Venture Hall gets $200K boost from MaineHealth, Unum US
Portland-based MaineHealth, Maine's largest health network with member hospitals in 10 communities, and disability insurer Unum US, the third-largest employer in Portland, will each provide $100,000 and other support to collaborate with Portland startup accelerator Venture Hall on its inaugural startup accelerator program this summer.
The aim of the 13-week summer program, announced Feb. 8 by Venture Hall President Jess Knox, is to attract entrepreneurs and innovators from across the country and the world to create new solutions for the health care industry. He told Mainebiz this is the first such accelerator effort in Maine, and with the big-name companies' backing, it could get the state on the map as an innovator and attract more entrepreneurs and startups.
“This is the first time in my work where two of the state's largest corporations have gotten together with this kind of money and human capital for high-growth, high-impact ventures,” Knox, who also started Maine Startup & Create Week, told Mainebiz.
He said both organizations found they had similar problems to solve to help health care workers better do their job, and with Venture Hall in the mix, decided to collaborate to find startups that address common challenges in their industries. Both organizations will provide support to the eight to 10 entrepreneurial companies across all industries to attend Venture Hall's 13-week summer accelerator program. They will provide the entrepreneurs with mentors, business resources and subject-matter expertise.
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