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W W W. M A I N E B I Z . B I Z 33 S E P T E M B E R 7 , 2 0 1 5 capital? How do you create a busi- ness that's a positive win on all sides, as opposed to the old industrial model that takes from nature, grinds it up, spits out a product and doesn't know where that product goes at the end of its life?" A class, not a club e idea for e Hatchery was sparked by students taking his busi- ness planning class. " ey said, ' is is great. Now we'd like to start this business. Where can we do that?' Six months later, we had e Hatchery up and running," Friedlander says. Six months is "lighting speed" for getting a college program off the ground, he says. Many college campuses host business incubators, and COA's shares common- alities with them, such as offi ce space, mentorship and start-up capital, he says. COA's program is diff erent. Else- where, incubators are co-curricular off erings, more like clubs, and students must fi t that activity into a full sched- ule of classes. At COA, e Hatchery is a regular, for-credit class. "At COA, you can start an enter- prise because of your education," he says. "At most other colleges, the other way to look at it is you have to do it despite your education." e for-credit aspect makes a lot of sense, he says. "When students start a venture, it's inherently what they're passionate about," he says. "Because they're pas- sionate about it, they're going to spend more time on it. And then you can bring in the theory, and it's going to be much more meaningful. ere aren't many schools, I've found, that are doing that." Another unique aspect is e Hatchery's invitation to students to stay on for another nine months once the class has ended, so they can continue to build their network and utilize the resources they've cultivated. And other incubators don't host the diverse mix of projects seen at e Hatchery, he says. "At other schools, you won't fi nd this combination of non-profi t, for-profi t, advocacy and international develop- ment, all in one space," Friedlander says. A program boot-strapped with grants In its fi rst year, the U.S. Department of Agriculture Rural Development pro- gram granted $73,501 to establish the incubator. e program subsequently received $100,000 from the W.P. Carey Foundation, $10,000 from the Fisher Portland, ME dunham-group.com 207.773.7100 Local Knowledge. Regional Focus. Global Reach. Kent needed larger space for Fluid Imaging Technologies... Helping Mainers realize their vision and achieve business goals is what The Dunham Group does best. Clients like Kent Peterson know that The Dunham Group develops trust, long-term relationships, and fuels business that grows our state's economy—and that's good news for all Mainers. Call or visit us online. So, he chose The Dunham Group to negotiate the microscopic details. Contact Dave Eldridge today to find out how we can provide smarter banking solutions. Dave Eldridge, SVP and Commercial Lending Manager 376-3626 • deldridge@androscogginbank.com androscogginbank.com Androscoggin Smarter Banking moves your business goals forward. Our team is devoted to your success and understanding your unique business needs and goals. Smarter Banking ™ C O N T I N U E D O N F O L L OW I N G PA G E »

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