Technology Association of Oregon (TAO)

What Technology Association of Oregon (TAO) does

Technology Association of Oregon (TAO) is a nonprofit 501(c)(6) membership association founded in 1984 (originally as the Software Association of Oregon) and headquartered in Portland, Oregon. It serves technology companies and professionals across Oregon and Southwest Washington through a multi-pronged platform: signature events (the 42-year-old Oregon Technology Awards, Party in the Pinot, The Great Transformation), vertical community groups (AI & Data, Cybersecurity, Fintech, Healthtech, People & Culture, Women & Allies, NW Sustainability Alliance, Computing & Infrastructure), member benefits programs (the ALLtech collective-bargained health plan with Moda Health, an Oregon State University tuition-benefit partnership, PSU Customer Success Certification, and career development via HPDLab), and content platforms (the Techlandia and Deal-Landia podcasts and an Industry Impact Report). The organization also conducts policy advocacy through partnerships such as Field Day, and supports regional initiatives including the Made in Old Town manufacturing hub and the OSU-led FAST semiconductor consortium.

TAO generates revenue across three primary streams: recurring annual membership dues (tiered by company size, $499/year for 1-10 employees up to $1,999/year for larger employers through programs such as the Northwest Sustainability Alliance), event ticket and table sales (individual tickets $250-$300, tables of ten $2,500-$3,000 at signature events), and corporate sponsorships from a roster that includes Wells Fargo, AWS, KPMG, United Healthcare, Silicon Valley Bank, Oregon State University, Portland State University, and the University of Oregon. Go-to-market is community-led, with member acquisition driven by events, community participation, and referral networks; target customers span pre-revenue startups to enterprise technology firms (logos cited include EasyHome, RFPIO, PacStar, and JLL).

TAO does not develop proprietary technology products. Its underlying "platform" is a curated program of in-person and digital touchpoints, an aggregated benefits portfolio, and recognized brand properties that deliver networking, visibility, advocacy, and operational savings to member companies. The organization operates with 1-10 employees and is led by President and CEO Skip Newberry; its revenue and member counts are not publicly disclosed.

Name

Technology Association of Oregon (TAO)

Legal name

Technology Association of Oregon

Website

https://techoregon.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1984

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Technology Association of Oregon is a nonprofit membership association serving Oregon and Southwest Washington technology companies through signature events, vertical communities, member benefits, and policy advocacy.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Technology Industry Association / Trade Association

NAICS

Professional Organizations (81392), Convention and Trade Show Organizers (561920)

SIC

Services-Membership Organizations (8600)

akta.pro primary industry

Technology & Innovation Expos Organizers (THAHABAE)

akta.pro secondary industry

STEM, Digital Literacy & Maker Education Nonprofits (BPAGADAG)

Keywords

• Technology industry association
• Tech advocacy services
• Membership networking events
• Workforce development programs
• Regional tech policy

Headquarters

HQ city

Portland

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Membership Dues: Annual membership fees from tech companies. Pricing tiers based on company size: $499/year for 1-10 employees (Northwest Sustainability Alliance), with other programs offering enterprise-class health benefits through partnerships.
2. Event Revenue: Revenue from signature events including Oregon Tech Awards and Party in the Pinot. Event tickets range from $250-$300 per individual, tables of 10 available for $2,500-$3,000.
3. Sponsorships: Corporate sponsorship of events and programs. Sponsors listed include major companies like Wells Fargo, AWS, KPMG, Oregon State University, University of Oregon, Portland State University, and others.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels2 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

Technology Association of Oregon (TAO) is a nonprofit regional industry association serving the technology sector in Oregon and Southwest Washington. Its offerings center on industry advocacy, professional networking and community events, educational programming, and workforce development initiatives for tech companies and tech workers. The organization generates revenue primarily through corporate and individual membership dues, event tickets, and event sponsorships.

Product overview

Technology Association of Oregon (TAO) is a nonprofit membership organization that provides a platform of interconnected programs and services rather than a single unified software product. The core offerings include signature events (Oregon Technology Awards, Party in the Pinot, The Great Transformation), professional communities (AI and Data, Cybersecurity, Fintech, Healthtech, People and Culture, NW Sustainability Alliance), member benefits (ALLtech health insurance, OSU tuition program, career development), content platforms (Techlandia and Deal-Landia podcasts), research resources (Regional Industry Impact Report), and professional certification programs (Customer Success Certification, Solutions for Driving Performance). The association connects and supports the regional tech community through advocacy, events, networking, and strategic partnerships.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Techlandia: TAO's flagship podcast exploring technology, business, innovation, and growth through conversations with industry leaders.
• Deal-Landia
• Northwest Sustainability Alliance

Products and services

• Industry Advocacy and Policy Representation Regional policy advocacy and government affairs representation for the technology industry in Oregon and Southwest Washington, serving tech employers and tech workers who need a unified voice on local and state policy issues.
• Corporate and Individual Memberships Tiered membership offerings for technology companies, employers, and individual tech professionals that grant access to TAO's events, programming, advocacy, and community benefits in Oregon and Southwest Washington.
• Networking Events and Conferences In-person and regional conferences, meetups, and networking events for technology professionals and tech executives in the Oregon and Southwest Washington region, including sponsored signature programs.
• Workforce Development Programs Programs that connect Oregon tech employers with education and talent pipeline initiatives to develop the regional technology workforce, serving both companies seeking talent and individuals seeking careers in technology.
• Educational and Professional Development Programming Educational content, panels, and professional development sessions designed for technology professionals to build skills and stay current on industry topics in the Oregon tech ecosystem.

