Nexus Maine - It's Gonna be (it is) May
Nexus Maine - It's Gonna be (it is) May
Startup Maine Week, some fun meetups and another moose!
Hello everyone. Did you know that it is Startup Maine Week! This week, there are a ton of exciting panels, meetups, presentations and opportunities to connect with the local entrepreneurial ecosystem. We are so excited to be a small part of the week and look forward to connecting with many of you in person!
We also want to hear from you! Please fill out this brief form to let us know what kind of facilitated networking opportunities you are most interested in.
For Nexus Maine, we are continuing to see great momentum with lots of new members, more Slack activity and community organized meetups like this one at Oxbox or the Nexus/Community Squash night. We have reached 274 members strong and are thinking about how to keep adding value to this community. If you have any suggestions or feedback for us, please don’t hesitate to reach out.
Lastly, as always, if you know anyone great for this group, please make sure to send them this invite link.
Baxter, the Nexus Maine mascot, is so excited because it is startup week in Maine! He is surrounded by his friends.
What’s in this newsletter
Event highlights
Member Spotlight: Emily Batt
Event highlights
5/14-5/17: Startup Maine Week
A variety of panels, networking opportunities and more! Checkout the program here.
5/15: Nexus Maine Coffee @ Cloudport from 730-830am
Come hang out and say hi! We are hosting a coffee meetup for the early risers out there.
5/15: Maine JS Meetup @ Novare Res
5/16: Maine Entrepreneurs Summit
5/22: Dirigo Labs Pitch Event
5/22: Blockchain Maine Meetup
5/23: Blue w(AI)ve Venture Showcase
5/29: May Tech Meetup @ Novare Res
Events Calendar Link in Notion for more.
Member Spotlight: Emily Batt
“Hi, I’m Em!
I’ve spent my career at the intersection of technology, design, and business, and it’s taken me to a lot of interesting places! I started as a mechanical engineer, then moved into software product management, early-stage venture capital, and now startup leadership.
I’m currently Head of Strategy at Co-Star Astrology, a horoscope app used by millions of people every day. I joined to lead an experimental AI team, and last year we launched the world’s first consumer application using retrieval-augmented generation. To announce the launch, we also built a giant Dieter Rams-inspired space machine and secretly popped it up in a Manhattan bodega. It went viral and since then it’s been on a world tour. It is a fun and creative challenge using cutting-edge technology to modernize a 4,000 year-old practice.
I also support a number of early-stage startups through advising and angel investing across biotech, climate, manufacturing, and consumer spheres. If you ever want a sounding board on product, strategy, fundraising, or team-building, I love a good coffee chat. Hit me up!
Lightning round:
What brought you to Maine? I spent my childhood summers at my grandparents’ in Wells, so when Covid foiled a California relocation, moving from Boston to Portland felt like a homecoming of sorts.
Best part of Maine life? The unbeatable combo of nature, community, food, and arts
First job: Slingin’ bagels in my hometown in NH
Weirdest job: Was briefly an organic farmer in the Swiss Alps
Outside of work: live music, playing outside, skijoring!, random art projects
Favorite breakfast cereal: Cinnamon Life
Where can we find you online: LinkedIn, or at embatt.com”
Thank you for making this community special, everyone! See you on Slack.
George & Jimmy