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W W W. M A I N E B I Z . B I Z 31 S E P T E M B E R 2 , 2 0 1 9 F O C U S S TA R T U P S / E N T R E P R E N E U R S H I P Proximity to UMaine has provided an important pipeline to resources, expertise and talent. "at's a big advantage for start- ups that locate here," she adds. UpStart offers reduced lease rates to start-ups in the incubator, as well as a market-rate leasing program. A separate affiliates program helps com- panies that don't need office space but benefit from business development and facility services. It offers fast internet, video confer- encing and services like lunch-and- learn seminars. For incubator tenants, additional services include hands-on management assistance, access to financ- ing and orchestrated exposure to critical business or technical support. Recent improvements include an $850,000 build-out of two laboratory spaces, completed last year and occupied by Cerhelix and Environetix, which had previously retrofitted lab space else- where in the building. "at had a dramatic impact on the facility," Kelly says. "Being able to have laboratory space of more signifi- cant size is something that was miss- ing in this region." Emma Wilson, the center's entre- preneurship events and marketing coordinator, has performed other space upgrades that speak to the incubator's networking nature. "Everybody learns a lot from one another, so Emma has been working on creating spaces in the building where people are comfortable hanging out," says Kelly. "People think of entrepreneurs as lonely. But it's really a team sport," says Martha Bentley, Maine Department of Economic and Community Development's small business and entrepreneurial development manager. "It's about building a local entrepre- neurial ecosystem." Making ideas real UpStart addresses challenges faced by small entrepreneurs looking to make their ideas real, says David Milan, direc- tor of Orono's office of community development and Bangor Target Area Development Corp.'s board chair. "Maybe they're working in their garage but they want to go to full Higgins Fabrication Live Here. Work Here. Grow Here. Bangor Innovation Center With business incubator sites for lease and a customized intake process from city staff, Bangor is a centralized, business-friendly location for your manufacturing operation. We'd love to talk with you about how you can build and grow here in Bangor! Come see why Bangor was recognized by Business Week as one of America's 12 pockets of prosperity. 207.992.4280 comm.dev@bangormaine.gov www.bangormaine.gov /BangorCityHall Building an Economy that Works for Everyone CEI helps grow good jobs, environmentally sustainable enterprises and shared prosperity through financing, advising and policy advocacy www.ceimaine.org Looking to start or grow a business? 207.504.5900 C O N T I N U E D O N F O L L OW I N G PA G E » P H O T O / C O U R T E S Y O F E N V I RO N E T I X T E C H N O L O G I E S C O R P. P H O T O / C O U R T E S Y O F A C T I VA S D I A G N O S T I C S Activas Diagnostics is developing a diagnostic sleep monitoring system. At left, undergraduate research assistant Ryan Dufour reviews test data on electronic circuits with President/CTO Ali Abedi, CEO/CSO Marie Hayes and Chief Engineer Masoumeh Esfahani. Environetix Technologies Corp. develops wireless sensor solutions to meet the challenges of measuring high temperature, pressure, vibration and strain in harsh and extreme environments.

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