Inside this week's Maine Startups Insider

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Good evening (or good morning for most of you who are reading this on Saturday). Welcome to the late-night edition of Maine Startups Insider. Creating this newsletter each week takes loads of time and effort. I wouldn't be able to do it without support from people like you. If you have the resources, please consider becoming a sustaining member.
 

Cerahelix looks to raise $2M to expand capacity

Cerahelix, the Orono-based startup that's invented a high-tech filtration device using DNA and ceramics, has raised $500,000 out of a total $2 million offering to help it accelerate development of pilot programs at several early-adopter customers, including Magic Hat Brewing Co. in South Burlington, Vt.
Read more at Maine Startups Insider >>
 

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NY incubator acquires Portland's Fork Food Lab

Fork Food Lab, the food-focused startup incubator in Portland, has been acquired by Foodworks, a Brooklyn-based company that operates two other culinary incubators in the northeast. Fork Co-founder Neil Spillane tells Maine Startups Insider that the deal will help local food startups access the New York market and benefit from existing supplier channels.
Read more at Maine Startups Insider >>
 

SeaChange Group raising $300K for industrial biofuels

SeaChange Group, a Brunswick-based company developing biofuels for the maritime industry, is raising $300,000 through a combination of equity and debt, according to a filing made June 12 with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission. Here's its Form D. The company has secured $20,000 from one investor so far in the offering. 
 

Preliminary results suggest $50M R&D bond will pass

Though still unofficial, the referendum for a $50 million bond to be used to support Maine technology companies appears to be heading for passage.

As of Friday afternoon, the Maine Secretary of State's office had received 100,000 ballots from municipalities around the state (as of Thursday, 78% of municipalities had reported) and the "Yes" vote had a 24,000-vote lead, according to a spokesperson at the office. Municipalities had until 5 p.m. today to provide their ballot results, after which the Secretary of State's office has 20 days to confirm those results. 

The bond, if it passes and is signed by the governor, would provide $45 million to the Maine Technology Institute and $5 million to the Maine Venture Fund.
 

Founder Forum

Chris Bunnell of UniteGPS

Chris Bunnell has worked at a host of startups over the years, always drawn to the opportunity to take a clean slate and create something of value, something that solves someone's problem, and potentially something that outlasts him.

"I feel personally that this is a way to potentially leave a contribution behind," he said. 

His current startup, UniteGPS, has built a cloud-based solution that allows school districts and the parents of students to track the location of school buses via desktop or a mobile app. It anticipates hitting $1.5 million in revenue this year. It has also launched a similar solution for public transit companies. 
 
In this Founder Forum interview, Chris speaks candidly about the personal challenges of working at a startup, why he hasn't taken outside money from investors, the silver lining of bootstrapping, and his advice for new entrepreneurs
Enjoy.

Read the Q&A with Chris Bunnell >>

Briefly Mentioned

+ Pika Energy in Westbrook has partnered with Panasonic to release a "solar smart battery," which will be ready to ship later this year, according to a news release from the companies.

+ Lisa Liberatore, a serial entrepreneur and graduate of Bangor's Top Gun cohort, has written a book about balancing entrepreneurship and motherhood called "Power of Transparency." Liberatore—a founder of Lisa's Legit Burritors, Baxter Tea Company, and CoVort, Bangor's coworking space—is hosting a book-launch party on July 13 at Specialty Sweets in Bangor. For more information, check out her website.
 

Maine Startup & Create Week is next week!

There's a lot to look forward to at Maine Startup and Create Week, but here are some notes and highlights about what's going on next week.

A reminder that I'll be interviewing the KEYNOTE SPEAKERS each day throughout the week at MECA. I look forward to seeing you there.

One update, though: Marvin Ammori, general counsel of Hyperloop One, was scheduled to join me on stage for Monday's keynote fireside chat. He can no longer make it, but not to worry. We're actually upgrading. Angela Lee, chief innovation officer for Columbia Business School and founder of 37 Angels, will be taking his place. I look forward to interviewing her on stage along with the other keynotes throughout the week: Felecia Hatcher, founder of CodeFever and Miami Black Tech Week; Gaia Dempsey, co-founder of DAQRI, a 300-person technology firm working in the field of augmented reality; John Lee Dumas, host of the popular podcast Entrepreneur on Fire; and Tom Davidson, a Bowdoin grad, former member of the Maine House, and co-founder and CEO of EverFi, a D.C.-based startup in the edtech field.

Here are some of the events I'm looking forward to:
 

Battle Decks

Tues., June 20, 6:45-8 p.m.
Portland House of Music, 25 Temple St. in Portland

Come compete in or watch some Powerpoint Karaoke—aka BattleDecks—which Wikipedia describes as “an improvisational activity in which a participant must deliver a presentation based on a set of slides that they have never seen before." Challenge—and display—your nimble wit and mental dexterity in a fun and surprising competition with other smart, creative types. 
 

MTI TechWalk

Wed., June 21, 4:30-7 p.m. 
Westin Portland Harbourview Hotel 

Meet Maine entrepreneurs, investors and innovators for this unique networking opportunity as over 45 companies exhibit their products and services that they have successfully brought to market.

