Gorge Technology Alliance

06/05/2026

Ready for Happy Hour? 🍻

Join the Gorge Tech Alliance on Thursday, June 11th at 5:00 pm for happy hour in the park. ☀️😎

Waterfront Park Picnic Pavillion across from Solstice

We can’t wait to see you there!

05/29/2026

Congratulations to the 2026 Gorge PitchFest Winners! Thank you to the wonderful audience and our stellar judges last night, and to Jakob Lillvik of the Mid-Columbia Innovation Hub for making this year’s PitchFest such a success!

And the winner is... Vibe Consignment!

Even a power outage couldn't stop us -- Kaahreena walks away as the Grand Prize winner with a $10,000 check!

Second place was awarded to Iliana Maura, walking away with $2000.

Our three runners up walked with $1000 each, and a hour consultation with Narwhal Law and Business Strategy. A special mention to Tenn Tools for our crowd favorite and an extra $1000! Great work to Brick City & Games and Hilltopados for their pitches and accomplishments at the finals!

See you all next year! Gorge PitchFest 2026

03/23/2026

To shine the light on and celebrate the cross-pollination and expansion between the Gorge Technology Alliance and TAO, we are pleased and honored to share TAO's February member spotlight with our readers.

IT Motives maintains active memberships in both TAO and the GTA. The company is a Portland, Oregon–based talent acquisition firm that is dedicated to building long-term relationships and making meaningful career connections. Specializing in technology and professional recruiting, IT Motives partners closely with both clients and candidates to ensure the right fit—both for today and for the long term.

Learn more about IT Motives on their website at: https://www.itmotives.com/

Calling all tech innovators, leaders, and community champions — nominations are officially open for the 2026 Oregon Tech Awards.

03/17/2026

Congratulations and welcome to our newest Gorge Technology Alliance Board member, Molly Harpel! Molly is a Business Operations Specialist at Overwatch Imaging in Hood River.

03/12/2026

Hood River Middle School's United Robotics Takes 1st in State!

This past Saturday, Hood River Middle School teams competed at the VEX Robotics State Championship in Oregon. Both teams earned invitations to compete, ranking among the top 16 in the state. By the end of the competition, United Robotics (8th grade) claimed 1st place, and The Four Roboteers (6th grade) finished 2nd in the state!

As State Champions, United Robotics has been invited to represent Oregon at the World Championships in St. Louis, Missouri, at the end of April. To attend, the team needs to raise at least $9,000 to cover registration, airfare, lodging, meals, and other essential expenses.

Please consider helping to send them to the World Championship!

To support these hardworking students.,visit the link below to make a donation and help make this incredible opportunity possible!

https://or-hoodriver-lite.intouchreceipting.com/HRMSRobotics

03/11/2026

The Gorge Technology Alliance is thrilled to support this free event hosted by the Columbia Gorge Discovery Center & Museum!

03/09/2026

The Gorge Technology Alliance and the Mid-Columbia Innovation Hub celebrate Women's History Month with a combined Happy Hour and Hub Talk discussion that explores the impact of Women Entrepreneurs in the Gorge's Economy. Women leaders will discuss risk, ownership, growth, decision-making and what it takes to be successful in business!

We look forward to seeing you this Thursday at The Ruins!

Learn more and register at: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/march-hubtalk-a-seat-at-the-table-tickets-1982982425816?

03/06/2026

Attention to all Gorge Technology Alliance member employees! If you are a mechanical or an electrical engineers who wants to participate in an awesome youth team project, read on!

You may remember the Hood River Valley High School's Solar Car Engineering and Race Teamteam's outstanding presentation at last fall's Tech Showcase? This year, the team's entry at National competition is supported by the Columbia Gorge STEM Hub and the GTA. The team is currently looking for electrical and mechanical engineering mentors to help in the build phase for the solar powered car that is going on NOW, in addition to financial support. If you enjoy working with high schoolers who are passionate about solar engineering, contact the team today!

Columbia Community Connection Columbia Gorge Community College Mid-Columbia Innovation Hub

03/02/2026

As a founding company of the Gorge Technology Alliance, Overwatch Imaging has always been a leader carrying our mission to ensure that Gorge youth have robust opportunities. That tradition continues this year with a truly awesome donation for Robotics. Thank you Overwatch!

For more details, read the Columbia Community Connection article at:

Overwatch Imaging, a developer of autonomous airborne imagery intelligence systems, is honored to announce a donation of $10,000 to strengthen STEM education in the Columbia River Gorge ecosystem.

02/24/2026

Mentors Wanted!

The Mid-Columbia Innovation Hub has started a new mentorship program and is looking for people who have built things, run teams, and learned the hard way. The Hub is actively building out it's team of potential mentors now, and this is where you come in...

This isn’t about being an “expert” or having all the answers. It’s about being a sounding board, sharing perspective, asking good questions, and helping founders think through real decisions. The commitment is intentionally modest, expectations will be clear, and the Hub's staff will be handling the logistics. Our program is looking for mentors from all over, so no, you don't have to be located in The Gorge to be a Gorge Mentor!

If you’ve ever wished you’d had someone to talk things through with while building your business, this is your chance to pay it forward and be that person for someone else. Interested? Email [email protected] with questions or apply by using the QR Code.



Mid-Columbia Economic Development District Mid-Columbia Innovation Hub Columbia Gorge Community College Hood River County The Hood River Happenings The Dalles Area Chamber of Commerce South Wasco County Happenings & Misc, Gorge Technology Alliance Washington Gorge Action Programs Wasco County Washington Technology Industry Association (WTIA) Oregon Frontier Chamber of Commerce Skamania County Pioneer Washington State Department of Commerce Goldendale Chamber Goldendale Sentinel Community Partners Bingen-White Salmon Columbia Community Connection