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V O L . X X X I I N O. X I X 96 Fact Book / Doing Business in Maine E N T R E P R E N E U R S H I P N ew ventures thrive when local leaders connect people, resources and opportunities. What do you suppose happens if two equally brilliant and ambitious found- ers with the same business idea are in different ZIP codes? One may find the connections, capital and encouragement needed to build a company that employs hundreds; the other may never get past the napkin stage. Why? Because grit can only take a founder or small business owner so far before they hit a wall. While talent and ambition are important, thriving entrepreneurial communities are the result of deliberate networks that connect people, resources and support systems. In other words: entrepreneurship is not an individual act; it is a community outcome. e strongest business ecosystems make it easier for people with ideas to find the customers, mentors, collabora- tors, talent, investors and advocates they need. When those relationships form naturally and frequently, new ventures are more likely to emerge and grow. But before a community can build a strong entrepreneurial ecosystem, it has to embrace an innovation mindset: seeing change as an opportunity, viewing prob- lems as invitations to build solutions, and encouraging people to test ideas before they have every answer. is mat- ters for both rural and urban places alike because new ventures often result when challenge meets solution. Communities that thrive don't just wait for new businesses to appear; they actively clear the path for them. ey celebrate local success stories, treat founders as changemakers and show the next generation that staying in Maine to build something is a viable path. Most importantly, they reject the myth that innovation belongs exclusively to Silicon Valley tech startups. In Maine, harnessing that means taking our deepest heritage roots and revamping them for the 21st century. It's found in Alexa Coulombe McGovern at Dirigo Sea Farm, turning Maine- grown sea kelp into biodegradable, non-plastic packaging. It's in Marin Skincare, upcycling natural glycopro- teins from the lobster industry into clinically proven treatments for severe eczema. And it's at the University of Maine's Advanced Structures and Composites Center, where researchers are turning forest-derived materials and advanced manufacturing into next-gen- eration solutions for housing, infrastruc- ture and durable composite products. is same spirit is equally alive on Main Street, whether a traditional shopkeeper using e-commerce to export Maine-made products globally, or an employer using creative scheduling to bring retired professionals back into the workforce. At its core, entrepreneur- ship isn't about chasing tech trends; it is about solving modern problems using the deep roots we already have. Perhaps most importantly, these places are willing to take chances on people. Not every idea will succeed, but every attempt can contribute to learning and growth. When experimentation is normal and setbacks are treated as les- sons rather than failures, more people are willing to step forward. Getting started Towns and regions can get started by making business building more vis- ible, accessible and connected. at can include pitch events, mentor net- works, business visits, student projects, workshops and gatherings that bring different sectors together. Many places already have pieces of a strong ecosystem, including aca- demic institutions, lenders, business owners, nonprofit leaders, municipal officials, investors and service provid- ers. A true hub emerges when those groups understand how their work fits together and guide founders from one resource to the next. Building a hub for new ventures is not the responsibility of a single organization or leader. It requires educators, businesses, nonprofits, local governments, investors and residents to see themselves as part of a larger network. e most successful places do not wait for founders to appear; they create conditions that help people act on promising ideas. Innovation can happen anywhere. e question is whether it is creating the conditions that allow them to succeed. Susan Ruhlin, former director of the Dirigo Labs startup incubator, is pr esident and CEO of the Lewiston Auburn Metropolitan C h a m b e r o f C o m m e r c e . C O M M E N TA RY B Y S U S A N R U H L I N B Y S U S A N R U H L I N How Maine places can build stronger business ecosystems CONTACT US RESIDENTIAL & COMMERCIAL SERVICES Solar Electric EV Chargers Battery Back-up Systems Electrical Service Upgrades Heat Pump/HVAC Solutions Heat Pump Water Heaters Plumbing Services Indoor Air Quality 207-218-1411 www.logixmaine.com Logix, LLC , 18 Searsport Ave , Belfast, ME 04915 Proudly Serving Maine Since 2015 Changemaker Champion Join us on November 19 for Maine's Nonprofit Gathering! Join us on November 19 for Maine's Nonprofit Gathering! Community Builders Collaborators Connectors