Founders Afterparty

Wed., June 21, 8-11 p.m.
Big Room Studios, Thompson's Point, Portland

The now-annual Founders Afterparty at Big Room Studios. Always a good time. Just don't try using the VR gear after a few beers.
 

Fireside chat with Bob Metcalfe, co-inventor of Ethernet and founder of 3Com

Thurs., June 22, 5:30-7 p.m.
Cloudport, 63 Federal St. in Portland

Metcalfe is a legend in the tech industry. Get up close and personal at this affiliate event hosted by Venture Hall. 
 

Closing Party and Ocean Cruise

Fri., June 23, 7:30-9:30 p.m.

What better way to cap off the week than with a two-hour cruise around Casco Bay with old and new friends alike. 
 

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!

+ Visible Logic, parent company of Branding Compass, is hiring a junior- to mid-level designer to work on a large range of projects from logo design to web design to video and infographics.

+ Big Room Studios, a software and web development firm in Portland, is hiring a project manager. 

+ CourseStorm is looking for a software engineer. Bangor-based is preferable, but the company is open to a remote worker if the right candidate was to come along.

+ Rapport is looking to hire a Senior Sales Rep and a Ruby/SQL developer in Portland.

+ BetterLesson, a Cambridge-based edtech startup, is hiring for a few sales and marketing positions. The right person does not need to be based in Boston, according to BetterLesson's Chief Revenue Officer, Betsy Peters, who lives in Freeport. The company is hiring a Director of Sales, Director of Marketing, and an Inside Sales Account Executive.

+ Certify in Portland is hiring a full-stack developer and several sales and marketing positions.

+ 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.

+ BlueTarp Financial in Portland is hiring an engineering manager.

+ 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 UX designer and full-stack software engineer, among other positions.
 

Calendar

NOTE: In an effort to make this calendar of events more accessible, I've created a shareable Google calendar that I hope to keep updated. You can find the calendar here. Feel free to share it. As always, send me your event or calendar item for possible inclusion. 

June 19-23 — Maine Startup and Create Week is back. A week full of panels, speakers, networking and other special events celebrating entrepreneurship and innovation in Maine. More details and full schedule. 

Mon. June 19 — Monday's keynote speaker: Angela Lee, chief innovation officer of Columbia Business School and founder of 37 Angels. Jess Knox and I will interview her on stage at the Maine College of Art from noon-2 p.m. More details.

Tues., June 20 — Tuesday's keynote speaker: Felecia Hatcher, founder of CodeFever and Miami Black Tech Week. Jess Knox and I will interview her on stage at the Maine College of Art from noon-2 p.m. More details.

Tues., June 20 — Battle Decks, aka Powerpoint Karaoke, at Portland House of Music from 6:45-8 p.m. More details.

Wed., June 21 — Wednesday's keynote speaker: Gaia Dempsey, co-founder of DAQRI. Jess Knox and I will interview her on stage at the Maine College of Art from noon-2 p.m. More details.

Wed., June 21 — The Maine Technology Institute hosts TechWalk 2017 in conjunction with Maine Startup and Create Week. Meet Maine entrepreneurs, investors and innovators as more than 45 companies exhibit their products and services they've successfully brought to market. 4:30-7 p.m. at the Westin Portland Harbourview Hotel in Portland. More details.

Wed., June 21 — A now-annual tradition of Maine Startup and Create Week, Big Room Studios hosts a Founders Party at its headquarters on Thompson's Point. 8-11 p.m. Free. More details.

Thurs., June 22 — Thursday's keynote speaker: Tom Davidson, founder of EverFi. Jess Knox and I will interview him on stage at the Maine College of Art from 3-4:30 p.m. More details.

Thurs., June 22 — A fireside chat with Bob Metcalfe, co-inventor of Ethernet and founder of 3Com. 5:30-7 p.m. at Cloudport in Portland. An affiliate event of MSCW hosted by Venture Hall. More details.

Fri., June 23 — Friday's keynote speaker: John Lee Dumas, host of the popular podcast Entrepreneur on Fire. Jess Knox and I will interview him on stage at the Maine College of Art from noon-2 p.m. More details.

Fri., June 23 — Maine Startup and Create Week, in partnership with Project>Login, is hosting a tech sector job fair that is free and open to the public (meaning you don't need to have a ticket for MSCW to attend). The event, which is sponsored by WEX, takes place from 4 p.m. to 6:30 p.m. at the Maine College of Art. More than 15 Maine companies will be participating. To see the list of companies and register.

Tues., June 27 — The Maine Technology Institute hosts a workshop on accessing federal funds for R&D from the USDA National Institute of Food and Agriculture's Small Business Innovation Research program. 10 a.m.-2 p.m. at the USDA Rural Development office at 967 Illinois Ave. in Bangor. More details and to register.
 
June 27-30 — Field Guide is a four-day immersive program in the fundamentals of design thinking. It's held at Gould Academy in Bethel. More details.

Fri., June 30 — Social Media Breakfast Maine hosts a special event where entrepreneurs can get their marketing and branding questions answered by experts. 7:30-10 a.m. at Portland's Masonic Temple on Congress Street. Tickets are $14. More info and to register.
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