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V O L . X X X I N O. X X V I I D E C E M B E R 1 , 2 0 2 5 16 B A N K I N G / F I N A N C E / I N S U R A N C E Today, 21% of HighByte's equity is owned by female investors or women- led venture firms, which Penrod- Cambra says happened organically rather than a result of a deliberate strategy. Raising funds has had its chal- lenges, like fielding questions from would-be backers that Penrod- Cambra says would never be put to male founders. "I have been asked directly by poten- tial investors about how I will balance child care with the demands of starting a company," she says. "Frankly, this is not a question we ask male found- ers." She says that while those types of personal questions tend to reflect unconscious bias rather than ill will, the situation seems to be improving as more women become investors. To keep the pipeline going, she would like to see more women starting businesses. "After a successful exit, many found- ers go on to either start another com- pany or they move into venture funds or angel investing," she says. "If we're not filling the top of the funnel with more women startup founders, we will con- tinue to lack women investors. is is an obstacle, and it takes time to fix." Investing for 'impact' As women around the world gain wealth and financial independence, they are increasingly leading the shift toward investing for impact as well as financial returns. at's long been a focus for Karin Gregory, co-founder and managing partner of Blue Highway Capital in Biddeford. e private equity boutique, launched in 2016, invests in rural busi- nesses including Springworks Farm, a Lisbon-based organic grower of lettuce using sustainable aquaponics technology. "We invest in companies that some- body might think of as venture-y that are still at an early stage but have rev- enues and repeatable customers," says Gregory, who recently returned from a gathering in New York City with 150 other impact-oriented funds. "It comes back to the need to make a difference with their money, whether it's climate or something that makes us a healthier, happier world," she says. "Of course you want to make money, but women might forego the return for the reward of the invest- ment that they make." Renee Cordes, Mainebiz deputy editor, can be reached at rcordes @ mainebiz.biz » C O N T I N U E D F RO M P R E V I O U S PA G E From preparing for retirement to planning your legacy, MCB Wealth Management is here to help you live the life you've earned. Make the most of your success. Securities and advisory services are offered through LPL Financial (LPL), a registered investment advisor and broker-dealer (Member FINRA/SIPC). Insurance products are offered through LPL or its licensed affiliates. Maine Community Bank and MCB Wealth Management are not registered as a broker-dealer or investment advisor. Registered representatives of LPL offer products and services using MCB Wealth Management, and may also be employees of Maine Community Bank. These products and services are being offered through LPL or its affiliates, which are separate entities from, and not affiliates of, Maine Community Bank or MCB Wealth Management. Securities and insurance offered through LPL or its affiliates are: Not insured by FDIC or any other government agency | Not bank deposits | Not bank guaranteed or obligation | May lose value Let's talk | maine.bank/wealth Karin Gregory is the co-founder and managing partner of Blue Highway Capital, a Biddeford- based private equity firm that invests in rural companies with strong growth potential. P H O T O / T I M G R E E N WAY F O C U S

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