Startup Maine
Startup Maine is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit founded in 2016 in Portland, Maine, that serves as the central convener of the state's startup ecosystem, supporting founders, investors, and ecosystem partners through its annual Startup Maine Week conference, job board, and community programming.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2016
- HeadquartersPortland, United States
- Headcount11–50
- GTM typeB2B and B2C
- OfferingServices
What Startup Maine does
Startup Maine is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit corporation headquartered at 75 York St, Suite 2, Portland, Maine, founded in 2016 by Katie Shorey. The organization functions as the central convener and champion of Maine's startup ecosystem, bringing together founders, investors, ecosystem partners (including the Maine Technology Institute, Roux Institute at Northeastern University, and Maine Graduate & Professional Center), and community leaders to address the resource and coordination gaps that founders face outside major U.S. metro areas. Its functional pillars are ecosystem connection, founder elevation, resource sharing, and regional growth advocacy, delivered to a community of over 5,000 people statewide.
Core programming centers on Startup Maine Week, an annual four-day conference held in Portland; the 2026 edition (May 18-21) hosted 800+ attendees, 100+ speakers, and 40+ sessions at a $199 General Admission price point, with a $549 Startup 5-Pack team option. Adjacent products include the Startup Maine Job Board connecting talent with member startups such as Forerunner, Vetro, and New England Marine Monitoring; a mobile web application for conference scheduling; and a MailChimp newsletter for ecosystem communications. The organization also runs year-round networking events, meetups, and a Canada cross-border programming partnership with the Consulate General of Canada.
The business model mixes one-time event ticket revenue, tiered annual sponsorships (Buoy, Compass, and Annual tiers), a Founding Members program, and grant funding — most notably a $325,000 matching grant from the Maine Technology Institute received in January 2026 to fund the organization's transition from volunteer-led to full-time staffed operations. Startup Maine hired Sarah Smith as its first full-time Executive Director in January 2026, while founder Katie Shorey moved from a ten-year volunteer presidency to an active board seat alongside Board Co-Chairs Chris Wolfel and David Engle. The organization is privately held, has no parent company, and reports 11-50 headcount.
Startup Maine firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Startup Maine
- Legal name
- Startup Maine
- Website
- https://startupmaine.org
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2016
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 11–50 employees
- Short description
- Startup Maine is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit founded in 2016 in Portland, Maine, that serves as the central convener of the state's startup ecosystem, supporting founders, investors, and ecosystem partners through its annual Startup Maine Week conference, job board, and community programming.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Startup Maine industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Startup Ecosystem Development
- NAICS
- Professional and Management Development Training (611430), Convention and Trade Show Organizers (561920), Professional Organizations (81392)
- SIC
- Services-Educational Services (8200), Services-Membership Organizations (8600)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Entrepreneurship Foundations & Startup Basics (EDAMAHAA)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Training, Enablement & Talent Development Summits (THAHAMAH), Small Business & Entrepreneurship Community Education (EDAAAFAK), STEM, Digital Literacy & Maker Education Nonprofits (BPAGADAG)
Keywords
Where Startup Maine is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Portland
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices1 record
Markets served
Startup Maine business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B and B2C
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure
Revenue model
- Event Tickets and Registration: Revenue generated from Startup Maine Week conference tickets; General Admission $199, Startup 5-Pack $549 for team discounts
- Sponsorships: Annual sponsors provide financial support at various tiers (Buoy Sponsors, Compass Sponsors, Annual Sponsors) with benefits including branding, networking access, and event visibility
- Membership Program: Founding Members program offering exclusive benefits, early access, and involvement opportunities for companies and individuals supporting the ecosystem
- Grants: Grant funding from Maine Technology Institute (MTI) - $325,000 matching grant enabling transition to full-time staff
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| One time/ perpetual license | One time | Full conference access with lunch included each day |
| One time/ perpetual license | One time | 5 tickets for startup teams at discounted rate |
Go-to-market motion2 records
Distribution channels4 records
Marketing channels6 records
Startup Maine product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Startup Maine operates as a nonprofit convener and champion of Maine's startup ecosystem, delivering the annual Startup Maine Week conference, online job board, mobile conference app, newsletter, networking meetups, and a Founding Members membership program. Its products connect founders, investors, and ecosystem partners through paid events, sponsorships, and curated community programming statewide.
