Startup Maine Week 2026 Announces Keynote Speakers and Opens Ticket Sales

Maine’s flagship startup conference returns May 18–21 in Portland with nationally recognized speakers, expanded programming for founders starting and scaling.

PORTLAND, ME, UNITED STATES, April 3, 2026 /EINPresswire.com/ -- Startup Maine, a 501(c)3 nonprofit that convenes and champions Maine’s startup ecosystem, is bringing new energy and new programming to Startup Week Maine 2026, which is happening May 18 - 21 in Portland. The four-day conference, which saw over 800 attendees last year, brings together founders, investors, operators, and community builders from across the state and region.

This year’s conference brings four dynamic days of founder-led, founder-built programming organized around three tracks - Connect, Start, Scale - to meet attendees, from growth-stage founders to the startup curious, wherever they are.

"Startup Maine Week has always been the place where this community comes together. This year, we're building on that foundation with sharper programming, nationally recognized speakers, and a real focus on what founders actually need. Maine is a place where people are building serious companies — and this conference should reflect that. We're just getting started,” said Sarah Smith, Executive Director of Startup Maine.

Throughout the week, participants will have access to powerful keynote presentations from nationally recognized speakers, panel discussions, workshops and fun evening events. Startup founders, startup teams, investors, ecosystem partners, support organizations, tech enthusiasts and anyone with a curious mind are encouraged to attend.

Kate Brodock will deliver the Opening Keynote on Monday, May 18. Brodock is a nationally recognized voice on venture capital, gender equity in tech, and building inclusive startup ecosystems. Clarence Bethea, Managing Partner of What VCs Won’t Say, will wrap up the week with the closing keynote, “Fundraising is broken and AI won’t save it!” Clarence is a former investor at a leading venture capital firm and a founder who raised over $30 million and exited his company. His journey from founder to investor shapes his deep commitment to helping the next generation of builders’ access opportunities he once had to figure out on his own.

Maine-based founders will take stage throughout the week including JT White of Forerunner, Torey Penrod-Cambra of HighByte and Phil Coupe of ReVision Energy. Early-bird tickets are available now at $129 - a limited quantity at this price, until April 17. The Maine Center and The Roux Institute, both annual sponsors of Startup Maine, will host the conference.

Startup Maine Week is made possible by Startup Maine’s Annual Sponsors: Maine Technology Institute, The Maine Graduate and Professional Center, University of Maine System, The Roux Institute at Northeastern University, TriNet, Wilmington Trust, a member of the M&T Bank Family, and Maine Community Bank; as well as Startup Maine Week Sponsors Viridian Law, Mainebiz, Crown Castle, Inc., Emery, Baker Newman Noyes, Gulf of Maine Research Institute, and Northeast Media Associates.

About Startup Maine

Startup Maine is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit that serves as the convener and champion of Maine’s startup ecosystem. Through its annual conference, founder-focused initiatives, and commitment to startups, Startup Maine fuels innovation, strengthens connections, and drives long-term economic growth across the state. For more information, visit www.startupmaine.org.

Angie Helton
Northeast Media Associates
+1 207-653-0365
email us here

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