Startup Maine conference a 'labor of love' for volunteer organizers
Courtesy/Startup Maine
Katie Shorey (right), president of Startup Maine, is shown here with Startup Maine organizers and friends at a past event. This year's edition takes place in Portland from June 19-21.
Around 350 people are expected in Portland this week to learn and trade ideas about launching, growing and running a business at Startup Maine, a volunteer-organized and -run event that's several months in the making.
This year's edition will feature more than 80 speakers and 40 sessions along with ample networking opportunities, infused with positive energy about Maine's entrepreneurship and innovation culture.
That energy begins with the volunteers working behind the scenes, including a board that meets regularly starting in September to plan the June conference and other events during the year, and a programming committee that kicked up the frequency of its meetings to once a week over the last few months.
"It's a labor of love for all of us volunteers," said Katie Shorey, Startup Maine's president and board chairwoman, who recently started a new job as innovation program manager at WEX.
After leading a move to rebrand the former Maine Startup & Create Week and establish a new nonprofit called Startup Maine, she reflected on some of the personal rewards of her continued involvement.
"As president, I've been so fortunate to have a pulse on what's going on" she said. "I get cold calls and email messages from people across the country who love what we're doing at Startup Maine, and a few entrepreneurs have said they're moving back here ... People are really excited about what we're doing."
Helen Sterling Coburn, a Bernstein Shur shareholder who serves as Startup Maine's programming co-chair, had a similar observation, saying she enjoys getting to know all those involved in Maine's startup ecosystem.
"I'm really excited about the growth I see in Maine startups and being a part of that," she added.
This year's edition takes place from June 19-21.
It will kick off with a chat-style keynote Wednesday at Aura, in collaboration with the Portland Regional Chamber of Commerce's Kegs & Issues, and wrap up with a closing party Friday night at Fork Food Lab community kitchen and food-business incubator.
Sessions on Thursday and Friday will take place at Maine College of Art around topics including government and policy, investing and finance, oceans and the blue economy, technology and hiring and company culture.
Workshop topics and speakers were chosen from more than 100 submissions for just 32 spots, and Shorey credits the programming committee with putting together a "tremendous lineup" this year and impressive keynotes.
Find the full conference schedule and speaker information here.
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