Making Government Resources More Accessible with Smart Technology
MTI funding: $100,000 | Active seed round: $2 million
40%
of unclaimed federal aid addressed
5
New England states reached
Repeat
business from key partners
An estimated 40% of federal aid goes unclaimed each year due to bureaucratic barriers and inefficient systems. Portland startup CIVA is tackling this challenge head-on with an innovative civic intelligence platform that’s transforming how organizations navigate and deliver vital services.
Co-founded by Ackeem Evans and Jermaine Hartsfield in 2022, CIVA integrates AI-driven insights, real-time collaboration, and network theory to help nonprofits and government-funded institutions streamline advocacy and enhance stakeholder engagement. Their platform is particularly impactful in healthcare, where they connect community health workers and organizations with healthcare entities to improve the flow of information.
“Government isn’t broken—it’s outdated,” explains Evans, CIVA’s CEO. “By focusing on early adopters and strategic partnerships, we’re building momentum toward a new standard in civic engagement.”
Early success with MTI support led to a pivotal partnership with MaineHealth Institute for Research (MHIR) and Tufts CTSI for their REACH: Research Evidence to Action for Community Health project. Through this initiative, CIVA is making health research more accessible and driving stronger community engagement.
“MTI played a crucial role in our growth by funding a pilot project with MaineHealth in early 2024,” shares Hartsfield, CIVA’s COO. “The proof of concept from this pilot opened doors to partnerships with Tufts CTSI, MHIR, and even Morehouse School of Medicine.”
Beyond direct funding, MTI’s Maine Entrepreneurial Resource Corps (MERC) program connected CIVA with financial consultants to refine their strategy for raising capital. This support has positioned them to pursue a $2M seed round aimed at expanding their presence across the Mid-Atlantic region.
Looking ahead, CIVA envisions becoming the gold standard for civic intelligence—creating a self-evolving system that scales with engagement. Their platform aims to help policymakers make data-driven decisions, empower nonprofits to maximize impact, and ensure communities can access government resources efficiently.
The company’s success exemplifies Maine’s strong innovation ecosystem. Evans noted, “Maine provides an ideal testbed for innovation offering a balance of community-driven impact and access to cutting-edge research collaborations. The ecosystem here is uniquely supportive of startups tackling real-world challenges, making it the perfect environment for CIVA’s growth.”