Innovate for Maine: Connecting Students with Startups
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As Maine's entrepreneurial landscape has seen consistent growth over the past decade, founding a company as a career path has become an increasingly popular choice for college students looking to blaze their own trail.
Founded in 2012, the University of Maine's Innovate for Maine Fellows Program allows students interested in entrepreneurship to work for an innovative Maine company. Unlike a traditional internship program where students apply directly to a company, Innovate for Maine actively pairs Fellows with early-stage startups based on interest and fit.
"The reason it's called the Innovate for Maine Fellows Program is that it's more than just an internship," says Emma Wilson, program coordinator. She was a Fellow in 2013 and 2014, and now helps connect students with opportunities to help mold their careers. "This is a fellowship experience throughout the summer where students are networking and connecting, attending professional development activities, and gaining an understanding of what it takes to run a startup."
Although students are at the forefront of Innovate for Maine, the program ensures companies also get value out of the experience. In fact, some Innovate for Maine summer internships have turned into long-term careers.
"One of the goals of Innovate for Maine is to help students see all of the available opportunities in the state," adds Wilson. "We want students to know you don't have to move to San Francisco or Boston to find success. You can stay and innovate right here in Maine."
How Innovate for Maine Benefits Students
Growing up in the Dominican Republic, Sylvia Guzman's interest in entrepreneurship was piqued at a young age. Guzman's mother owned multiple businesses, and Guzman watched in awe as her mother took care of any and all tasks to keep her businesses thriving.
"It was common to see my mom picking up the phone at 10 p.m. because a customer had an issue, or waking up on Saturdays and Sundays, going over and painting walls," says Guzman.
That experience led her to the University of Maine, where she minored in innovation engineering, intent on immersing herself in entrepreneurship. She spent two summers with Innovate for Maine beginning in 2015, and after earning her master's degree from Northeastern's Roux Institute, she landed a role with Pika Energy (acquired by Generac) through connections from her fellowship.
"The Innovate for Maine Fellowship Program had a greater impact on me than I could have ever imagined," says Guzman. "It helped me establish myself within the entrepreneurship sphere here in the state. It also taught me the importance of being open and flexible, knowing that you will have to apply yourself to different situations."
Students begin their fellowship experience with a five-day boot camp where they learn about innovation engineering and the Maine entrepreneurial ecosystem. Through panel discussions with Maine entrepreneurs, professionals, and Innovate for Maine alumni, Fellows have an opportunity to gain invaluable insight into the industries they're most interested in, ultimately leading to a trip to Portland to watch the Top Gun Statewide Showcase live, where Maine-based startup companies pitch for cash prizes each year.
This summer, Dillon Kelley, who majored in biomedical engineering, completed his fellowship with an internship with Scarborough-based orthopedic implant company Amplify Additive (a portfolio company), which is now under ARCH Medical Solutions). While working with Amplify Additive, Innovate for Maine introduced Kelley to David Holomakoff, chief product officer at KinoTek, a Portland-based movement analysis company that began in UMaine's Foster Center for Innovation. This introduction led Kelley to an additional internship with KinoTek.
"Networking is huge," says Kelley. "There's a bunch of great people willing to help you, and you just have to accept that help. That's what this program has given me: a wide range of connections."
How Innovate for Maine Benefits Companies
In its 10-year history, Innovate for Maine has seen a number of its Fellows go on to become founders of early-stage startups, who then leverage the very program that helped them on their entrepreneurial journey. One such alumnus is Patrick Breeding, CEO of Marin Skincare, a Portland-based company using lobster byproducts in skin care creams to help heal issues like eczema and psoriasis.
Breeding was a Fellow as he finished his biomedical engineering master's degree in 2019 and has been a co-founder for multiple startups since then.
"It's been really cool to be [participating in Innovate for Maine] on the employer side," said Breeding. "We have a passion for introducing people to nontraditional tasks and what it's like to be an entrepreneur and build a company."
Innovate for Maine also subsidizes up to 75 percent of the cost of an intern. This allows even the smallest and most frugal startups to bring in talent to help drive critical projects forward, and build a talent pipeline for the future.
"It's very friendly for a cash-strapped, boot-strapped startup," adds Breeding.
How can Students and Companies Participate?
Maine-based companies considering hosting a Fellow must have an interest in innovation, scalable growth, and educating the student throughout the internship. The application for companies to host a summer Fellow opens in December, and this year Innovate for Maine is piloting a program for companies to leverage Fellows throughout the school year for short-term projects. The program will release more information on that pilot program in the coming weeks.
For students, the Innovate for Maine application process is rigorous. College students enrolled at a Maine college or university, or Maine residents attending college out-of-state or internationally, can apply to be a Fellow, no matter their major or class year. In addition to answering essay questions and filling out their career interests, students are required to submit a 90-second video.
What is it that makes a candidate stand out? "Passion," says Wilson. "The best candidates are the ones who are excited in their video and are truly interested in what they're doing."
Pika Energy, KinoTek and Amplify Additive are MVF portfolio companies.
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
