North Spore

These four vignettes aim to shed light on what life is like for leaders who have grappled with a physical setback or neurological condition — and the life lessons that came out of overcoming those struggles.

There’s been “a real increase in demand from customers wanting to grow mushrooms outdoors in their gardens” with over 20% growth in that category, said North Spore’s president.

The company, which is based on Riverside Drive in Portland, offers a range of products for mushroom cultivation, including grow kits that are pre-packaged for home use.

Winners of this year's US. small Business Administration Maine District Awards represent a broad range of industries from mushroom growing to child care.

Some Maine startups are racking up pitch-off wins before going on to other fundraising, while others prefer more specialized accelerator programs and grants.