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V O L . X X X I I N O. X X I V O C T O B E R 1 9 , 2 0 2 6 10 H OW TO B Y L I S A L I B E R A T O R E B Y L I S A L I B E R A T O R E M aine has no shortage of entre- preneurs. It has capital, innova- tion resources and a growing bench of people working hard on economic development across the state. Yet in my work connecting found- ers with the people and resources they need, I regularly see the same pattern: the thing standing between an entrepre- neur and their next step is not another program or business plan workshop. It is knowing the right person. at gap matters more than it might seem. Financial capital gets most of the attention in conversations about entrepreneurship, but social capital — the relationships that con- nect a founder to mentors, investors, customers and collaborators — is often what determines whether a good idea actually gets off the ground. is is especially true outside Maine's traditional business hubs, where entrepreneurs can build a strong prod- uct and still struggle to find their way into the networks that open doors. Practical steps If we want Maine's entrepreneurial ecosystem to function like an actual ecosystem rather than a collection of disconnected parts, founders need practical ways to build those connec- tions themselves rather than waiting for them to happen. Here is how entrepreneurs can start closing that gap. Treat relationship building as a core business activity, not an afterthought. Block time for it the same way you would block time for product development or sales. Founders who wait until they need something, funding, a hire, an introduction, before starting to build relationships are always play- ing catch-up. Show up where the ecosystem actually gathers. Pitch events, funder convenings, university pro- grams and regional meetups are not just networking events. ey are where informal introductions happen and where people quietly decide who to recommend for the next oppor- tunity. Consistent presence matters more than any single event. Ask for introductions, not just advice. Entrepreneurs are often comfortable asking mentors for feedback but hesitant to ask them to make a connection. A direct, specific ask, such as requesting an introduc- tion to a particular investor or poten- tial customer, is usually welcome and moves things forward faster than a general request for guidance. Give before you ask. Share a use- ful resource, make an introduction for someone else or offer a piece of expertise before you need something in return. Ecosystems run on reci- procity, and founders who contrib- ute to the network early tend to get pulled into opportunities later. Look beyond your immediate industry. Some of the most use- ful relationships come from outside a founder's specific sector, whether it's a funder who backs a different kind of business or an entrepreneur solving an unrelated problem. Cross- sector relationships often surface opportunities that a narrower net- work would miss. Relationships matter Maine's entrepreneurial infrastructure is genuinely strong. What determines whether that infrastructure actually helps a given founder is whether they are plugged into the relationships that make it accessible. Building those connections takes intention, but it is one of the few parts of starting and scaling a busi- ness that is entirely within an entre- preneur's control. Lisa Liberatore is the program manager and entrepreneur in residence at UpStart Maine in Bangor. She can be reached at lisa @ poweroftransparency.com Construction You Can Count On pmconstruction.com ncormier@pmconstruction.com 207.282.7697 With deep experience in the retail sector, PMC plays a vital role in delivering new construction and renovation projects for national brands and local businesses across northern New England. FEATURED PROJECT Hunter's Shop 'N Save (Wolfeboro NH) — New construction of a 15,000 SF energy efficient independent supermarket P H OTO B Y H A R R I M A N S P O N S O R E D B Y P H O T O / T I M G R E E N WAY $19.95 December 29, 2025 VO L . X X X I N O. X X I X www.mainebiz.biz SP ONSORED BY C O M I N G S O O N The 2027 Mainebiz Book of Lists Who's number one? That's what the Maine business community looks for every year in the Book of Lists. Mainebiz researches companies, executives and transactions in many industries and ranks them by various factors. With comprehensive information on hundreds of companies, this is the ultimate tool for decision- makers who are doing business in Maine Each list can be downloaded in an Excel format, and a digital version of the entire Book of Lists includes online-only data as well as contact information for Maine companies. L E A R N M O R E B Y E M A I L I N G A D V E R T I S I N G @ M A I N E B I Z . B I Z O R O R D E R A D I G I TA L L I S T T O DAY AT M A I N E B I Z . B I Z / D AT A 2 0 2 6 C OV E R Build the relationships your business needs to grow in Maine Some of the most useful relationships come from outside a founder's specific sector, whether it's a funder who backs a different kind of business or an entrepreneur solving an unrelated problem.

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