Mainebiz

V O L . X X I V N O. X I X S E P T E M B E R 3 , 2 0 1 8 20 C hristine Soto, a New York native and graduate of Drexel University in Philadelphia, worked 15 years for various companies in the research and development. But she was interested in focus- ing on the development of novel antibodies for strains of bacteria and virus that didn't receive much main- stream attention, like Lassa virus and meningitis. So she decided to go out on her own. In 2017, she set up her start-up business, Monoclonals Inc., at a busi- ness incubator in Ellsworth the Union River Center for Innovation. Here, she would find affordable rent, sup- port services like coaching and busi- ness workshops, a culture of respon- siveness from established institutions to the needs of a biotechnology startup and a beautiful setting. Finding it difficult and expensive to set up her own lab space in conven- tional settings like established biologi- cal firms, Soto discovered the innova- tion center through a web search. "I just needed a small incubator so I could bootstrap my company," she says. "I came here, it was beauti- ful, I loved it. Everyone knew what an incubator was. So when I went in, it was very nurturing." Ellsworth think tank at's exactly what Union River Center for Innovation's organizers were aiming for. "It's kind of like with kids. You raise them until they're mature enough to go out on their own," says John Fitzpatrick, who is Jackson Laboratory's senior director of facilities and chairs the Ellsworth Business Development Corp. Fitzpatrick is also on the innova- tion center's board and heads up its selection committee. "e doors are always open and, in a good way, folks are hearing what others have going on to build off ideas, and even offer assistance with something as simple as, 'Do you need help taking stuff to your car?' Competition's great, but collaboration's better," he says. Other entrepreneurs agree with that take. "We're like the Ellsworth think tank," says Clyde Ford, who is in the early stages of setting up PT3D, a P H O T O / F R E D F I E L D F O C U S For sponsorship opportunities, please contact Publisher Donna Brassard at dbrassard@mainebiz.biz or 207.261.8379 x327 READERS' CHOICE FOLLOW US @MBEVENTS #OTR2019 N O M I N AT I O N S C LO S E S E P T E M B E R 1 7 The winning location will be announced the end of September. Submit your nomination at www.mainebiz.biz/OTR2019 It is your choice! Here is your chance to tell Mainebiz where to go! Nominate your city or town to be one of the six stops we make in our 2019 On the Road reception series. Ellsworth creates haven for startups Moonlighting on 'the next IDEXX' B y L a u R i e s C h R e i B e R LEFT: Christine Soto decided to go out on her own, she set up Monoclonals Inc. at the Ellsworth business incubator, Union River Center for Innovation. RIGHT: Carrie LeDuc is one of four founders of GenoTyping Center of America, another tenant at the innovation center.

• Cover