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Startup Maine Stories

38 episodes - English - Latest episode: almost 3 years ago - ★★★★★ - 4 ratings

Startup Maine Stories is a collection of articles and interviews about startups located in Maine.

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Episodes

Startup Maine Speaker Session 14: David Douglas Stone, Executive Chairman and Founder of Forager

July 09, 2021 16:32 - 44 minutes - 40.5 MB

In this series, Startup Maine's President, Katie Shorey, discusses valuable insights with thinkers and doers from across Maine. This session she is joined by David Douglas Stone, Executive Chairman and Founder of Forager

Startup Maine Speaker Session 13: Helkin Berg, CEO of Strimo

July 09, 2021 16:28 - 30 minutes - 28 MB

In this series, Startup Maine's President, Katie Shorey, discusses valuable insights with thinkers and doers from across Maine. This session she is joined by Helkin Berg, CEO of Strimo.

Startup Maine Speaker Session 12: Chris Wolfel, Director of Entrepreneurship at the Roux Institute

July 09, 2021 16:26 - 42 minutes - 38.8 MB

In this series, Startup Maine's President, Katie Shorey, discusses valuable insights with thinkers and doers from across Maine. This session she is joined by Chris Wolfel, Director of Entrepreneurship at the Roux Institute

Startup Maine Speaker Session 11: Chip Terry, CEO & Co-Founder, Oyster Tracker

July 09, 2021 16:23 - 30 minutes - 28.3 MB

In this series, Startup Maine's President, Katie Shorey, discusses valuable insights with thinkers and doers from across Maine. This session she is joined by Chip Terry, CEO & Co-Founder of Oyster Tracker.

Maine rocket-maker bluShift expects to ramp up launch services in the next few years

June 25, 2021 18:57 - 4 minutes - 4.12 MB

As bluShift Aerospace crosses the halfway line to its crowd equity funding goal of $1.07 million, the Brunswick-based company is betting on its development of a small, dedicated launch service to break into a crowded field of companies eyeing the lucrative commercial space flight market.

Culture and access need to change for Maine’s startup community to reach its full potential

June 17, 2021 17:54 - 5 minutes - 5.22 MB

Twenty years ago, I was the only immigrant involved in the Maine tech startup ecosystem. The fact that still remains largely true, despite the growth of the state’s startup community and large influx of immigrants to the state in the intervening years, is a problem.

UpStart Maine to launch new showcase and mentorship programs

June 15, 2021 03:42 - 2 minutes - 2.2 MB

UpStart Maine, a coalition of entrepreneur-support organizations in the Bangor region, says the recent award of a $20,000 in grant funding will help the alliance officially launch two business growth programs that were piloted this spring.

$12M investment expected to fuel Portland-based VETRO's growth in broadband mapping

June 07, 2021 14:21 - 5 minutes - 4.78 MB

A bucketload of money is arriving in Maine from federal and state funding sources — including at least $100 million through the $1.9 trillion American Rescue Plan — to expand broadband access.

Portland software startup out to win 'tech talent war' takes home $50K LaunchPad prize

June 04, 2021 22:51 - 2 minutes - 2.66 MB

HighByte, a fast-growing Portland industrial software startup aiming to win what one of its founders calls a war for tech talent, won the $50,000 grand prize in Gorham Savings Bank's 2021 LaunchPad competition on Tuesday.

The Cubby takes top prize in Maine's Top Gun awards

June 04, 2021 16:39 - 2 minutes - 2.03 MB

The Cubby, a Waterville startup that helps college students sell art work, won Maine Center for Entrepreneurs' Top Gun Showcase award on Wednesday night.

Mass. tech startup to join growing ranks of Roux Institute residents, says hiring 'underway'

May 21, 2021 03:54 - 3 minutes - 2.89 MB

Kebotix Inc., a Cambridge, Mass.-based technology startup, is partnering with Northeastern University's Roux Institute in Portland to establish an office and research footprint in Maine and to hire local talent.

Portland entrepreneur wins national award as growing startup readies product launch

May 19, 2021 18:00 - 1 minute - 1.81 MB

At the ripe age of 24, KinoTek Inc. co-founder and CEO Justin Hafner has received a national award for sports-business movers and shakers under 25 — with big growth plans for his 3-year-old software startup.

