New coding school coming to Maine, GO Labs wins Big Gig, and an interview w/ Pika Energy's Ben Polito

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By Whit Richardson ➣ Apr. 21, 2017

Greetings. Big thanks to Maine Startups Insider's newest sustaining member, Bill Seretta, president of The Sustainability Lab. Sustaining members help make this newsletter possible. Interested in becoming a sustaining member?

Welcome also to my new subscribers from Massachusetts who saw Maine Startups Insider in BostInno, which picked up my story about Vets First Choice perhaps considering an IPO. You pushed my subscriber count well past the 700 mark. There's a lot to be gained from a more integrated Boston-Portland startup ecosystem, and I hope MSI can serve as one way to keep the communication lines open. Feel free to get in touch.
 

New coding school coming to Maine

Three Maine organizations—Venture Hall, Thomas College, and Project Login—announced this week they had signed an agreement with Seattle-based Code Fellows to launch a pilot project in Maine that will seek to increase the public’s access to educational opportunities around software and web development, and to increase employers’ access to qualified developers.
Learn more at Maine Startups Insider >>
 

A message from our sponsor

This week's Maine Startups Insider is presented by Pierce Atwood. Sponsors like Pierce Atwood allow MSI to continue delivering news & insight about Maine's entrepreneurs, so thanks for supporting them!

LCRED holds hearing on bill to expand MTI's scope

Rep. Martin Grohman said he was "cautiously optimistic" about his bill's chances after the Legislature's Joint Committee on Labor, Commerce, Research and Economic Development held a public hearing on it Wednesday.

The bill—LD 1324—would broaden the Maine Technology Institute's scope and allow it to, among other things, administer and support business incubators like the Maine Center for Entrepreneurial Development, which is at risk of losing its state funding from the Department of Economic and Community Development after Gov. Paul LePage proposed cutting it from his biennial budget. It would also provide MTI with a mandate to revive the Maine Patent Program.
Read more at Maine Startus Insider >>
 

GO Lab wins Bangor region startup pitch contest

Joshua Henry, an assistant professor at the University of Maine who has developed a wood fiber insulation product, won the final Big Gig pitch event on Tuesday night.

The event was held at UMaine's Foster Center for Student Innovation and featured the winners of the four regular Big Gig season winners pitch their businesses for a $1,500 grand prize. Henry's company, GO Lab Inc., is an R&D company that has created an eco-friendly, wood fiber, insulation board. The other three businesses pitched were The Tea Pillow, Fyood Kitchen, and The House of Meeples.
 

2nd Keynote named for Maine Startup & Create Week

Maine Startup & Create Week has announced its 2nd Keynote guest: Felecia Hatcher, an entrepreneur, speaker, and author who has helped build an inclusive and diverse startup community in Miami. Hatcher is also the founder of Code Fever, BlackTechWeek, and her own food-related startup, Feverish Ice Cream & Gourmet Pops, which counted Google and Adidas among its clients. Before beginning her own entrepreneurial journey, Felecia worked as a marketing manager for Nintendo, Sony, and the NBA.
 

Founder Forum

Ben Polito of Pika Energy

Ben Polito started Pika Energy seven years ago with a friend in a Gorham basement with the goal to make residential-scale wind energy more feasible.

Today, the company, now in its own facility in Westbrook, has raised more than $6 million and recently welcomed its 18th employee, though its scope has widened to tackle larger issue of more seamlessly incorporating renewable energy sources into the power grid.
In our conversation, Ben talked about his entrepreneurial upbringing on a Maine island, his philosophy for raising money, and his long-term goals for the business.

Enjoy.

Read the Q&A with Ben Polito >>

Briefly mentioned...

+ Chimani has officially launched its Chimani Perks program, which I mentioned in a previous newsletter is part of Chimani's efforts to begin generating revenue from its collection of National Park mobile travel guide apps. The program—the company calls it a "Membership Saving Club"—costs $29 a year to join and offers frequent National Park visitors with a series of discounts on dining, lodging, tours, activities, retail shops in National Park communities.

+ The Maine Technology Institute, in partnership with the Alliance for Maine’s Marine Economy, has released a request for proposals for a first round of awards from the Marine Economy Capital Grants Program. Awards of between $25,000 and $500,000 are available for innovative projects that seek to grow Maine’s fisheries, aquaculture and seafood-related businesses. Deadline to apply is Sept. 15, 2017. For more info on the RFP.
 

Jobs

Seeking a full-stack engineer? A technical co-founder? A sales or biz dev superstar? Send me your job postings to make this a great resource!

+ Certify in Portland is hiring a full-stack developer, senior database administrator, and a cross sales rep.

+ NBT Solutions in Portland is hiring a geospatial developer, a technical SaaS sales lead, a GIS analyst and a marketing programs coordinator to support its VETRO FiberMap product expansion.

+ CourseStorm in Orono is hiring a sales executive.

+ BlueTarp Financial in Portland is hiring a senior software engineer.

+ Academic Merit, an educational software startup in Portland, is hiring a software engineer.

+ Environetix Technology Corp., a wireless sensor manufacturer in Orono, is hiring a RF engineer/RF technician.

+ Dream Local Digital in Rockland is hiring for a host of positions.

+ Vets First Choice still has job listings for several positions at its Portland office, from a UX/UI design to a director of e-commerce.

+ CashStar is hiring a full-stack software engineer, among other positions.
 

Calendar

Send me your event or calendar item for possible inclusion. 

Fri., April 28 — UMaine's Foster Center for Student Innovation hosts a lunchtime talk with Jeff Johnson, a partner in the Technology Transactions and Licensing practice at global law firm WilmerHale. Noon-1:30 p.m. at the center in Orono. For more details and to register. 
 
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