Insights, Stories & Ideas from Upstart Maine

There’s a particular kind of courage it takes to leave one country for another and start over with nothing but a recipe box and a plan. Anik Derphilibossian had that

There are farmers who chase growth. Then there are farmers like Heather and Doug Donahue. Fifteen years ago, they made a choice that would define everything that followed: instead of

Five years ago, Tiffany Lopes was not planning to build one of Central Maine’s fastest-growing food businesses. She wasn’t pitching investors. She wasn’t workshopping a business plan. She was a

Every plate of food tells a story, but some stories are so vibrant they can bridge continents. Imagine the deep, red hue of a Durban curry, the heat of hand-ground

The modern morning is often a race against the clock. For the ambitious professional, the choice usually falls between a nutrient-deficient quick fix or skipping the most important meal of

A plain-English breakdown of fractional marketing, operations, finance, and admin support. At a certain point in your business, you hit a gap. You need senior-level thinking, but not a full-time

What’s standard, what’s a red flag, and how to structure agreements that don’t trap you. As your business grows, you’ll rely more on outside expertise. Consultants, contractors, and fractional operators

You’re busy. You’re stretched. You’re doing too much. So you’re thinking about hiring. Makes sense. But here’s the thing most founders miss: overwhelm isn’t a signal that you’re ready to

Maine’s entrepreneurial landscape is famously rugged and creative, but every so often, a business emerges that doesn’t just join the community—it moves it. We are thrilled to announce Lyndee Waldbauer,

Entrepreneurs, innovators, and business leaders gathered in Bangor, Maine for an evening focused on connection, collaboration, and growth at the recent UpStart Maine Business Showcase. Hosted at Husson University by

Maine’s entrepreneurial spirit is growing stronger—and now, a new Bangor-based business accelerator is giving founders the structure, mentorship, and confidence they need to scale. The newly launched Boot Camp program,