Services, food, art: Maine entrepreneurs compete to be ‘Top Gun’

May 18, 2021 05:02 - 2 minutes - 1.95 MB

Eight entrepreneurs have been selected to compete as finalists in the statewide Top Gun Showcase on May 26 for a chance to win $25,000.

BluShift Aerospace, building an ‘Uber to space,’ launches equity crowdfunding campaign

May 14, 2021 22:21 - 5 minutes - 5.06 MB

Coming in the wake of an historic rocket launch earlier this year, BluShift Aerospace, a startup rocket company based in Brunswick, recently launched an equity crowdfunding campaign to raise the capital necessary for its next phase of development.

Maine Venture Fund taps Joe Powers to be its next managing director

May 14, 2021 18:32 - 1 minute - 1.33 MB

Maine Venture Fund, the state’s quasi-governmental venture capital fund, announced this week that it has chosen its internal candidate, Joe Powers, to be its next managing director.

Maine scores among top 10 states for early-stage businesses, prestigious study says

May 01, 2021 01:07 - 1 minute - 1.48 MB

The latest edition of a prestigious annual study says Maine is doing better than last year — and better than most states this year — in fostering the beginnings of businesses.

DAVO Technologies acquired by Seattle firm

April 23, 2021 17:44 - 6 minutes - 6.05 MB

DAVO Technologies, a software company based in Westbrook that helps small businesses automate the collection and payment of sales tax, has been acquired by a Seattle-based software firm focused on the tax space.

Techstars hires Lars Perkins to lead Portland accelerator

April 23, 2021 17:10 - 1 minute - 1.79 MB

The Roux Institute Techstars Accelerator has named Lars Perkins, a veteran tech founder and software executive, as its first managing director.

Portland tech accelerator names former Google exec as managing director

April 23, 2021 16:56 - 1 minute - 1.68 MB

A former software entrepreneur, angel investor and consultant for startups in California has been named managing director of Portland's new Roux Institute Techstars accelerator, it was announced Tuesday morning.

Startup Maine Speaker Session 10: Patrick Breeding

March 25, 2021 17:50 - 37 minutes - 34.1 MB

In this series, Startup Maine's President, Katie Shorey, discusses valuable insights with thinkers and doers from across Maine. This session she is joined by Patrick Breeding, CEO and founder of Marin Skincare.

Startup Maine Speaker Session 8: Krystal Williams

March 24, 2021 00:23 - 30 minutes - 28 MB

In this series, Startup Maine's President, Katie Shorey, discusses valuable insights with thinkers and doers from across Maine. This session she is joined by Krystal Williams, Founder & Manager of Providentia Group and Founder of the Alpha Legal Institute.

Startup Maine Speaker Session 7: Brian Rahill, CourseStorm

March 24, 2021 00:21 - 29 minutes - 27.4 MB

In this series, Startup Maine's President, Katie Shorey, discusses valuable insights with thinkers and doers from across Maine. This session she is joined by Brian Rahill, CEO & co-Founder of CourseStorm.

Startup Maine Speaker Session 6: Kristina Cannon, Main Street Skowhegan

March 24, 2021 00:17 - 29 minutes - 27.4 MB

In this series, Startup Maine's President, Katie Shorey, discusses valuable insights with thinkers and doers from across Maine. This session she is joined by Kristina Cannon, Executive Director of Maine Street Skowhegan.

Startup Maine Speaker Session 5: Amy VanHaren, CEO & Founder of pumpspotting

March 24, 2021 00:14 - 30 minutes - 27.5 MB

In this series, Startup Maine's President, Katie Shorey, discusses valuable insights with thinkers and doers from across Maine. This session she is joined by Amy VanHaren, CEO & Founder of pumpspotting.

Startup Maine Speaker Session 4: Justin Hafner, KinoTek

March 23, 2021 23:59 - 30 minutes - 28.1 MB

In this series, Startup Maine's President, Katie Shorey, discusses valuable insights with thinkers and doers from across Maine. This session she is joined by Justin Hafner, CEO & co-founder of KinoTek Software.

Startup Maine Speaker Session 3: Kristine Logan, TechPlace

March 23, 2021 23:47 - 30 minutes - 27.6 MB

In this series, Startup Maine's President, Katie Shorey, discusses valuable insights with thinkers and doers from across Maine. This session she is joined by Kristine Logan, Executive Director of TechPlace in Brunswick.