Quantifiable outcome

• 400 attendees representing ~180 companies at signature summer event
• +1 more outcomes

Named customers4 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

AI capability2 records

Partnerships

16 partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Moda HealthcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 7 April 2026Strategic partnership to launch a customized medical and health benefit offering for Oregon technology companies. Through this partnership, TAO and ALLtech leverage collective buying power to secure enterprise-class health benefits at competitive rates for tech companies with 2-50 employees.
• ALLtech BenefitscoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 7 April 2026Partnership to provide health benefits for small tech companies. ALLtech is a nonprofit Association Health Plan (AHP) that joins small businesses together to negotiate coverage and rates with major carriers, giving small businesses access to better benefits.
• AvantminorGTM or Marketing Partner · 9 December 2025Partnership to expand access to language proficiency certification in Oregon. The collaboration provides TAO members with discounted access to Avant's language assessment tests and certifications, supporting workforce development and global communication skills.
• Portland State University - Center for Executive and Professional EducationcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership to deliver Customer Success Certification Program - a 6-week, fully online program. TAO provides exclusive 15% discount for members on the certification program.
• Oregon State UniversitycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerTuition Benefit Program partnership offering TAO members and their spouses/dependents a 15% tuition scholarship for any OSU course or program delivered online, covering fields such as computer science, business, cybersecurity, and data analytics.
• Human Performance Dynamics Laboratory (HPDLab.org)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership to deliver strategic learning and development experiences for tech organizations. Programs include Emerging Leaders, Strategic Leaders, Agile, Negotiation, and Lean Six Sigma training delivered in-person or virtually.
• Field DayminorGTM or Marketing PartnerPolicy advocacy partnership helping shape the future of technology through proactive advocacy and policy influence.
• TechworksminorGTM or Marketing PartnerPartnership providing technology workforce and benefits solutions for TAO members.
• PortalusminorGTM or Marketing PartnerPartnership providing competitive retirement plans for TAO member employees.
• EmpathiHRminorGTM or Marketing PartnerHR resource partnership for TAO members providing policies, training, quarterly questionnaires, and complaint hotline services.
• SAIFminorGTM or Marketing PartnerWorkers compensation discount program available to TAO members.
• Primetrics ServicesminorGTM or Marketing PartnerFinancial planning and growth navigation services partnership for TAO members.
• Investor Match AIminorGTM or Marketing PartnerFunding match and due diligence platform partnership for TAO members.
• Delta Air LinesminorGTM or Marketing PartnerSkyMiles for Business loyalty program for small and medium-sized enterprises, available to TAO members.
• Hilos (Made in Old Town Project)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerTAO supports the $125 million Made in Old Town project to transform four city blocks in Portland into a domestic manufacturing hub for the sportswear industry. Project aims to generate 6,000 full-time jobs by 2028 and reduce reliance on overseas manufacturing.
• Oregon State University (FAST Initiative)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerOSU-led semiconductor initiative with 95 regional partners including TAO, finalist for $160 million in NSF regional innovation engine funding. Initiative aims to expand workforce training and leverage AI for semiconductor design and manufacturing in Oregon.

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Broad incumbents

• Bay Area Council: Business and policy association for the San Francisco Bay Area covering technology, housing, infrastructure and workforce — comparable multi-stakeholder regional association model with policy advocacy focus.
• CompTIA (Computing Technology Industry Association): Large national trade association for the IT industry offering membership, certification, advocacy and events — broader scope than TAO but closely aligned core mission of serving technology companies.
• Consumer Technology Association (CTA): National trade association best known for operating CES, providing policy advocacy, market research and member events — overlapping trade-association model focused on the technology industry.

Regional players

• Austin Technology Council: Regional nonprofit serving Central Texas technology companies through programming, networking, and advocacy — directly analogous regional tech association to TAO, but operating in a different geography.
• Silicon Valley Leadership Group: Regional business association representing Silicon Valley employers, including heavy tech-industry participation, with comparable advocacy, events and member-benefit offerings — though operating at a much larger geographic and member scale.

Direct peers

• Pittsburgh Technology Council: Regional nonprofit tech trade association running community groups, signature events, awards, and advocacy for southwestern Pennsylvania — structurally analogous peer.
• MassTLC (Massachusetts Technology Leadership Council): Nonprofit tech industry association serving Massachusetts companies via events, awards, policy advocacy and community groups — same horizontal segmentation approach as TAO.
• Technology Association of Georgia (TAG): State-level nonprofit technology trade association running community groups, awards programs, and policy advocacy for Georgia's tech ecosystem — directly comparable member-base, mission, and revenue model.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks4 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/techoregon
• YouTubeyoutube.com/channel/UCwRzQ5a4m4gBZ6nC5c8zQ
• Facebookfacebook.com/Technology-Association-of-Oregon-111989815636
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/technology-association-of-oregon
• Instagraminstagram.com/techoregon

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles1 record

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Technology Association of Oregon (TAO)