V O L . X X X N O. X I X
60
Fact Book / Doing Business in Maine
B U S I N E S S R E S O U R C E S
E D I T O R ' S N O T E : This is by no means an exhaustive list of resources in Maine, but rather an overview.
S O U R C E : Organizations' websites, Mainebiz research
RESOURCE GUIDE
Maine's resources for innovators
The innovation and startup infrastructure in Maine is extensive,
but also daunting. Here's an overview of resources in the state.
Pitch competitions
Gorham Savings Bank's LaunchPad
gorhamsavings.bank/launchpad/about
Annual pitch competition, with $50,000 prize.
Big Gig
biggig.org/big-gig
A Bangor-area pitch competition with a grand
prize of $5,000.
Greenlight Maine
greenlightmaine.com/greenlight
A pitch competition broadcast on Maine Public.
Top Gun
mced.biz/top-gun
A 15-week program that combines hands-on
mentoring with high-impact weekly gatherings.
Organizations
Maine Center for Entrepreneurs
mced.biz/programs
MCE organizes the 15-week Top Gun program,
MCE Maine Mentor Program, Food Accelerators,
BioStartup, Visionary Leadership Program and
the Compass program for Maine's outdoor
industry.
DIRECTOR: Tom Rainey
SCORE Maine
southernmaine.score.org
Working with retired executives, SCORE pro-
vides mentoring for entrepreneurs and small-
business owners.
MAINE LEADERS: Jonathan Trumper, south-
ern Maine chapter chair; Stephen Veazey,
district director ; Nancy Strojny, assistant
district director
Maine Angels
maineangels.org
Invests in entrepreneurs, with an emphasis on
Maine businesses
CHAIR: Bill Thomas
Maine Technology Institute
mainetechnology.org
MTI offers grants, loans, equity investments
and services to support Maine's innovation
economy.
DIRECTOR: Brian Whitney
Maine Venture Fund
maineventurefund.com
Invests in dynamic businesses that have the
potential for significant growth and impact
in Maine.
DIRECTOR: Joe Powers
Finance Authority of Maine
famemaine.com/about
FAME offers a wide array of business assis-
tance programs, ranging from traditional loan
insurance programs for both small and larger
businesses, to investment tax credits.
CEO: Carlos Mello
Small Business Development Center
mainesbdc.org/about
SBDC assists entrepreneurs and small busi-
nesses through no-cost confidential business
advising and training.
DIRECTOR: Mark Delisle
Coastal Enterprises Inc.
ceimaine.org
A community development financial institution,
CEI helps to create good jobs, environmentally
sustainable enterprises and shared prosperity
in Maine and rural regions.
CEO: Betsy Biemann
CEI Women's Business Center
ceimaine.org/advising/business/
womens-business-center
Offers courses, cohorts, workshops and events
which encourage peer-to-peer learning and
community building, as well as business advis-
ing support.
DIRECTOR: Sarah Guerette
Tortoise Labs
tortoiselabs.com
As Maine's rural product studio, it works with
ambitious entrepreneurs to turn their ideas
into profitable apps, products and services.
DIRECTOR: Nick Rimsa
Greater Portland
Immigrant Welcome Center
welcomeimmigrant.org
A hub of collaboration that strengthens the immi-
grant community through language acquisition,
economic integration and civic engagement.
DIRECTOR: Faisal Khan
New Ventures Maine
newventuresmaine.org
With free classes and individual coaching,
helps people find good jobs, start or return
to college, launch small businesses, manage
their money and build their assets.
DIRECTOR: Janet Smith
Fork Food Lab
Forkfoodlab.com
Incubator space for food startups, with a
30,000-square-foot facility in South Portland.
DIRECTOR: Bill Seretta
Maine International Trade Center
mitc.com/about
MITC offers consulting, research and connec-
tions across Maine and around the world to help
businesses expand global markets for products
and services.
DIRECTOR: Wade Merritt
Indus Fund
theindusfund.com
Business services, including microloans, for
New Mainers.
MANAGING PARTNER: Kerem Durdag
Brunswick Landing
mrra.us/brunswick-landing
Located on a 3,200-acre former Navy base,
Brunswick Landing is equipped with state-of-the-
art facilities, 2 million square feet of commercial
and industrial space and aviation complex.
DIRECTOR: Kristine Logan
TechPlace
techplacemaine.us
Supports the small business development needs
of early-stage companies, offering a place to net-
work with other innovators, research and develop
ideas, build prototypes, test products, assemble,
grow, learn and become successful manufactur-
ing and technology companies.
DIRECTOR: Jaimie Logan
Island Institute
islandinstitute.org/about
Works collaboratively to help Maine's island and
coastal communities tackle the most press-
ing environmental and socio-economic issues.
DIRECTOR: Kimberly Hamilton
Small Business Administration
sba.gov/offices/district/me/augusta/
about-us
The Maine district office is responsible for the
delivery of SBA's programs and services to all
16 counties.
DIRECTOR: Diane Sturgeon
Maine MEP
mainemep.org
The Maine Manufacturing Extension Partnership
helps companies when they're scaling up,
building out factories and related facilities.
PRESIDENT: Jim Fay
Dirigo Labs
dirigolabs.org
An offshoot of Central Maine Growth Council,
the startup accelerator offers mentors and
advisors in business, academia and venture
capital.
DIRECTOR: Susan Ruhlin
New England Ocean Cluster
newenglandoceancluster.com
Connect ocean-minded people with industry
knowledge to help ensure opportunity is pur-
sued inclusively, economically and sustainably.
CEO: Patrick Arnold
Roux Institute
roux.northeastern.edu
Northeastern University's Portland graduate
campus offers an annual accelerator pro-
gram with Techstars, as well as a founder
residency program and an entrepreneurship
immersion program.
L E A D E R S HI P : Margaret Angell, partnerships
and strategic initiatives; Chris Mallett, admin-
istration; Chris Wolfel, entrepreneurship
Startup Maine
startupmaine.org/whats-new
Hosts regular networking events, including
monthly meetups and introductions to vari-
ous programs
PRESIDENT: Katie Shorey
University of Maine Foster
Center for Innovation
umaine.edu/innovation
Is a base for UMaine programs and services
that support entrepreneurship, business devel-
opment and commercialization of university
research, the center offers academic courses
in innovation open to both undergraduate and
graduate students and is home to a student
business incubator.
LEADERSHIP: Renee Kelly, assistant vice presi-
dent for innovation and economic development
Maine Accelerates Growth
maineacceleratesgrowth.weebly.com MxG is a
network of organizations committed to building
an inclusive ecosystem to support innovators
and businesses to scale in Maine and beyond.
COORDINATOR: Liz Trice
