Board Member Spotlight - Malinda Gagnon
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Board Member Spotlight - Malinda Gagnon
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Our third feature in the Board Member Spotlights Series!
We will introduce one of our Board members to share a little bit more about their experience and the perspective they bring to Maine Venture Fund.
The MVF Board is made up of 11 volunteers, all appointed by the Governor of Maine, and each with specific expertise that enables MVF as an organization to thoughtfully evaluate the best way to support Maine companies. The MVF Board is responsible for making all investment decisions.
This installment features Malinda Gagnon
MVF Board member since 2022
Can you share a little bit about your professional experience?
My expertise is in technology commercialization, communications technologies, product marketing, and management. I’ve been fortunate to have worked with some of the most complex and fastest growing organizations and with technology startups for the past 20 years.
I was an early team member at Google and joined the first team in Boston and got to experience rapid growth. I was responsible for helping ad agencies use Google technologies to grow their businesses.
I went on to found and lead two organizations at the world’s largest media holding company, WPP/GroupM. It was an awesome experience charting the vision for a couple of business units and building that out while working with companies like General Electric, Procter and Gamble, Walmart and many other Fortune 500 companies. I founded and led a global consulting practice, and then founded and led their first product and technology group. I worked closely with many startups as well as mature technology companies like Amazon, Google and Facebook to create partnerships and product offerings and key data integrations. I also mentored many technology startups to help them get to a stage where they were ready to succeed with a pilot with a Fortune 500 organization.
I am now the CEO of Uprise Partners, a technology services company specializing in information technology, cybersecurity and software development. We focus on helping small and medium sized businesses grow and operate more effectively with technology. I appreciate the opportunity to understand a business's challenges and opportunities and figuring out how technology can help. I started Uprise Partners for SMBs because I saw this market was underserved and often only had piecemeal technology services available, which resulted inincomplete tech solutions and wasted time and money - which SMBs just can’t afford! We are headquartered in Maine and have team members across the country and are one of the fastest growing managed security services providers in the country. Many of our customers are also here in Maine and it’s wonderful to know we’re helping our local economy in this way. We also have customers across the US, and soon we’ll have customers globally.
What I enjoy most about what I do is helping businesses and entrepreneurs succeed by using technology as a powerful tool. As a leader, I also enjoy helping to develop my teams’ skills and empower them in their careers. I’m also a mentor with Techstars, Maine Center for Entrepreneurs, and MassChallenge and enjoy working with early stage entrepreneurs.
What is a professional accomplishment you are most proud of?
Founding Uprise Partners is what I’m most proud of. We have a talented team who truly care about our customers’ success. It's incredibly rewarding to see how far we’ve come. Like any startup story, the beginning is always a humbling experience. For example, we rented a basement space for our first office that was a former cross country ski rental shop! When I think back to those early days in that first office, scrapping for customers, to where we are now - with happy customers across the United States, multiple cybersecurity and managed service provider awards, and incredibly fast growth - it’s gratifying.
What is one of your favorite restaurants?
I want to give a shout out to two local restaurants where I live in Bethel, Maine - Le Mu Eats and Steam Mill Brewing. Both are locally owned and operated and the food is great. Wonderful and cozy atmosphere too.
Can you share one thing you always consider in the diligence process for companies pursuing investment from MVF?
The most important part of any company is the founding team and leadership. Do they have experience, expertise and the passion to roll with the punches and create something valuable? Starting a company is incredibly challenging. The product/service will change. How you’ll go to market will change. You need a leadership team that can innovate and stay committed to figuring out how to change course as needed. Of course, MVF also wants to invest in a great idea, but the idea is nothing without the right team behind it.
How do you recharge?
I recharge in the woods! I absolutely love walking my dogs in the woods and enjoy the quiet solitude of nature; that’s my happy place.
About Maine Venture Fund
Maine Venture Fund invests in dynamic businesses that have the potential for significant growth and impact in Maine. For more information, visit maineventurefund.com.
Inquiries:
Terri Wark
Maine Venture Fund
(207) 924.3800
terri@maineventurefund.com
