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V O L . X X V N O. X I X S E P T E M B E R 2 , 2 0 1 9 26 S TA R T U P S / E N T R E P R E N E U R S H I P T yler Hansen thought software for creating online portfolios could be more user-friendly. Christian Krohg saw the proliferation of app-based food delivery services and knew Waterville would be a perfect fit. Dylan Veilleux wanted to find a way to create bio-bricks from hemp stalk for more affordable heating. Like many of their fellow college students, the three saw a need and had an idea to fill it. But unlike most people with ideas, Hansen, Krohg and Veilleux have started or are developing businesses based on those ideas. e trio, as well as Joshua Kim and Kia Jones, are getting businesses off the ground by participating in Summer Startup, a pilot program put together by entrepreneur Nick Rimsa, and R.J. Anzelc, owner of Bricks Coworking and Innovation Space in Waterville. Two dreams, one reality e program wasn't planned. "I kind of had this pipe dream of doing this, but didn't know how to get the students," says Anzelc, as he, Rimsa and three of the stu- dents sat down with Mainebiz recently. Rimsa, who teaches product design at Colby, was also working on his startup, Eariously, which converts text to audio. He worked out of 173 Main St., a downtown building owned by Colby that, among its office and retail tenants, has student innovation space. "Not only did I have the students from my class, but at 173 Main I was being approached by dozens of students with ideas," Rimsa says. On top of it, "school was out, and there was still a group of kids who still wanted to be working on their stuff." He was trying to think of a way he could keep mentoring them over the summer. Anzelc and Rimsa met at a Mainebiz On the Road event April 8 in Waterville. ey started talking, and Summer Startup was created. "It came together really quickly," Rimsa says. Starting up young talent in WATERVILLE A new program helps students get businesses off the ground and aims to keep them in town after graduation B y M a u R e e n M i l l i k e n F O C U S For sponsorship opportunities, please contact Publisher Donna Brassard at dbrassard@mainebiz.biz or 207.261.8379 x327 FOLLOW US @MBEVENTS #OTR2020 KE N N E BUN K S PORTLAND E LL SWOR T H BAT H/BRUN SWIC K WAT E RVILLE M ILLIN O C KE T It's 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 2020 On the Road reception series. 2019 LOCAT IONS NOMINATIONS CLOSE SEPTEMBER 20! The winning location will be announced at the end of September. Submit your nomination at mainebiz.biz/OTR2020 Students from Colby and Thomas colleges made up the inaugural group of Summer Startup, a Waterville mentoring program for young entrepreneurs. From left, at Bricks Coworking & Innovation Space, in Waterville, cofounder Nick Rimsa; Christian Krohg, a Colby sophomore; R.J. Anzelc, cofounder; Tyler Hansen, Colby sophomore; and Dylan Veilleux, a Thomas senior. P H O T O / M A U R E E N M I L L I K E N

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