Issue link: https://nebusinessmedia.uberflip.com/i/1377097
S P R I N G 2 0 2 1 / W O R K F O R M E 47 Maine's tech businesses continue to grow in the areas of payment processing, biotech and R&D. There are opportunities there and the jobs pay well. S TA R T I N G H E R E Tech BOOM With its global reach and mission-driven values Maine tech makes an impact B Y C A T I E J O Y C E B U L A Y O ver the past few years Maine has sent a clear message to the tech industry that it is open for busi- ness. With new companies moving to the state and older companies growing and expanding along with this year's downtown Portland opening of the Roux Institute, Maine is poised to take on a leading role in technology. The Roux Institute, part of Northeastern University's graduate studies program fo- cused on artificial intelligence, biotechnol- ogy, computer and data sciences and digital engineering, saw its first cohort of students last fall in space it shares with WEX. Not only do they share a home but the Roux Institute has a partnership with the financial tech company along with a startup residency of its own that helps Maine-based tech companies grow and attracts new startup businesses from out-of-state. WEX, which moved into its new office space in downtown Portland in 2019, provides financial services and payment systems to millions of companies world-wide with employees in eleven different countries. Adrian Van Der Eb is one of WEX's 1,250 Maine-based employees and started with the company through its internship program C O N T I N U E D O N F O L L O W I N G PA G E ยป G e t C o d i n g C oded By Young Women of Color, started by singer Janay Woodruff, who per- forms as JanaeSound, is one of Maine's newest nonprofits and is focused on en- couraging young women of color to learn about and pursue careers in technol- ogy. Woodruff got interested in the issue when she started doing virtual reality performances. CYWOC will begin offering educational opportunities this summer. n cywoc.org Over the past few years Maine has sent a clear messaage to the tech industry that it is open for business. P H O T O / J I M N E U 8 G E R Janay Woodruff, founder of Coded By Young Women of Color T E C H N O L O GY