💸 MVF pledges $750K to Roux Techstars startups, Bangor pitch competition names finalists, UMaine presents innovation awards, and more...
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☀️ Good Sunday morning. Welcome to the 255th edition of Maine Startups Insider. You are one of 2,363 subscribers from all over the country receiving this email. Darn it; net loss of two subscribers from last week. Please forward this email to people you think would appreciate it!
News covered in this edition of MSI:
Maine Venture Fund commits to investing up to $750,000 over the next three years in startups that graduate from the Roux Institute Techstars Accelerator and plan to grow in Maine.
UMaine's Foster Center announces inaugural Innovation Award winners
Bangor pitch competition announces finalists
Before we get to the news, I want to thank Maine Startups Insider's newest Sustaining Member: Nancy Strojny, SCORE's Assistant District Director in Maine.
If, like Nancy, 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 Venture Fund to invest up to $750K in startups at the Roux Institute Techstars Accelerator
Maine Venture Fund, a state-sponsored venture capital fund, has committed to invest up to $750,000 over the next three years in startups that graduate from the Roux Institute Techstars Accelerator and plan to grow in Maine.
The committment is part of a larger deal with the Roux Institute that will also see MVF co-locate its team at the Roux's Portland campus.
Read more at Maine Startups Insider >>
MSI is sponsored by Eaton Peabody
UMaine's Foster Center gives out inaugural innovation awards
The University of Maine’s Foster Center for Innovation has announced the winners of its inaugural Innovation Awards, which recognize students, faculty, staff and alumni who are working to commercialize the university’s innovative research.
The inaugural group of winners includes individuals working in aquaculture, biomedicine, medical technology and the study of innovation.
Read more at Maine Startups Insider >>
Bangor pitch competition announces finalists
Big Gig, a pitch competition in the Bangor region, has announced the four entrepreneurs who will pitch in its Finale event on April 12. The winner will receive a $5,000 cash prize.
Brenden Westin, founder of DuraBike, which creates high-reliability, low-maintenance work bikes for law enforcement, military, and organizations with bike fleets .
Michael Odokara-Okigbo, founder of NKENNE, the first African Language app on the market that gives users the opportunity to learn African languages and for new Americans to learn English.
Joan Drappeau, founder of Slicpix, which helps marketers generate more revenue using patented interactive images to give visitors quick, easy pathways to information, sharing & purchase for each item on an image.
Tyler Delargy, founder of Real Time Reality, a service that streams authenticated 3D replicas of real people into any Web3 Metaverse experience securely and anonymously with full facial and body expression in real-time.
/ Briefly Mentioned
🛢 WEX, a global fintech company headquartered in Portland, said yesterday that it will sever ties with Lukoil, the Russian-based energy conglomerate, because of the ongoing war in Ukraine, which Russia started when it invaded the country last month.
👩🏼💻 Kimberly Hamilton has announced she will step down in July as president of FocusMaine, a private sector-led initiative to create Maine jobs in agriculture, aquaculture, and biopharmaceuticals. Hamilton, who previously worked for the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, is FocusMaine's inaugural president and has served in the role for five years. Mainebiz has more.
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.
/ ICYMI
Here are some recent articles from Maine Startups Insider you may have missed:
Dirigo Labs selects 12 startups for inaugural accelerator cohort
BluShift Aerospace turns its focus from Maine to Florida for next launch
Roux Institute Techstars Accelerator opens applications for 2022 cohort
Commentary: A roadmap for a more inclusive entrepreneurial ecosystem
/ Classifieds
✅ 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.
+ HighByte, an industrial software startup, is hiring a Software Quality Assurance Engineer, an Account Executive, and a Sales Development Representative.
+ 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.
+ MedRhythms is hiring for several positions, including a VP of Engineering and a Senior Full Stack Engineer.
+ Defendify, a cybersecurity startup in Portland, is hiring a SaaS Software Engineer.
+ 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, a Director of Platform Engineering, and a Senior Customer Success Manager, among other roles.
+ 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!
/ Calendar
Discover Experiential AI
Wed., April 6, 9:30 a.m. - 5 p.m. — In-person in Boston or Virtual
Join the Institute for Experiential AI at Northeastern University as it celebrates the launch of its new center for research and applied AI solutions, which will be co-located at Northeastern's Boston campus and the Roux Institute in Portland. The event will feature presentations, interactive panel discussions, and networking opportunities for key communities to address today's most pressing AI challenges and form partnerships to find real-world solutions. The event is being held in Boston, but it's also possible to attend virtually. RSVP here.
Big Gig Finale Event
Tues., April 12, 5:30-6:30 p.m. — In-person in Old Town
Watch the four 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. — 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.
Maine Start Summit — Food Systems & AgTech
April 29 - May 1 — Thomas College, Waterville
The Maine Start Summit, presented by the Roux Institute in partnership with Thomas College, is an annual series of four, three-day-long hackathons, designed to lower the barrier of entry for aspiring founders and startup curious individuals to join Maine’s entrepreneurial ecosystem. This first one will cover Food Systems & AgTech. The three others being held this year will cover BlueTech, Sustainability, and Digital Health & Life Science. Learn more and register.
Symposium on Risks and Opportunities of AI in Clinical Drug Development
Mon., June 6, 8:30 a.m.-5 p.m. — 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.