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V I E W P O I N T S W W W. M A I N E B I Z . B I Z 3 M A R C H 6 , 2 0 2 3 From the Editor T his issue is filled with entrepreneurs, startups and people staking whatever they have on an idea. ere are actually two-issues-in-one in this print edition. e cover story and focus story inside are about emerging industries. e pull-out section is the second annual Startup Hub. It's gotten to be a cliche, but there was wisdom in the 1989 movie "Field of Dreams." From it, we got the admittedly corny catch line, "If you build it they will come," which has become a mantra for startups and businesses of all kinds. Starting with Laurie Schreiber's journey into all the new ways people are using one of Maine's most com- mon resources: wood, or "forest products" as the indus- try calls them. Laurie talked to people making houses with 3D printers, biochar for agricultural use, sustain- ably produced packaging that can be used in shipping, engineered wood siding, cross-laminated timber. e uses are endless. For more, the cover story, "A new act for forest products," starts on Page 16. Along a completely different line when it comes to emerging industries, Alexis Wells talks to a Portland startup, Alakazam, that creates virtual worlds that can transform business meetings and a host of different settings. See "Teleport your businesses into the virtual world," which starts on Page 22. Startup Hub e journey of a startup can take many forms. It's easy to get swept away in the stories of certain start- ups that seem to have it all going for them — the great idea, the polished elevator speech, a shelf full of awards from pitch competitions. Rarely is it that neat and tidy. Most entrepre- neurs have a messy road. ere are false starts and stops. ere is the uncomfortable business of asking for money from economic development organiza- tions, TIF committees, angel investors — or worse, friends and family. Most true entrepreneurs have more stories of failure than success. In this edition of the Startup Hub, our team of writers took a more in depth look at the stories of entrepreneurs and how their startups developed. See the pull-out section. Peter Van Allen pvanallen@mainebiz.biz Featured @ Mainebiz.biz For a daily digest of Maine's top business news, sign up for the Mainebiz Daily Report at mainebiz.biz/enews Get Maine's top business news daily at mainebiz.biz or by signing up for our Daily Report and Real Estate Insider newsletters. Here is our top content from Feb. 14–28. 1. Retiring to Vacationland: Maine's growing attraction for retirees 'from away' 2. $18.5M commercial transaction largest in recent Augusta history 3. New airline taking flight from Portland to four locations 4. Applications open for $6.5M in heating assistance funds 5. NH couple with hospitality background buy one of Maine's oldest inns 6. Cianbro co-founder Ken Cianchette remembered as a 'pragmatic doer' 7. Portland tops another 'best places to live' national list 8. With Millinocket proposal, salmon farming would head north 9. Lisbon aquaponics farm could more than double production after $22M expansion 10. North Berwick's Hussey Seating chosen for $7M Mass. arena project P H O T O / T I M G R E E N WAY 1 We help startups create, finance, and scale their businesses. bernsteinshur.com Be entrepreneurial. BE SHUR. Wherever you are in your start up journey, our team of advisors can set you up for long-term success. We regularly provide strategic counsel to companies at all stages of the startup lifecycle – giving you the tools and guidance you need as you form, fund, go to market, scale and exit. Being an entrepreneur is about taking a leap If you build it they will come. — Field of Dreams

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