Startups & Entrepreneurs

The compact, low-maintenance system continuously collects water-quality data and streams it to a cloud-based platform so customers can monitor conditions in real time.

This year’s finalists in Maine Community Bank's annual competition include businesses in advanced manufacturing, canned water, parking technology, plant-based foods and in-home veterinary care.

Programming will include industry discussions, technology demonstrations and visits to working waterfronts and research facilities in southern Maine and beyond.

With its segment airing Sept. 30, Cold Current Kelp is building inventory and making sure its website and fulfillment can handle a traffic spike expected from what's known as the “Shark Tank" effect.

As of Oct. 1, the Maine Center for Entrepreneurs will operate its programs through the University of Maine System’s Graduate and Professional Center in Portland.

“These are founders solving specific problems specific to their expertise, and they're choosing to build here,” said Jeff Frank, program manager at Dirigo Labs.

When getting a business off the ground, an entrepreneur has financing options. While some prefer to stay scrappy and avoid loans, others may opt for outside help or perhaps apply for grants in what’s known as non-dilutive funding.

Maine is home to more than 20 coworking spaces offering member perks from networking and support groups to gyms and, in at least one case, even beer on tap.

From self-funded bootstrapping to equity investment and debt, the startup financing journey is nuanced, depending on each founder’s ideas around growth. We checked in with four startups.

One of the most underrated advantages of building a business in Maine is that your “office” can be flexible in ways it can’t be almost anywhere else, Katie Shorey writes in this guide for aspiring entrepreneurs.