Chris Wolfel

"We exist to back AI-native companies looking to transform industries with world class teams building from places many VCs overlook," said Chris Wolfel, founder and general partner of Corsair Venture Partners.

New startup funding routes in Maine include a venture capital firm aiming to close its first two investments this month; a venture studio that’s tapping academic talent to get new businesses off the ground; and a revenue-based debt instrument for growth capital.

Corsair Venture Partners, led by founder and general partner Chris Wolfel, completed a first close of $3.5 million with plans to raise another $25 million by the end of the second quarter.

At the height of the summer vacation — and summer reading — season, Mainebiz asked business movers and shakers about the pages they're turning.

Since its last conference five years ago, the nonprofit "champion of Maine’s entrepreneurial ecosystem" has been working to bring businesspeople together and to plan the organization's future.

To kick off the new year, Mainebiz asked more than a dozen movers and shakers from different sectors for their 2024 business predictions. The prognostications offer much food for thought.

"Because of the rapid growth and success of the Roux Institute, we have built the capacity to scale this critical work in-house," Northeastern University said in an emailed statement.

Maine movers and shakes share their professional and personal aspirations for 2023.

The Mainebiz Next Up/40 Under 40 honorees represented a variety of sectors — and musical preferences.

Founders out to disrupt industries from women's fashion to music took the stage following 13 weeks in the Roux Techstars Accelerator program.