Connecting New England's Startup Ecosystems

Startup ecosystems don't grow in isolation. They grow faster when they're genuinely connected. Maine is building something real, and so are the communities across New England working to support founders, attract capital, and create the conditions for startups to thrive. This session is co-organized by Startup Maine and FORGE, a nonprofit on a mission to help innovators with physical products navigate the journey from prototype to commercialization and impact at scale. Together, they're bringing ecosystem leaders from across the region who are doing the work on the ground from building networks to closing gaps to making connections that cross state lines. The conversation will explore what deeper collaboration across New England actually looks like in practice: where it's already happening, what's made it work, and what it would take to go further. Whether you are building a startup, supporting the people who do, or working to strengthen your own regional ecosystem, this is a conversation about the bigger picture — and Maine's place in it.