Startup Maine

Startup Maine Week 2026
2026-05-18 - 2026-05-21 | ME
Startup Maine Week is back May 18–21, 2026, bringing four days of ideas, energy, and connection to Maine’s startup ecosystem. This annual gathering brings together founders, startup teams, investors, partners, and the startup-curious from across the state to learn, collaborate, and move Maine’s innovation economy forward.
View all details about SMW 2026 here.

Welcome to the Startup Ecosystem Breakfast
2026-08-18 08:30 - 10:00 (America/New_York) | The Roux Institute at Northeastern University, 100 Fore Street, Portland, Maine, 04101, United States
​If you’re new to Maine, new to our startup ecosystem, or just curious what we mean by “the Maine startup ecosystem,” this one’s for you.
​Startup Maine is kicking off a recurring breakfast series as an easy entry point for anyone curious about startups and our ecosystem. Grab coffee and pastries, meet the Startup Maine team, and connect with the people who make up this community.
​Not new to the ecosystem? You’re just as welcome. Come reconnect and meet the newest people to our startup community.

Register for Event

Prompt & Circumstance: A Startup Maine Happy Hour
2026-09-22 17:00 - 19:00 | Root Wild Kumbucha, 135 Washington Ave, Portland, ME, 04101, United States
​Everyone’s talking about AI. The hype, the fears, the progress, the challenges. Fewer people are talking about what it actually looks like on a Tuesday afternoon in a real job. Prompt and circumstance if you will…
​Join us for a fall happy hour at Root Wild to dig into just that. We’ll spend two hours doing two things: meeting each other, and hearing an honest, engaging conversation about how people across Maine are putting AI to work in their roles and their companies.
Register Here
​Midway through, Owen McCarthy, Co-founder of MedRhythms, will moderate a short panel with innovative leaders using AI in real ways in real jobs. No slides, no jargon (hold us to this). Then we get back to the good part: talking to each other. Our panelists will stick around, so bring your questions.
​Our goal for every happy hour is simple. Everyone leaves with at least one new connection and one new insight to put to work Wednesday morning.
​Who this is for:
​Founders, operators, investors, students, the AI-curious and the AI-skeptical are all welcome. Whether you’re new to Maine, new to the startup ecosystem, new to AI, or an old friend of Startup Maine, join us.
​Speakers:
​We asked Owen McCarthy, a longtime friend of Startup Maine, which leaders in Maine are using AI in the most innovative ways in their roles and their companies. He’s moderating, and this is his starting lineup.

​Owen McCarthy (moderator): Co-Founder & Senior Advisor, MedRhythms, Inc. & Board Member, First Light Works

​Nicole Bradick: Global Head of Innovation, Factor

​Ryan Low: Vice Chancellor for Finance and Strategic A.I. Integration, University of Maine System

​Christopher Reuter: Board Member, Trailmix Labs & Head of Marketing, Spectrum Security

​Chris Marshall: Principal Managing Partner, GreenMars Real Estate Services

Register Here

September's Welcome to the Startup Ecosystem Breakfast
2026-09-29 08:30 - 10:00 | Portland location TBA!
​If you’re new to Maine, new to our startup ecosystem, or just curious what we mean by “the Maine startup ecosystem,” this one’s for you.
​Startup Maine hosts a monthly breakfast series as an easy entry point for anyone curious about startups and our ecosystem. Grab coffee and pastries, meet the Startup Maine team, and connect with the people who make up this community.
​Not new to the ecosystem? You’re just as welcome. Come reconnect and meet the newest people to our startup community.
Register for Event Here

October's Welcome to the Startup Ecosystem Breakfast
2026-10-27 08:30 - 10:00 | Portland location TBA!

November's Welcome to the Startup Ecosystem Breakfast
2026-11-17 08:30 - 10:00 | Portland location TBA!

December's Welcome to the Startup Ecosystem Breakfast
2026-12-15 08:30 - 10:00 | Portland location TBA!
