Attracting and retaining top talent isn’t just about jobs—it’s about creating places where people want to build their lives. In Maine, we’ve learned that a vibrant startup ecosystem is one of the most powerful magnets for talent, especially when paired with traditional industries that already define our economy.

As President of Startup Maine, a nonprofit that convenes and champions the state’s entrepreneurial community, I’ve seen firsthand how startups have become key drivers of energy, innovation, and opportunity in our region. While Portland, Maine, is a standout case study, the lessons we’ve learned here are relevant to any region looking to boost its talent strategy and innovation economy.

The Talent Power of Startups

Startups offer something unique in the employment landscape: purpose-driven work, creative problem-solving, and the chance to help shape a company from the ground up. This appeals not only to Gen Z and millennial workers but also to career switchers, remote workers, and boomerangs—people who left Maine and are now looking for meaningful ways to come home.

But startups don’t thrive in a vacuum. They need infrastructure, capital, community—and a story that tells people, “You can build your dream here.”

Portland’s Transformation

Since 2015, Portland has transformed from a small coastal city with a handful of startups to a hub of entrepreneurial activity embedded within traditional industries. From blue tech and aquaculture to bioscience, fintech, and climate solutions, startups are now part of our regional identity.

Portland’s Transformation: From Quiet Potential to Startup Momentum

Portland’s entrepreneurial scene didn’t emerge overnight—it’s been shaped by years of groundwork, catalytic moments, and the cumulative efforts of community champions. What was once a quiet city known for lobster and lighthouses is now a small but mighty innovation hub that punches above its weight.

Here’s a look at some of the key moments in Portland’s startup timeline:

1999: Governor Angus King lays the foundation for innovation with the creation of the Maine Technology Institute (MTI), a state-funded nonprofit to support high-growth sectors and seed R&D across Maine.
2014: Portland hosts its first Startup Weekend, giving early momentum to Maine’s grassroots entrepreneurial culture and bringing together technologists, designers, and dreamers to launch ideas in 54 hours.
2015: Steve Case’s Rise of the Rest tour visits Portland, awarding a $100,000 investment to a local startup. This national spotlight confirms that Maine has real potential—and gets local leaders thinking bigger.
2018: SCORE Portland earns national recognition for its mentorship network, which provides critical support to startups and small businesses. The program becomes one of the most active chapters per capita in the U.S.
2019: Startup Maine brought 8 companies to attend and exhibit at TechCrunch Disrupt —which helped put Maine’s startups on the national stage. We documented our trip into a mini documentary.
The State of Maine expands the Maine Seed Capital Tax Credit. The Maine Seed Capital Tax Credit Program is designed to encourage equity investments in Maine businesses, directly and through private venture capital funds (by providing tax credits to investors for 40% of the cash equity provided to eligible Maine businesses).
2020: The game changes with the arrival of the Roux Institute at Northeastern University in Portland—a multi-million-dollar commitment to tech education, applied research, and talent development in Maine. The University also has numerous startup programs - the ClimateTech Incubator, Founder Residency, and Future of Healthcare Founders.
2021–2022: The global accelerator Techstars launches a cohort program in Portland, drawing international applicants and putting the city on the map for investors, mentors, and founders alike.
2025: Startup Maine Week becomes the biggest yet, with 850+ tickets claimed, 100 speakers, and 40 events. National and regional partners attend, demonstrating that Maine isn’t just keeping pace—it’s helping shape the next generation of startup ecosystems.

Each of these milestones added fuel to the fire. Taken together, they show what’s possible when you combine long-term investment, community hustle, and belief in what a small city can achieve.

What’s made the difference?

Intentional ecosystem building: We’ve invested in meetups, mentorship programs such as the Maine Mentor Network, coworking spaces such as Cloudport, ThinkTank, and Bricks, and founder-first events that create connection and trust.
Cross-sector partnerships: Our work is fueled by collaboration with universities, local government, economic development groups, investors, and corporate partners.
Storytelling and visibility: By sharing founder stories and showcasing local innovation, we’ve helped redefine what’s possible in Maine.

Building the Ecosystem: Three Key Pillars

Community Building
Startup Maine has focused on curating spaces where people connect, collaborate, and collide. From hosting pitch nights to our annual conference, we’ve made ecosystem-building an open-source, community-led effort.
Narrative + Identity
We’ve worked closely with partners like Live + Work in Maine to elevate the perception of our state as a place for innovation—not just vacation. When talent sees people like them building exciting companies here, they start to picture themselves in the story.
Partnership + Policy
Whether it’s supporting legislation that benefits early-stage businesses or collaborating with the Department of Economic & Community Development, we recognize that ecosystems thrive when public and private sectors row in the same direction.

Real Impact: Talent is Staying—and Returning

We’ve seen real movement. Talented individuals who left Maine in their 20s are coming back in their 30s and 40s because they now see opportunity. Startups are attracting skilled workers from out of state who want a better quality of life. And companies are scaling—right here in Maine.

Lessons for Other Regions

Ecosystem building is not about one big win—it’s about thousands of small actions. It’s slow, nonlinear, and people-powered. But the impact is exponential when you create the conditions for innovation to take root.

So, what can you do in your region?

Convene the conveners. Start with who’s already doing the work.
Elevate local founders and share their stories widely.
Invite the funders such as Angel investors, high net-worth individuals, and state programs.
Make space for serendipity—coffee chats, coworking, intentional collisions.
Align around shared values and be relentlessly welcoming.

Startups aren’t just companies. They’re communities. And when we invest in them—not just financially but emotionally, socially, and strategically—we build the kind of places where top talent doesn’t just show up, but stays.

If you’re curious about Maine’s startup ecosystem or want to trade ideas, I’d love to connect. After all, this work is better when we build it together.

-Katie Shorey, President of Startup Maine
katie@startupmaine.org

Startups as Magnets: How Innovation Ecosystems Can Attract—and Keep—Top Talent