Outside the box

1111_OutsideTheBox_02It takes a village to raise a business. That’s the attitude adopted by GO Box, a startup that aims to reduce waste generated by disposable food cart containers. The company, which launched this past summer, relies on a volunteer network of local shops and restaurants to help distribute its reusable food cart containers.

Candid feedback saves a life

During a recent meeting, contributing columnist Tom Cox noticed one attendee — an older, overweight guy — was speaking more “thickly” than usual. “It reminded me of some early stroke symptoms I’d read about. I had to decide — do I say anything? What do I say? How do I say it in a way most likely to encourage the desired behavior? And what if I’m wrong?”

If the glove fits

1111_IfTheGloveFitsIt’s pink, sleek, and form-fitting, the inside lined with a layer of rayon for extra comfort. It costs 30% more than similar products, but research says women will pay it for added comfort. And part of the sales of the $2.99 product will go to the Susan G. Komen Foundation for breast cancer research.

Klamath dam removal uncertain

1111_KlamathDamWhen the Klamath Restoration Agreements were signed in February 2010, the documents were hailed as a historic solution to decades of conflicts over water rights and environmental management in the Klamath Basin. Almost two years later, many stakeholders are still waiting to move forward with projects connected to the agreements, which include both the Klamath Basin Restoration Agreement and the Klamath Hydroelectric Settlement Agreement. At issue is whether legislators will authorize the agreements and allocate the $500 million for implementation.

Inventors face retooled patent law

In the early-1990s, a Bothell, Wash.-based startup called CellPro developed a novel way to clean bone marrow stem cells before inserting them into leukemia patients. Early clinical trials saw surprisingly high rates of survival in desperately ill children, and CellPro’s cancer-stricken CEO also made a bone-marrow-aided comeback in experimental treatment.

Seed synergy

1111_SeedSynergy_01The Portland Seed Fund turns the startup launch into a team sport, with the goal of doing a lot with a little.