ORONO – Some University of Maine students attended Thursday’s Be Your Own Boss Entrepreneur Fair at Wells Commons because they were simply curious; others came with fledgling ideas needing nourishing.

The fair, sponsored by several organizations including the UMaine Target Technology Incubator, brought a wealth of resources to both curious and aspiring entrepreneurs. It also gave some the opportunity to show how they have already begun putting ideas into action.

“There’s money available – free money,” said Chad Callan, who, along with partner Soren Hanson, was recently awarded a $10,000 seed grant to fund Sea and Reef Aquaculture, a business raising tropical fish. “Neither of us know anything about business. We’re two biologists trying to start a company, and we wouldn’t be able to do it without resources.”

The Maine Small Business Development Center, the Maine Technology Institute and the Maine Marketing Extension Partnership, to name a few, all had tables of information and representatives on hand to provide help to others like Hanson and Callan. John Karp, representing Maine Marketing Extension Partnership, said students – if they could look past the alphabet soup of organizations – should take advantage of events like this.

“It’s a great forum for people who have ideas, but need help either with funding or with marketing their idea,” said Karp, who handles mostly the marketing end of entrepreneurship at the partnership. “If I had known about these resources when I was entering the market, I never would have gotten a real job.”

Hanson and Callan, both graduate students in marine biology, realized that with a little vision they could turn their aquatic research into a business. Together, they raise exotic fish in captivity, away from harsh outside environments that have potential to damage the species – all while trying to handle their extensive course load, a task Callan said isn’t easy at times.

“It’s been hard, but we’ve had a lot of help,” he said. “A lot from people in this room.”

Debbie Neuman, director of the Target Technology Incubator, broke up the fair by facilitating a handful of panel presentations, providing the opportunity for successful entrepreneurs to perhaps share their secrets.

“We want to make you aware of the resources not just at UMaine but throughout the state,” Neuman told a crowd of anywhere from 50 to 100, who came and went during the five-hour fair. “Hopefully we can point you in the right direction, whatever stage you’re at.”

Rick Briggs, who started Blue Hill Pyrotechnics in 1997 and expanded his fireworks company to include a limousine service, addressed students during one presentation with a simple but appealing message: Nothing beats working for yourself.

“I was working more hours than I ever had before, but I was having a blast and I still do,” said Briggs, who added that starting small is the way to go. “We went to every federal source available, but the answer for us was our small-town local bank. We rode in on our credibility and an idea.”

Briggs’ sentiment of enjoying entrepreneurship was echoed by Steve Adam, a UMaine professor of engineering. Adam briefed students on courses available, but stressed the idea of taking a chance on an idea that is individually passionate.

“The biggest thing you need to start a business is the desire to do so,” Adam said. “Most often, that comes from a love of what you’re doing.”