Sarah Smith

Sarah brings nearly a decade of experience at the intersection of innovation, entrepreneurship, and community building. She began her career as a Venture for America Fellow in Charlotte, North Carolina, where she scaled a global fintech accelerator and became deeply engaged in the city’s startup community. She then joined Ernst & Young, where she launched and led an innovation center, EY wavespace™, partnering with corporations, startups, nonprofits, and the City of Charlotte to align innovation initiatives with the region’s economic development goals.

After relocating to Maine, Sarah continued her work in innovation through VentureFuel, a business innovation consultancy. There, she led the team supporting Comcast NBCUniversal’s LIFT Labs Enterprise Accelerator, connecting high-growth AI startups with company business leaders to drive long term partnerships.

A graduate of Georgetown University and Startup Maine Board Member since 2024, Sarah is passionate about building community, strengthening local economies, and helping founders turn bold ideas into impact.