Maine business accelerator names inaugural leader

(From Mainebiz) Obinna Okani, a Portland-based entrepreneur committed to supporting underrepresented individuals, has been named the inaugural director of Entrepreneurship for All Maine, a startup business accelerator which is set to launch during the fall. MTI is the program's lead sponsor. Read more »

Gettin’ By earns national continuing education accreditation from the Commission for Case Manager Certification

(From Bangor Daily News) MTI portfolio company, Gettin’ By, received accreditation from the Commission for Case Manager Certification®. Gettin' By was created by Linda K. Riddell, MS, to train educators, healthcare providers, and case managers to work more effectively with people living in poverty. With this accreditation, Gettin’ By can award case management and disability management professionals continuing education credits. Read more »

From harvest to full-grown, Maine eels find a market

(From News Center Maine 207) American Unagi grows tiny eels (elvers) to full size. The land-based eel aquaculture farm uses a recirculating aquaculture system to raise elvers to adulthood in indoor tanks. The eels are then sold to restaurants around the country. The growth and success of the Waldoboro company has been made possible in part by MTI. Read more »

Class app: ReachMyTeach wins $25K Top Gun prize

(From Mainebiz) ReachMyTeach, an app that connects teachers with students and families, recently won the Top Gun business-pitch competition. The Top Gun Showcase is the culmination of a 15-week program for competitively selected entrepreneurs from across the state. The $25,000 prize was sponsored by MTI. Read more »

Dirigo Labs gains national recognition as growth accelerator with SBA prize

(From Mainebiz) Dirigo Labs was recently recognized as a stage-one winner of the U.S. Small Business Administration’s 2023 Growth Accelerator Fund Competition. The Waterville-based startup accelerator was one of 40 awardees out of a pool of 355 applicants and will receive a $50,000 cash prize to create a media lab for small business innovation research and small business technology transfer. MTI is a supporter of Dirigo Labs. Read more »

Sea Dogs Announce Partnership with Maine-Based Breastfeeding Support Platform pumpspotting

(From Minor League Baseball) MTI portfolio company, Pumpspotting, has partnered with the Portland Sea Dogs to provide a welcoming and comfortable ballpark experience for all baby-feeding parents and their families. Pumpspotting offers a virtual breastfeeding and baby-feeding platform to give parents access to an inclusive community, lactation consultants, wayfinding, and encouragement. Sea Dogs fans can download the app for free using a custom access code that will be posted around the ballpark. Read more »

How sweet it is: Tasty combos a winning recipe for Bixby Chocolate

(From Mainebiz) Bixby Chocolate took home four sofi awards from the Specialty National Food Association. The awards put Bixby in the running for the 2023 sofi Gold Product of the Year Award, which will be announced in June. The Rockland-based company received support from MTI for early-stage research and development. Read more »

Croft wins $25,000 prize in Dirigo Labs pitch competition

(From centralmaine.com) Recently, the Dirigo Labs Accelerator Program awarded a $25K prize and a membership to Bricks Coworking & Innovation Space to the Rockland-based business, Crofts. The 12-week program guides startups through a targeted curriculum to execute their project plans. SledTRX was presented with the audience choice award. MTI is a supporter of the pitch competition. Read more »

Brunswick space rocket test blasts expectations

(From The Times Record) MTI portfolio company, bluShift Aerospace, recently exceeded expectations by reaching 21,500 pounds of thrust when it fired its MAREVL engine for 10 seconds. The Brunswick-based company is the first in the world to launch a commercial rocket powered by biofuel. The next major test is a 60-second burn of the MAREVL engine, which would be enough to power the company's Starless Rogue rocket to space. Read more »

Peregrine Turbine Technologies Announces Breakthrough Biomass Solution for Clean Combined Heat & Power Applications

(From EIN Presswire) Peregrine Turbine Technologies and Our Katahdin have announced a Memorandum of Understanding outlining their plan to pilot a Peregrine biomass combined heat and power (CHP) generation system. The sCO2-enabled system will provide renewable electric power and district heating to Our Katahdin's One North Industrial campus. The CHP system will demonstrate the Peregrine sCO2 system's commercial capabilities. MTI is an ongoing supporter of the Wiscasset-based company. Read more »