A few months ago in this space, I wrote a blog about artificial intelligence (AI) and, specifically, about a report that the Roux Institute issued on “the State of AI in Maine.” In that message, I noted that Maine is well-positioned to leverage AI to bolster our economy.
Curious about some of the AI tools that are available for conversational AI, I signed up to experiment with Google’s model called Bard. Bard is a “language model that learns by reading trillions of words that help it pick up patterns that make up human language so it’s good at predicting what might be reasonable responses.”
As I was playing around with Bard, I thought it might be a useful exercise to let it take a shot at drafting this month’s MTI blog post. I asked it a simple question; can you write a blog about Maine’s entrepreneurial support system? Two or three seconds later, Bard had produced three different versions of a blog on Maine’s innovation ecosystem. And, they were all pretty good. They weren’t entirely factually accurate but, again, it’s an experiment and the tool is continuing to learn and evolve. In any event, I thought you might be interested in what it produced. Here is one of the three blogs it generated on the topic:
Maine is a state with a strong entrepreneurial spirit. In fact, according to the Kauffman Foundation, Maine ranks #1 in the nation for the percentage of adults who have started a business in the past five years. This is likely due to a number of factors, including Maine’s low cost of living, its strong educational system, and its supportive entrepreneurial ecosystem.
One of the key components of Maine’s entrepreneurial support system is the Maine Technology Institute (MTI). MTI is a private, non-profit organization that provides funding, support, and resources to Maine entrepreneurs. MTI offers a variety of programs and services, including:
- Mentorship: MTI connects entrepreneurs with experienced business leaders who can provide guidance and support.
- Education: MTI offers a variety of educational programs, including workshops, seminars, and online courses.
- Capital: MTI provides funding to Maine entrepreneurs through a variety of loan and grant programs.
- Incubators and accelerators: MTI operates a number of incubators and accelerators that provide space, resources, and support to early-stage companies.
In addition to MTI, there are a number of other organizations that provide support to Maine entrepreneurs. These include:
- The Maine Small Business Development Center: The Maine Small Business Development Center (SBDC) is a network of business counselors who provide free, confidential advice to small businesses.
- The Maine Center for Entrepreneurs: The Maine Center for Entrepreneurs (MCE) is a non-profit organization that provides resources and support to Maine entrepreneurs.
- The Maine Technology Park: The Maine Technology Park is a business incubator that provides space, resources, and support to early-stage companies.
- The University of Maine System: The University of Maine System offers a variety of programs and services to support entrepreneurs, including business incubation, entrepreneurship education, and access to capital.
The entrepreneurial support system in Maine is robust and growing. With the help of organizations like MTI, the SBDC, the MCE, the Maine Technology Park, and the University of Maine System, Maine entrepreneurs have access to the resources and support they need to succeed.
If you’re thinking about starting a business in Maine, there are a number of resources available to help you get started. The Maine Technology Institute (MTI) is a great place to start. MTI offers a variety of programs and services to support entrepreneurs, including:
- Mentorship: MTI connects entrepreneurs with experienced business leaders who can provide guidance and support.
- Education: MTI offers a variety of educational programs, including workshops, seminars, and online courses.
- Capital: MTI provides funding to Maine entrepreneurs through a variety of loan and grant programs.
- Incubators and accelerators: MTI operates a number of incubators and accelerators that provide space, resources, and support to early-stage companies.
You can also find a wealth of information and resources on the Maine Entrepreneurship website. The website includes information on starting a business in Maine, funding resources, and networking opportunities.
If you’re ready to take the plunge and start your own business, Maine is a great place to do it. With its strong entrepreneurial support system, Maine offers entrepreneurs the resources and support they need to succeed.
As I noted, it is amazing what this conversational AI tool generated in a mere second or two. While it featured some resources that don’t exist – – at least I have never heard of the Maine Entrepreneurship website – – and provided some redundant information about MTI, I was impressed by what Bard generated. And it certainly finished up with a strong positive message about Maine being a great place to start a business. I couldn’t agree more.
Best,
Brian