The Launch Stage of Entrepreneurship: Barriers and Opportunities for BIPOC Entrepreneurs in Maine

Startup Maine and CEI Women’s Business Center are collaborating on a three-part virtual series focused on BIPOC entrepreneurship in Maine. Each panel event will explore the opportunities and barriers that exist for BIPOC entrepreneurs at the stages of ideation, launch and growth.

In the Launch panel, we will explore the BIPOC entrepreneur experience of establishing a customer base and market presence — and taking the first steps of being officially “in business”. We will discuss the barriers that entrepreneurs face at the launch stage, and think creatively about existing resources that may help to address these challenges. We will follow the panel with an audience Q&A.

Panelists:

Quang Nguyen, Financial Advisor & Entrepreneur

Mike Mwenedata, Founder and CEO, Rwanda Bean

Niky Watler, Co-Founder and Co-Owner of Maiz

Lucie Narukundo, Owner of Moriah Market LLC

Moderator:

Julia Trujilio Luengo, Director of the Office of Economic Opportunity, City of Portland

Register today!