UpStart Maine

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UpStart Maine Supporting entrepreneurship in the Bangor region from the earliest networking and idea formation stage through incubation and acceleration.

We’re excited to introduce Scribble Sessions, a new monthly meetup from UpStart Maine for small business owners.The idea...
10/12/2026

We’re excited to introduce Scribble Sessions, a new monthly meetup from UpStart Maine for small business owners.

The idea is simple: step away from the screen, grab a marker, and spend some time thinking through challenges and ideas together with other local business owners, over coffee and donuts.

Our first Scribble Session is coming up:

📅 Wednesday, October 21
🕣 8:30–10:00 AM
📍 40 Johnson St, Bangor, ME

Coffee and donuts will be provided, thanks to our sponsor, Cross Insurance.

We’ll be meeting monthly, with upcoming sessions planned for November 18 and December 16.

If you’re a small business owner in the area, we’d love to have you join us.

Learn more and reserve your spot: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/scribble-sessions-tickets-2001629766514?aff=oddtdtcreator

We can't wait to see you tomorrow! Blitz will take place in the ballroom of the Hilton Garden Inn - Bangor Maine to the ...
09/22/2026

We can't wait to see you tomorrow! Blitz will take place in the ballroom of the Hilton Garden Inn - Bangor Maine to the right of the main entrance. Bring a light jacket or sweater in preparation for air conditioning and your business cards!💼🍂

Panelists like Yellow Light Breen make Blitz the great event it is. Yellow’s passion is promoting economic and education...
09/21/2026

Panelists like Yellow Light Breen make Blitz the great event it is. Yellow’s passion is promoting economic and educational opportunity for all Mainers regardless of geography or background. He became CEO of Maine Development Foundation in 2015, where he develops strategic direction, integration, and partnerships across MDF’s mission and programs.

Yellow is a sought-after public speaker with a diverse background in business, public policy, and law. He spent twelve years as an executive with Bangor Savings Bank, overseeing strategic planning, marketing, online banking, community development, and charitable activities. Prior, he was a senior official at the Maine Department of Education and an advisor to Independent Governor Angus King.

Yellow was born and raised in rural, central Maine, a product of Maine public schools, and earned undergraduate and law degrees from Harvard University. He has been an active volunteer in many education and economic development efforts, including the boards of the Maine Community Foundation and Educate Maine. He previously served on the MDF Board and chaired Realize Maine, an ongoing initiative to attract, retain, and support young professionals. Yellow lives in Holden and loves to hike, swim, and ski with his wife and children.

Join Yellow at Blitz this Wednesday, September 23! https://www.eventbrite.com/e/blitz-2026-tickets-1991059445399?aff=oddtdtcreator&utm_source=social&utm_medium=Blitz2026&utm_campaign=Aug&utm_id=Blitz

09/21/2026

Congratulations, Mark Kent, you won tickets to BLITZ! we look forward to seeing you on Wednesday at the Hilton Garden Inn, Bangor. Thanks to those who participated!

Welcome Joe Powers to Blitz 2026! Joe joined Maine Venture Fund in 2019. Prior to MVF, he worked for a number of startup...
09/18/2026

Welcome Joe Powers to Blitz 2026! Joe joined Maine Venture Fund in 2019. Prior to MVF, he worked for a number of startup technology firms (Tesla, Zoox, Clean Marine Energy) in a variety of roles. Joe also has experience as an entrepreneur (Ripso) and angel investor. Joe is an alumnus of Middlebury, (BA) and Tuck (MBA).

Get your ticket to Blitz now: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/blitz-2026-tickets-1991059445399?aff=oddtdtcreator&utm_source=social&utm_medium=Blitz2026&utm_campaign=Aug&utm_id=Blitz

Meet panelist Abigail Naana Osei! Abby is an Investment Officer with Maine Technology Institute (MTI), where she engages...
09/16/2026

Meet panelist Abigail Naana Osei! Abby is an Investment Officer with Maine Technology Institute (MTI), where she engages with fund applicants to assess their investment readiness, reviews application documents to inform funding decisions, supports portfolio companies with strategy and milestones, and also collaborates with public and private stakeholders to strengthen Maine’s innovation ecosystem.

She completed her bachelor’s program in Economics in Ghana and a master’s program in Economics at the University of Maine. Prior to her current role at MTI, she served in various positions and capacities as a financial analyst, project manager, monitoring & evaluation officer, among others. She is passionate about engaging in activities that create an impact and promote innovation.
Meet Abby at Blitz on September 23! https://www.eventbrite.com/e/blitz-2026-tickets-1991059445399?aff=oddtdtcreator&utm_source=social&utm_medium=Blitz2026&utm_campaign=Aug&utm_id=Blitz

Welcome Oyebanjo "Banjo" Ogunlela to Blitz 2026! Banjo is a small business advisor at the University of Maine, Augusta: ...
09/14/2026

Welcome Oyebanjo "Banjo" Ogunlela to Blitz 2026! Banjo is a small business advisor at the University of Maine, Augusta: New Ventures Maine, serving entrepreneurs across north, central, and downeast Maine and providing training, coaching, and strategic guidance to aspiring and established business owners. He has extensive academic and professional experience spanning business administration, entrepreneurship, public policy, and innovation.

