From the Deputy Editor: Small-business wisdom from the trenches

When getting a business off the ground, an entrepreneur has financing options. While some prefer to stay scrappy and avoid loans with a vengeance, others may opt for outside help or perhaps apply for grants in what’s known as non-dilutive funding. For an inside look at what different approaches entail, Senior Writer Laurie Schreiber touched base with startups in farm-to-table catering, aquaculture, medical technology and ocean data. The interviews, published in question-and-answer format, offer a glimpse at how founders are funding their ventures. They also all share advice that’s useful for anyone in business. One gem comes from Josh Humberston of Coastal Measures, who advises entrepreneurs to “get used to telling your story to anyone who will listen, and ask if there is anyone else they think you should talk to.” Laurie’s interviews are packaged under “Follow the money.” As the gig economy grows, many entrepreneurs who work on their own choose to join others in coworking spaces. For many, as Staff Writer Tina Fischer writes in this issue’s cover story, coworking is not just about having a desk and an internet connection. It’s about being around peers, building community and making connections that can help their businesses grow. One example is coworkHERS, a downtown Portland coworking hub where founder and owner Heather Ashby offers a range of services. “Starting a business is a lonely road, often with no cheerleading, so we provide business and life coaching, work sprints and speed coaching for our support groups on a monthly basis,” she tells Tina. “We also provide lots of complimentary beverages, snacks … and of course, what we call ‘working chocolate.’” Coworking founders are also entrepreneurs themselves, with spaces as varied as the businsses they host. The issue also features two lists compiled by our tireless research team: One on coworking spaces in Maine and the other on Maine Technology Institute’s largest investments in 2026 ranked by award amounts. Elsewhere in the issue, our Made in Maine series, now overseen by Digital Editor Alexis Wells with photos by Tim Greenway, details how Capt’n Eli’s Soda (owned by Fred Forsley of Shipyard Brewing Co.) has evolved from a home-made root beer into a widely distributed brand. Freelance contributor Sloane M. Perron visited Kennebunkport Brewing Co. to get the lowdown. Now how about some “working chocolate” and a mug of Maine-made root beer to pep up your workday?