Learn what it takes to build and scale your own startup.
- Are you an undergraduate student, recent graduate, or current graduate student?
- Interested in pursuing a career in technology, venture creation, and startups?
- Want to learn about Maine’s entrepreneurial ecosystem?
Join us for an Entrepreneurship Trek!
Our Entrepreneurship Treks are two-week, high-intensity programs that combine classroom learning with field study excursions to local startup companies in a variety of tech sectors. Taking part in a trek will allow you to join like-minded peers from across the country in exploring the expansive entrepreneurial ecosystem of Maine and Northern New England.
Program Details

- Earn a Badge through Northeastern to hone your entrepreneurial-thinking skills
- Drive innovation while working on group projects with Maine-based startup companies
- Explore Maine through co-curricular activities
- Expand your network and add significant experience to your résumé
By the end of the program, you will be armed with the practical skills, expertise, and confidence to excel in your next professional pursuit—whether that be with your own venture, joining a startup or larger organization.
Past guest speakers have included:
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Ali Goldstein Norup
Co-founder of kpiReady and current Head of VC and Startup Ecosystem, North Americas at Google Cloud
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Ben Chesler
Co-founder of Imperfect Foods and current Associate Director of Entrepreneurship at the Roux Institute
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Jesse Bardo
Co-founder of EverTrue and current Director at Silicon Valley Bank
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Nicole Bradick
Founder and CEO of Theory & Principle
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Santi Zindel
Founder Residency Director at the Roux Institute
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Chinedu Echruo
Founder of Hopstop

Earn a Badge
The hands-on, interactive classroom experience will take students through the venture creation process from ideation to launch-readiness. Learning will cover topics across the entrepreneurial landscape, from market research to business models to pitching your venture.
The program is designed to integrate experiential learning offerings with classroom learning experiences. It will be offered in-person through the Roux Institute and Northeastern University’s D’Amore-McKim School of Business School.
Experiential Learning
Learning integrated with professional experience is a hallmark of Northeastern and the Roux Institute. Students gain a clear understanding of the entrepreneurship ecosystem in Maine and the Northeast—and valued workplace skills like communication and teamwork. All opportunities enable students to build their resumés, expand their professional networks, and chart a path to in-demand careers.
At the Roux Institute, we believe in integrating classroom learning with experience, and the Entrepreneurship Trek will offer you not only rich academic coursework, but also the opportunity to get to know Maine’s startup companies to grow your professional network, improve your skills, and apply classroom learnings in a practical setting.
Financial Aid and Scholarship Opportunities
Financial assistance and scholarship opportunities will be available to students accepted to the program. Our aim is to ensure that all interested students can afford to attend our program.

In addition to the hands-on experience of solving real, challenging problems with a tech startup, the program helped me build friendships with future leaders, network with successful entrepreneurs, and gain an understanding of Maine's startup ecosystem. ”
NICHOLAS FAGONE
Entrepreneurship Trek Program Graduate '21
FAQs
The BlueTech Entrepreneurship Trek begins on Sunday, June 12th and concludes on Sunday, June 26th. This program is a residential program held at the beautiful UMaine Darling Marine Center in Walpole, Maine – right on the water! Classes will be held daily from 1pm-3pm.
In addition to daily class meetings, participants will take part in two day-long excursions – one on Friday, June 17th and the other on Thursday, June 23rd to meet with the Gulf of Maine Research Institute and SeaAhead Bluetech Innovation.
Participants will be invited to use the Darling Marine Center work spaces to work on their own startup projects as part of this program.
Scholarship opportunities will be available to students registered for the program. Our aim is to ensure that all interested students can afford to attend our program.
This program is open to current college students and recent graduates. Students do not need to be enrolled in Northeastern to participate in an Entrepreneurship Trek!
Contact us
Ready to get started? Complete this form to learn more and receive program updates.