Using Community Connections to Find What You Need

David Molina.

When you need something fast, your community is often the best place to turn for advice and connections. Switchboards like Wheelwomen, Meat Collectives, and PDX Startups let people ask for help from the people they trust.

When David Molina urgently needed a videographer for a crowdfunding effort to help veterans learn to code, he posted an ask on PDX Startups Switchboard. Though multiple videographers got in touch with him through avenues other than Switchboard, in the end, he picked one he found through PDX Startups because the community bond mattered to him.

Teresa Mahoney.

"I immediately felt that the problem he was trying to solve was an important one, and with a background in journalism, this was a powerful story that I wanted to help tell," says Teresa Mahoney, the videographer who wound up working with David. "PDX Startups Switchboard is not only a great place for people who have launched startups, but for those of us who want to work with startups and be part of that exciting world."

We asked David to share his story.

Why did you start using PDX Startups Switchboard?

I was drawn to PDX Startup Switchboard because of the strong sense of community—local community and the elegant interface: ask and offer.

You used PDX Startups Switchboard to find a videographer. Could you share your story?

Teresa filming for David's crowdfunding project.

I initially made the request on Twitter after leaving a meeting in NW Portland where I didn't feel the team was going to make it urgent. Rick Turoczy was quick to respond and suggest posting on Switchboard.

After posting my ask that afternoon, I received multiple offers and suggestions, including on Twitter and direct messages through Switchboard. After over a dozen interviews, meetings, and discussions with potential videographers, I settled on Teresa. Beyond her local, national, and international filming experience, she used Switchboard, which I loved. That sense of community building meant a ton. After interviewing her both by phone and over coffee, I felt closer to a decision. I introduced her to the campaign team, and we were immediately off to the races.

Would you recommend Switchboard to friends?

Yes, I would absolutely recommend PDX Startups Switchboard to anyone wanting to genuinely ask or offer something to the Portland startup community.

Alumni Find Connections, Personal and Professional

Hosting is one of Switchboard's greatest but most undersung uses. Reed College alumna Zan Clark '07 offered to host Reedies in her New York City apartment soon after Reed Switchboard was founded. Her offer immediately proved popular, and she hosted several Reed students and alumni.

After finding success with her generous offer, Zan turned to Reed Switchboard seeking job advice. Other Reedies saw that she'd already given back to the community, and they were happy to help her in turn.

When did you start using Switchboard?

I think I started using Reed Switchboard as soon as it started. I just thought it sounded like a fun thing to get involved in. Especially with hosting, I was already hosting people through Couchsurfing.com and AirBnB so it seemed only natural to open my couch up to Reedies.

You've used Switchboard to host Reedies and ask for advice. Could you tell your story?

I hosted a few Reedies when I lived in New York City—now that we've relocated to a rural part of California I don't feel nearly as popular! Universally my experiences as a host were great. I as explaining to my husband that there's an implicit sense of trust with other Reedies. I feel very confident that they will be not only respectful houseguests, but also interesting and exciting people to get to know. I haven't been wrong yet.

As far as asking for advice, I was so impressed with the quality of the responses I got to my recent ask. I wanted some guidance on pursuing a career in a particular area of healthcare administration and through Switchboard I was connected to Reedies from a wide range of class years and professional experiences. I had great conversations with each one of them, and the connections have continued to snowball. Asking for help on Switchboard was a thousand times more helpful than trying to chase down connections on LinkedIn.

I'm also happy to have been able to help a few people who have asked for advice. I even connected one ask-er who was looking for advice on funding a biotech start up to my Dad (Reed '74).

Would you recommend Switchboard to friends?

Definitely! Professionally, I've found Switchboard to be a really valuable resource, and personally it has been great to be able to give back to the Reed community.

Watching the Pulse of the Portland Tech Community on PDX Startups Switchboard

With over 1,500 users and 1,000 asks and offers, PDX Startups Switchboard has become a mainstay of the Portland tech scene. PDX Startups users have logged dozens of success—from giving away free legal advice to finding jobs—and many have made visiting the Switchboard part of their daily routine. Today we bring you the story of Mason, who uses PDX Startups Switchboard to find collaborators and jobs and watch the pulse of the Portland tech community.

Why do you use PDX Startups Switchboard?

I initially started visiting PDX Startups as another daily pulse-check on the Portland tech scene, in addition to Silicon Florist and Calagator. Aside from the simple enjoyment of seeing what everyone is asking and offering, I specifically keep an eye out for potential work and collaboration opportunities.

You've had success on Switchboard a few times. Could you share a story or two?

I’ve sought career advice, work, and collaboration opportunities on Switchboard. Each time, I’ve been met with encouragement and useful input, even if my intended goal wasn’t met. (Protip: I’ve found late success with an old ask, after mentioning and linking to it in a new ask.) Something beneficial has come out of each post I’ve made to PDX Startups. I’ve gone on to meet with a handful of people I initially connected with via Switchboard, some of which have turned into professional connections, and a couple that I am also now glad to call friends.

After sending a resume into a local company, I saw a post that one of their engineers made to PDX Startups. I sent him a direct message on Switchboard, regarding my interest. When they did get back to me—to schedule an interview—it was in reply to the message I had sent him!

Would you recommend PDX Startups Switchboard to friends?

Absolutely! In fact, I already have. After seeing a couple of asks regarding WordPress development, I forwarded the links to a friend and WordPress developer. I believe he found new clients in both cases, and I’ve also seen him active and making asks and offers on PDX Startups Switchboard since. I always keep in mind what I’ve seen come up on PDX Startups Switchboard, and I frequently find an opportunity to tell someone about an ask or offer that would interest them.

In general, I often recommend it as the most direct way to engage and observe Portland tech culture’s opportunities and needs.