Ignite Portland

Chris Logan is an entrepreneur living in Portland. A veteran of the high tech industry, Chris founded and ran several venture-funded startups and held executive positions with established companies like Avaya (a spin out of AT&T).

We have entered the urban century. In 2000 45% of the world’s population lived in cities. Dramatic urban growth will push us over the 50% mark this year. My presentation will show that Portland is the prototype for this future. Portland’s ½ million people demonstrate how the education, employment and services of a dense urban existence yield a higher standard of living and quality of life. The 18 million inhabitants of Shanghai are now proving out many of these practices at scale. I will make the case that the emergent global urban culture with its resource efficiencies and low birth rates will prove to be our planets salvation.