Startup Maine Speaker Session 2: Torey Penrod-Cambra, HighByte

March 23, 2021 23:44 - 29 minutes - 27.3 MB

In this series, Startup Maine's President, Katie Shorey, discusses valuable insights with thinkers and doers from across Maine. This session she is joined by Torey Penrod-Cambra, Chief Marketing Officer & co-founder of HighByte.

Startup Maine Speaker Session 1: Nick Rimsa

March 23, 2021 23:31 - 29 minutes - 27.3 MB

In this series, Startup Maine's President, Katie Shorey, discusses valuable insights with thinkers and doers from across Maine. This session she is joined by Nick Rimsa, Founder of Eariously, Owner of Tortoise Labs, and program designer of the Propeller program at CEI Women’s Business Center.

Portland startup pioneers a hat to secure implants for deaf children

March 17, 2021 00:32 - 3 minutes - 3.15 MB

CoAmplify is a Portland-based startup seeking to give deaf kids "the freedom to just be kids," starting with a winter hat designed to hold cochlear implants in place.

Techstars partners with Roux Institute to launch accelerator in Portland

February 23, 2021 08:59 - 3 minutes - 3.59 MB

Techstars, an organization that runs dozens of startup accelerators all over the world, is teaming up with Northeastern University’s Roux Institute to launch a global accelerator program in Portland.

VC funding in Maine plummeted last year, defying national trend

February 20, 2021 01:21 - 1 minute - 1.63 MB

Venture capital-backed companies across the U.S. last year raised nearly $130 billion, up 14% from the 2019 total and setting a record high despite the economic downturn. But VC investment in Maine companies nose-dived during 2020, according to a new report by consulting firms PwC and CB Insights.

Thomas student's startup aims to modernize Maine snowmobile tourism

February 18, 2021 22:53 - 3 minutes - 2.93 MB

Snowmobilers generate about $600 million a year for Maine's economy, with about a third of them coming from out of state. Now a Thomas College student thinks Maine can do more to attract out-of-state snowmobilers. He's created a website that modernizes trip planning for sledders from in-state and away.

Startup Notebook: Portland software developer raises $600K, joins Roux residency starting lineup

February 18, 2021 02:16 - 2 minutes - 2.63 MB

KinoTek Inc., a Portland-based developer of a digital health platform that uses computer-vision technology for body-motion assessment, said Tuesday that it has raised $600,000 in a pre-seed funding round that was oversubscribed.

Colby College launches Davis Institute for Artificial Intelligence with $30M gift

February 13, 2021 21:39 - 2 minutes - 2.67 MB

Colby College announced Thursday the creation of the Davis Institute for Artificial Intelligence, a new academic program that it expects will make the Waterville campus a prominent center for the teaching and research of artificial intelligence and machine learning.

Skowhegan sales pitch to startups gains momentum

February 11, 2021 21:09 - 3 minutes - 2.91 MB

Kristina Cannon spoke with Startup Maine President Katie Shorey in a half-hour on-screen interview, the latest installment of Startup Maine Entrepreneurs and Ecosystem Builders virtual speaker series. Cannon was honored on the 2019 Mainebiz Next list, while Shorey was honored in 2020.

A force of nature in Maine’s startup scene

December 12, 2020 14:09 - 3 minutes - 3.27 MB

As president of volunteer-run organization Startup Maine and director of engagement for Live + Work in Maine, Katie Shorey is plugged in to the fast-moving tech and startup scene — and committed to sharing its business success stories with a wide audience. Mainebiz caught up with Shorey to get the lowdown on Startup Maine, and what entrepreneurs should know about launching a business here. From Renee Cordes at MaineBiz.

Friday raises $2.1M in round led by Bessemer Venture Partners

December 12, 2020 13:33 - 4 minutes - 4.31 MB

Friday, the Portland-based startup building software for remote teams, announced today it has raised $2.1 million in an equity round led by Bessemer Venture Partners, one of the oldest and most well-known venture capital funds in the country. From Whit Richardson at Maine Startups Insider.

Brunswick startup launches subscription app to stabilize small businesses in pandemic

November 30, 2020 12:00 - 4 minutes - 4.11 MB

An app developed in Maine provides a subscription service designed to help small businesses get cash upfront while delivering discounts to customers on products and services they routinely buy. From Laurie Schreiber at MaineBiz.