FAQ
Frequently asked questions
What is Ayuda Ventures?
Ayuda Ventures is a venture studio in Portland, Oregon, led by Doug Hanson. We build software for individuals, such as music teachers, homeowners and women returning to work, who need powerful tools that have mostly been built for larger businesses. We make them affordable, and often free. Each product starts with one person and grows into its own company. “Ayuda” means “help” in Spanish, and the question behind every product is what would help that person.
What is a venture studio, and how is Ayuda different from an accelerator, incubator or VC fund?
A venture studio comes up with ideas, builds the products, and runs the resulting companies itself. Accelerators and incubators take in outside founders for a fixed program, and a VC fund’s main job is writing checks into other people’s companies. Ayuda Ventures does the building: our companies start inside the studio and grow into their own. We also work alongside outside founders, and we sometimes invest in them.
How does Ayuda decide what to build?
We spend a lot of time with the person in the market to understand their challenges, and we solve the problem for them. We aren’t asking how something becomes a unicorn. We’re asking how we solve this for this individual. Then we ask how to scale it so we can solve it for others like them.
How does Ayuda Ventures work with founders?
We work alongside a small number of founders at a time, from pre-seed through Series A. In return, Ayuda can take some equity, or we can work with you on a contract basis. To start, email hello@ayudaventures.com and tell us what you’re building.
Does Ayuda invest in companies, take outside investment, or help founders raise?
Yes to all three. Ayuda sometimes invests in founder companies, takes outside investment, and helps founder companies find investors.
How can I join one of Ayuda’s companies?
We’re not actively hiring, but we’re always looking for good people to help run our companies. If you want to build something useful, write to hello@ayudaventures.com and tell us what you’d do.
What has Ayuda built so far?
Ayuda’s first three products are now their own companies, all launched in 2026, and more are on the way. You can see them under “Our products” on the home page.
I need help getting a product to market. Is that Ayuda?
Not directly. Ayuda builds and runs its own companies. Go-to-market help is a separate practice, PDX Sales, run by Doug Hanson for pre-seed to Series A founders. It offers a 2-4 week GTM diagnostic, a fractional sales leader engagement, and deal and founder coaching. See pdxsales.com, or email hello@pdxsales.com.