Banjo has served as a Graduate Teaching Assistant at the University of Maine and as a faculty member at the Cape Peninsula University of Technology in South Africa, where he lectured and conducted research in business administration, entrepreneurship, public procurement, green supply chains, and disruptive innovation. He holds a Doctor of Business Administration from the University of KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa; an MBA from Lagos State University; a Master of Arts (MA) in Global Policy from the University of Maine; and a Master of Science (MSc) in Cybersecurity from the University of Maine at Augusta. He is currently pursuing a Master of Science in Cybersecurity at the University of Maine at Augusta.
Before that, Banjo managed IT operations for major corporations and United Nations programs in Nigeria and South Africa, and taught, researched, and advised on business development at institutions of higher education. He was an Adjunct Professor at Damelin in Cape Town, South Africa (2019-2021), and at the Management College of South Africa in Cape Town, South Africa (2019 -2021).

Get your ticket to Blitz at https://www.eventbrite.com/e/blitz-2026-tickets-1991059445399?aff=oddtdtcreator&utm_source=social&utm_medium=Blitz2026&utm_campaign=Aug&utm_id=Blitz

If you haven't gotten your tickets, there's still time! Visit upstartmaine.org, or tap the link below.🎟️Thanks again to ...
09/11/2026

If you haven't gotten your tickets, there's still time! Visit upstartmaine.org, or tap the link below.🎟️
Thanks again to all of our speakers and sponsors: Maine Technology Institute, Maine State Department of Economic and Community Development, Acadia Federal Credit Union, Northern Maine Development Commission, Hilton Garden Inn - Bangor Maine, and Joy Sinclair Marketing for your help with this year's Blitz Entrepreneurship Conference.
https://www.eventbrite.com/e/blitz-2026-tickets-1991059445399?aff=oddtdtcreator&utm_source=social&utm_medium=Blitz2026&utm_campaign=Aug&utm_id=Blitz

Meet Blitz panelist, David Green! David is co-owner of the Ward Green Group, a training, management consulting, and exec...
09/10/2026

Meet Blitz panelist, David Green! David is co-owner of the Ward Green Group, a training, management consulting, and executive coaching business. David’s Clients are all across the US.

SCORE’s mission is to foster vibrant small business communities through mentoring and education. David is the volunteer Chapter Chair for northern Maine SCORE, and has been with SCORE for 7 years.

For SCORE, David mentors around 40 small business clients per year and leads a team of 14 Mentors and Subject Matter Experts across northern Maine. In 2025 SCORE Maine helped start 579 new businesses and helped 6,209 clients!🤝
Congratulations to David and northern Maine SCORE for being selected as Chapter Of The Year nationally, out of 250 chapters. Finalists were all from big metro areas (Silicon Valley, Atlanta, Seattle, and Washington, D.C.).

To chat with David at Blitz, get your tickets now!🎟️ https://www.eventbrite.com/e/blitz-2026-tickets-1991059445399?aff=oddtdtcreator&utm_source=social&utm_medium=Blitz2026&utm_campaign=Aug&utm_id=Blitz

Meet Blitz panelist, Chris Torina! Chris is the Director of Entrepreneurship and Director of the National Security Innov...
09/07/2026

Meet Blitz panelist, Chris Torina!

Chris is the Director of Entrepreneurship and Director of the National Security Innovation Hub at the Roux Institute at Northeastern University at Northeastern University in Portland, where he leads initiatives that strengthen Maine's entrepreneurial ecosystem and support the growth of startups, innovators, and emerging technology companies.

With more than 25 years of leadership experience spanning entrepreneurship, law enforcement, real estate, and global brand development, Chris has built and scaled organizations across a variety of industries. He is the founder and former CEO of DeepStacks, one of the world's leading gaming entertainment brands. Following its acquisition by the World Poker Tour, he served as WPT's Executive Director, leading strategic growth initiatives and expanding operations across North America, Europe, and Asia.

At the Roux Institute, Chris designs and leads entrepreneurship programs that connect founders with capital, mentors, strategic partners, and commercialization opportunities. He also oversees the Roux's National Security Innovation Hub, which supports startups developing dual-use technologies across sectors including artificial intelligence, cybersecurity, advanced manufacturing, energy, space, autonomous systems, and defense.

Prior to joining the Roux Institute, Chris served as Chief Operating Officer of Blue Fusion Capital, a real estate investment firm. Earlier in his career, he spent more than a decade in law enforcement, serving as an undercover narcotics task force agent and SWAT operator before transitioning into entrepreneurship and executive leadership.

Chat with Chris and other amazing ecosystem partners at Blitz!

https://www.eventbrite.com/e/blitz-2026-tickets-1991059445399?aff=oddtdtcreator&utm_source=social&utm_medium=Blitz2026&utm_campaign=Aug&utm_id=Blitz

Address

471 Stillwater Ave, Bangor, ME 04401-3519, United States
Bangor, ME
04401-3519

Telephone

2078662406

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