November 7, 2014 — A fish drying firm – a collaborative effort between the Iceland and Maine seafood ‘silicon valley’ models – is likely to be the first business in the New England cluster, its co-founder, Patrick Arnold, told Undercurrent News.
The company, which dries fish by-products traditionally wasted or used for low-value items such as feed, is one of two companies which have already been incorporated as a result of Iceland and Maine’s work together.
“Even before the cluster house is ready, we’ve begun creating companies, spin-offs of the work between the two clusters,” said Arnold, who is also the owner of Soli DG, a management and consulting firm in South Portland.
“Two have been incorporated, and one of them, in drying, is likely to be the first to launch in the Maine house.”
With the Portland site fully intending to continue working with its Icelandic counterpart, and not simply set up independently using the same model, the two houses will be closely modelled, said Arnold.
The design of the Portland house will be based on the converted warehouse in the Icelandic capital Reykjavik, with open plan, glass offices and communal areas for startups to share ideas. There will also be a space in each house dedicated to the other, in an ‘exchange’ style program.
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