Strengthening Maine's Startup Ecosystem: A Workshop to Build What Comes Next

An interactive workshop co-hosted by Startup Maine and the Maine Center at the University of Maine System (Maine Center), built on the momentum of last year's Maine Entrepreneurial Ecosystem Summit, hosted at the Maine Center by the University of Maine Business School and University of Maine School of Law. This session brings together founders, builders, investors, and supporters to do three things: take stock of what already exists in Maine's startup ecosystem, name what's missing, and hear directly from founders about what their journey has looked like. Working in small groups, participants will build a shared picture of the ecosystem — identifying what exists, naming gaps, and drawing on ideas from other places. Founders in the room will tell their stories — what drew them to Maine, where things came together, and where the ecosystem fell short. Together, the participants will determine what the headlines look like for our ecosystem in 2036 and beyond. The ideas surfaced here feed directly into a statewide convening planned for fall 2026, where ecosystem leaders will take up the work of acting on what this room names. If you are building in Maine, supporting those who do, or curious about what it would take to make this a place where more startups can launch and grow, this session is for you.