Product overview
Startup Maine operates as a platform of interconnected programs designed to convene, champion, and support Maine's startup ecosystem. The core offerings include Startup Maine Week, an annual four-day entrepreneurship conference; the Startup Maine Job Board connecting talent with member startups; a conference mobile app for attendee engagement; and a newsletter for ecosystem communications. These products work together to fuel innovation, strengthen connections, and drive economic growth across Maine's startup community.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- Startup Maine Week A flagship four-day annual entrepreneurship conference held in Portland, Maine, featuring keynote speeches, sessions, workshops, and networking opportunities designed for Maine-based entrepreneurs, investors, and startup ecosystem participants. Includes lunch each day and is sold as General Admission or as a team Startup 5-Pack.
- Startup Maine Job Board An online job board that connects job seekers with startup career opportunities at Startup Maine member companies, currently featuring roles at Forerunner, Vetro Inc., New England Marine Monitoring, and Omnic Data, among others. Offers a Talent Network for candidates whose ideal role is not yet listed.
- Startup Maine Week Conference App A mobile-optimized web application that supports Startup Maine Week attendees by letting them browse sessions, review speakers, and build personal schedules; can be added to a mobile device home screen for a native-app experience.
- Startup Maine Newsletter An email newsletter delivered through Mailchimp that publishes Startup Maine's announcements, event information, ecosystem news, and program updates to subscribers engaged with Maine's startup community.
- Startup Maine Founding Members Program The Founding Members program delivers exclusive benefits, early event access, and involvement opportunities for companies and individuals providing sustained support for Maine's startup ecosystem.
Quantifiable outcome
- 97% of Startup Maine Week attendees would recommend the event
- +1 more outcomes
Companies that use Startup Maine
Customer profileNamed customers3 records
Segments4 records
Ideal customer profiles3 records
Startup Maine technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Startup Maine partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Seven partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.
- The Roux Institute at Northeastern UniversitycoreHost venue for Startup Maine Week Day 1 and partner for ClimateTech Incubator initiatives. The Roux Institute provides facilities and collaborates on ecosystem programming including the Founder Residency program.
- Maine Graduate & Professional Center (Maine Center)coreHost venue for Startup Maine Week Days 2-3, operated by University of Maine System as a hub for graduate education, entrepreneurship, and innovation supporting Maine's economy.
- Consulate General of CanadaminorPartner for 4th Annual Startup Maine x Canada: Networking Night event to foster cross-border business opportunities between Maine and Canada.
- Gulf of Maine Research Institute (GMRI)minorPartner for BlueTech Boost startup showcase and climate innovation initiatives including Oceans & Climate: Blue & Green Mixer events.
- Dirigo LabsminorEcosystem partner focused on clean tech acceleration and entrepreneurial support through Central Maine Growth Council.
- SCOREminorEcosystem partner providing mentorship and business guidance services to Maine entrepreneurs.
- Small Business Administration (SBA)minorPartner for sessions on selling to government and accessing SBA resources for small businesses.
Scale indicators7 records
Recent moves8 records
Expansion highlights6 records
Startup Maine competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- gener8tor: National accelerator network running cohort programs and founder convenings across multiple U.S. cities. Comparable in mission (founder development, ecosystem building) with similar reliance on corporate sponsors and ecosystem partners.
- MassChallenge: Nonprofit startup accelerator that convenes founders, investors, and corporate partners through cohort programs and flagship events. Closely comparable as a mission-driven nonprofit ecosystem convener with similar sponsor/partnership-driven revenue model and focus on early-stage founders.
