đ„ Maine Angels invested $4M in 2021, Dirigo Labs names 1st cohort, Jocko Fuel raises $30M, and more...
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Welcome to the 253rd edition of Maine Startups Insider. You are one of 2,365 subscribers from all over the country receiving this email.
In today's newsletter:
Maine Angels invested $4 million in 16 companies last yearÂ
Dirigo Labs announces first cohort
Jocko Fuel raises $30M
New study says Maine lags in impact of tech sector
Before we get to the news, I want to thank Maine Startups Insider's newest Sustaining Member: Bob Watterson, founder and CEO of MyHealthMath, which was on MSI's 2019 Maine Startups to Watch list.
If, like Bob, you appreciate what MSI is trying to do and have the financial wherewithal to support my efforts, please consider becoming a Sustaining Member via a monthly contribution on Patreon or, if you'd prefer, you can make a single annually recurring contribution of $60 or $120 ($5/month and $10/month respectively), in support of MSI.
Keep creating, keep innovating, keep curious.
-Whit Richardson
/ News
Maine Angels invests $4M in 16 companies in 2021
The Maine Angels, a group of accredited investors who pool their resources to invest in and mentor early-stage companies, reported another strong year in terms of investment activity and membership.
Its members invested $4 million in 16 companies in 2021. Of that, $1.8 million went to five companies new to Maine Angels' portfolio, while $2.2 million were follow-on investments.
Read more at Maine Startups Insider >>
MSI is sponsored by Eaton Peabody
Dirigo Labs selects 12 startups for inaugural accelerator cohort
Dirigo Labs in Waterville this week announced the 12 startup teams it has selected to participate in its inaugural accelerator class.
Startup teams were selected based on the stage of development, founder experience, and potential to scale. The accelerator will launch next week and be housed in the Bricks Coworking and Innovation Space at the Hathaway Creative Center in downtown Waterville. The cohort will run through mid-June, culminating with a pitch event.
Read more at Maine Startups Insider >>
If you value this source of original Maine startup news, please consider supporting Maine Startups Insider with a monthly pledge on Patreon.
If Patreon isn't your thing, consider making a single annually recurring contribution of $60 or $120.
/ Briefly Mentioned
đȘÂ Jocko Fuel LLC, a maker of sports and lifestyle nutritional products headquartered in Jay, has received a minority investment of $30 million from Goode Partners LLC, a New York private equity firm. Mainebiz has more.
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đ„ A new study says Maineâs technology sector was responsible for $3.4 billion of Maineâs gross domestic product, which is a relatively small percentage of overall GDP compared to other states. While the report says Maine lags among states in the impact of the tech sector, it says it held its own during the economic havoc of the pandemicâs first year. Mainebiz has more.Â
MSI is sponsored by Gorham Savings Bank
/ ICYMI
Here are some recent articles from Maine Startups Insider you may have missed:
BluShift Aerospace turns its focus from Maine to Florida for next launch
Roux Institute Techstars Accelerator opens applications for 2022 cohort
Roux Institute accepts five companies for its 2022 Founder Residency program
Commentary: A roadmap for a more inclusive entrepreneurial ecosystem
/ Classifieds
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 Are you curious how your company will use physical office space now and into the future? Contact Justin Lamontagne, CCIM, SIOR of the Dunham Group for an informal discussion and consult. Justin is one of the leading office and industrial commercial real estate brokers in Southern Maine. For over 15 years, he has helped hundreds of businesses, small and large, with their commercial real estate needs.
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Have an idea for an e-commerce business but don't know where to begin? Launching an innovative product but don't know how to market it? Need assistance with Amazon FBA? Brickyard Collective, a DTC product lab and growth marketing firm in Portland, is actively looking to partner with entrepreneurs to launch and grow their businesses. Get in touch for a free consultation.
 Have a product or service and want to reach Maine's startup community? Purchase one or more classified ads for $25 each.
/ Jobs
If you apply for a job you see here, let them know you saw the opportunity in Maine Startups Insider.Â
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+ The Maine Technology Institute is hiring an Investment Officer and a Maine Entrepreneurial Resource Corps Coordinator.
+ The University of Maine is hiring a Technology Business Development Administrator.
+ Circa, a startup developing rent-payment software that recently graduated from the Roux Institute Techstars Accelerator, is hiring a Mobile App Developer, a System Integration Analyst Intern, and a Field Integration Engineer.
+ Pumpspotting, a femtech startup in Kittery, is hiring a product manager.
+ ElleVet Sciences, which sells CBD products for pets, is hiring for several roles.
+ EnergyCircle, a digital marketing and lead-gen agency in Portland, is seeking a Digital Marketing Account Manager.
+ CourseStorm, an Orono-based EdTech startup, is hiring a Software Engineering Manager, among other positions.
+Â MedRhythms is hiring for several positions, including a VP of Engineering, a Senior Full Stack Engineer, and a VP of Product.
+ Defendify, a cybersecurity startup in Portland, is hiring a SaaS Software Engineer.
+ HighByte, an industrial software startup, is hiring a Finance Operations Manager, an Account Executive, and a Sales Development Representative.
+ Strimo, a local startup developing an ERP SaaS product for the legal cannabis industry, is hiring an API engineer.
+Â Theory and Principle, a legal-tech product design and development startup in Portland, is hiring a product manager.
+ VETRO Inc., a SaaS company in Portland, is looking for a senior software engineer and a product manager.
+ Guideline, the fintech company with offices in California, Texas, and Portland, is hiring for several software engineering positions.
+ AskGMS, a Portland-based company that provides benchmarking and data analysis tools to the insurance industry, is hiring a full-stack developer.
+ Arkatechture, a Portland-based company that provides business intelligence and data analytics services, is hiring for a host of positions.
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!Â
/ Calendar
Big Gig Finale Event
Tues., April 12, 5:30-6:30 p.m. â Online
Watch the three finalists pitch their early-stage businesses or business ideas to a panel of judges and the virtual audience for a chance to win $5K. RSVP.
Crypto x Maine: Jumpstarting Your Journey into Web3
Thurs., April 21, 4:30 - 6:30 p.m. â The Roux Institute
The Roux Institute and Chainlink Labs hoss a panel discussion and networking event for anyone interested in learning about Web3 and the growing innovation happening in Maine today. RSVP.
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Symposium on Risks and Opportunities of AI in Clinical Drug Development
Mon., June 6, 8:30 a.m.-5 p.m. â Ocean Gateway in Portland
The Roux Institute at Northeastern University is hosting a symposium that will convene scientists, regulators and other professionals to address the challenges and opportunities of AI in pharmaceutical medicine; to foster collaboration among industry, academia, regulatory agencies, and professional associations; and to propose recommendations with policy implications for proper implementation of AI in promoting public health. More info or to register.
Please send me your event or calendar item for possible inclusion.