WATERVILLE, MAINE, April 2022 — Calling all Entrepreneurs, Creators, Ideators, Makers and Doers! Thomas College’s Harold Alfond Institute for Business Innovation (HAIBI) will host Roux Institute’s Maine Start Summit in-person on its campus April 29, 30 and May 1.
Similar to what is referred to as a ‘startup’ weekend, the two-and-a-half-day hackathon style event is designed to lower the barrier of entry for aspiring founders and startup curious individuals. Attendees are invited to form teams, develop a unique idea, and with the help of an all-star line-up of mentors, learn how to build and pitch a successful business.
Four entrepreneurial workshops will be presented on Saturday to help each team build out their idea and develop a prototype before they have a chance to pitch for prize money on Sunday. Workshop Facilitators include: Julene Gervais, of Greenlight Maine, Leslie Hyman, of Circa, Nick Rimsa, of Tortoise Labs, and Owen Sanderson, of IA Collaborative.
“Having this event here in Waterville is incredibly important for the region. It’s a chance to showcase the fact that Waterville has one of the most comprehensive and robust entrepreneurial ecosystems in the State,” said Mike Duguay, Executive Director of the Harold Alfond Institute for Business Innovation at Thomas College
“Waterville has established itself as Maine’s newest innovation hub with programs to serve entrepreneurs at every stage of development,” said Dirigo Labs’ Managing Director, Susan Ruhlin. “With incredible academic institutions and an advantageous geographic location for workforce development, the area offers multiple strategic opportunities for new ventures.”
Hosting the first of Roux’s Maine Start Summit was a natural progression for Waterville’s entrepreneurial community. “Now that we have all the pieces needed to serve entrepreneurs at every level of development, it was time for us to reach out to the entrepreneurs in the region and throughout the state to make sure they knew that they could start and grow businesses right here in the Waterville area,” said Duguay.
About Thomas College
Thomas College, located in beautiful Waterville, Maine, is defining what it means to be the College of the Future. With a strong commitment to innovation, career readiness, and community partnerships, Thomas College is consistently ranked by U.S. News & World Report as one of Maine’s top colleges for social mobility. Our distinctive Guaranteed Job Program™, accelerated undergraduate degrees, and flexible graduate programs empower students to advance faster in business, entrepreneurship, education, technology, applied STEM, and arts & science fields. At Thomas, belonging isn’t a buzzword; it’s a promise. We create a supportive, welcoming environment where every student is seen, valued, and prepared to thrive in a rapidly changing world. For more information visit thomas.edu or contact MacKenzie Riley Young at [email protected] or 207-859-1313. Find us on Facebook, Instagram, X, YouTube, LinkedIn, and TikTok.