- Maine Venture Fund (formerly Maine Center for Entrepreneurs): Maine-based nonprofit providing capital, mentorship, and programming to Maine entrepreneurs via the Maine Startup Challenge and other ecosystem initiatives. The most direct in-region peer, sharing Startup Maine's geography, founder base, and ecosystem partners.
- Coastal Enterprises Inc (CEI): Maine-based community development financial institution that supports small businesses and entrepreneurs through capital, advising, and ecosystem programming. Overlaps with Startup Maine in serving the same founder base and partnering with Maine's economic development network.
- Startup Junkie: Northwest Arkansas-based startup ecosystem consulting firm and community convener offering founders programs, events, and resources. Highly comparable operating model (regional ecosystem convener, event-driven GTM, founder support focus) in a different geography.
Broad incumbents
- SCORE: National nonprofit network providing free mentorship and resources to small business owners and entrepreneurs across the U.S. Comparable in serving the founder/entrepreneur audience with ecosystem partnerships; Startup Maine is a SCORE ecosystem partner. Operates at much larger scale with thousands of chapters.
- Techstars: Global accelerator network that runs startup programs, mentorship, and founder convenings. Comparable in mission (supporting early-stage founders and ecosystem development) but operates at vastly larger scale across multiple geographies, including partnerships with regional ecosystem builders.
Emerging players
- Betamore: Baltimore-based startup incubator and community hub offering workspace, programming, and events for founders. Comparable as a regional nonprofit ecosystem convener with event-driven programming and corporate partnerships.
- Venture For America: Nonprofit fellowship placing early-career talent into startup roles in emerging U.S. cities, with strong founder-development and ecosystem-building focus. Comparable mission (founder and ecosystem support) and ties to Startup Maine's new ED Sarah Smith, who was a VFA Fellow.
Regional players
- Startup Canada: National nonprofit convener of Canada's entrepreneurship ecosystem, running flagship events, advocacy, and community programs. Highly comparable mission and operating model (national convener for founders, investors, and ecosystem partners) but serving Canada rather than Maine.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat5 records
Key risks7 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
Startup Maine social profiles
Digital presenceStartup Maine financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Startup Maine leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles4 records
Startup Maine funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Startup Maine M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Startup Maine
What does Startup Maine do?
Startup Maine operates as a nonprofit convener and champion of Maine's startup ecosystem, delivering the annual Startup Maine Week conference, online job board, mobile conference app, newsletter, networking meetups, and a Founding Members membership program. Its products connect founders, investors, and ecosystem partners through paid events, sponsorships, and curated community programming statewide.
Is Startup Maine a public or private company?
Startup Maine is a private company. It is classified as nonprofit foundation owned and is currently operating.
When was Startup Maine founded?
Startup Maine was founded in 2016. It employs 11 to 50 people.
Where is Startup Maine based?
Startup Maine is headquartered in Portland, United States, in the North America region.
How does Startup Maine make money?
Four revenue lines are on record. Event Tickets and Registration is the primary driver. The others are sponsorships, membership Program and grants.
Who are Startup Maine's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are gener8tor, MassChallenge, Maine Venture Fund (formerly Maine Center for Entrepreneurs), Coastal Enterprises Inc (CEI) and Startup Junkie. Broad incumbents are SCORE and Techstars. Emerging players are Betamore and Venture For America. Startup Canada is listed as a regional player.
Does Startup Maine have an API?
No public API is recorded for Startup Maine.
What industry is Startup Maine in?
Startup Maine's product category is Startup Ecosystem Development. Its primary akta.pro industry code is EDAMAHAA, Entrepreneurship Foundations & Startup Basics, with a secondary code of THAHAMAH, Training, Enablement & Talent Development Summits. Its NAICS code is 611430 and its SIC code is 8200.