. We’re excited to see where this journey takes us, and even more excited by the potential for collective action to shape a more sustainable, connected future.
Learn more: Opalene Climate Challenge | GeekWire event coverage
