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Upcoming Events |
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Effective PR - Dealing With News Media in the Age of Twitter
- Feb 11
link to
workshop details
pre-pay using
paypal
~
Calling All Entrepreneurs
signup for
15 min coaching sessions with experienced
entrepreneurs/investors in the Maine Angels - 2/23
during Maine's "National Entrepreneurship Week"
click here for 2/23 details
~

National
Entrepreneurship Week:
promote, educate,
inspire & highlight Maine’s
Entrepreneurs Feb 20-27
link to Nat'l eweek in ME |
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Contact Us |
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Maine Center for Enterprise Development
c/o Univ. of S. Maine
P.O. Box 9300
Portland, ME 04104-9300
P: 207. 228 . 8524 F: 207. 228 . 8526
become a fan!
find us/join our group on

follow us on

Street address:
70 Falmouth St
Portland, ME 04103
(Bio-Science Building, research wing, 2nd floor)
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On Site Clients |
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February NEWSLETTER
<click
here to view on your browser>
(links to
e-newsletter content at bottom of this page)
MCED is pleased to announce 2 new clients
Just one Click to Help MCED!
Make a difference!
Client Updates
Business Resource of the Month
Upcoming Events
“Effective PR” workshop Feb 11
Maine Entrepreneurs
LinkedIn Monthly Networking Meeting 2/17
Maine's celebration of
National Entrepreneurship Wk 2/20-2/27
"Calling
All Entrepreneurs" coaching
sessions w/Maine Angels 2/23
Go Create the Next Big Company workshop 2/23
Links to information on our services, clients and
sponsors |
|
Events & Significant Date
Deadlines |
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Effective PR - Dealing With News Media in the Age of Twitter
Feb 11
Calling All
Entrepreneurs - coaching sessions w/ Maine Angels
Feb 23
How to Use Google Analytics to Improve Your
Website Mar 11
Financing Terms
with SEGF Mar 25
Strategic Communication Planning: eliminate the
“oh, no, I didn’t think
of that” factor April 8
link to past 2010
workshops
Partner Events:
week Feb 8
week Feb 15
week Feb 22
save the dates!
- National
Entrepreneurship Week Feb 20-27, 2010
- Innovation Engineering Leadership
Institute-3 days (Feb 24-26)
- MIX (Maine Investment Exchange)
Forum March
24
MTI deadlines
SIFE (Students in Free
Enterprise) organization at USM
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Significant Recent News
Highlights |
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NEWS
Click
to HELP MCED get more votes at potential funder polls
Top Gun William Ashland
of Disaster Game in Mainebiz
Becky
Stockbridge McKinnell of iBecCreative in Mainebiz
Thanks
to all 2009 presenters of MCED workshop series
Berry Talbot Royer CPA's January newsletter
The SunriseGuide featured PPH Biz section front page
AccelGolf's William Sulinski on Mainebiz Sunday
WCSH6
TOP GUN showcase celebration
pitch day is front page news!
MCED
announces 5 Additional Board of Directors
Top Gun Advisor John Burns
honored by FAME
Two MCED companies win MTI seed
grants in November
MCED onsite
Professionals-in-Residence win Marketing contest!
Top Gun Company Atayne
in Fox
Business & The Washington Post
MCED onsite
Professionals-in-Residence featured PortlandBiz
CEI
awarded $1.25 M for
New Markets Tax Credit Program
MCED graduate AccelGolf named
to MaineBiz Nxt 2009 list
Top Gun
Advance Electronic Concepts wins Oct Dev. Award
MCED's
Silver Performance Gear
featured Portland Daily Sun
iBec
Creative highlighted in Justin Ellis "Nxt" blog
iBec
Creative nominated by Business Week for Best under 25
Amy Ireland of Zumsports
wins Victoria Hillard Donovan Award
Top Gun Liquid Wireless
nominated finalist - Speed Venture 09
Top Gun Company
Atayne in MaineBiz "new ventures"
10/5/09
AccelGolf media notice &
accolades @ Techstars pitch night
Top
Gun Reception segment broadcast on Channel 8 news
Top Gun Entrepreneur
Bruno Marino gets DOE funding
New Professionals-in-Residence
Program at MCED
MCED launches pilot Top Gun
Applied Entrepreneurship Prog.
MCED selects 12 Top Gun
Entrepreneurs
MCED recognizes Sponsors new
Top Gun Entrepreneurs
Million Dollar Women's "solopreneur" sessions introduced
Organic Alchemy Composting wins 2009
Biz Plan Competition
MTI awards $50K Cluster
Initiative Grant to MCED for TopGun Pilot
mCaddie receives MTI
Development Award
mCaddie wins Canada's Queens
University Competition
MTI announces
Awards over
$1M to Boost ME’s Technology Clusters
ANNUAL EVENTS OF NOTE:
National Entrepreneurship Week
Feb 2009
Stonyfield
Farm Entrepreneurship Inst - April 2009
Business Evolution 2009 -
April 2009
entreverge's Inaugural Awards
Party - June 2009
Invention to Venture Conference June 2009
SIFE (Students in Free
Enterprise) projects
Click here for link to news
archives over 1 yr
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MCED Workshops
for Entrepreneurs |
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2010 Workshops:
Effective PR - Dealing With News Media in the Age of Twitter
-
Feb 11
in 214
Abromson Center, USM Portland
Is everyone a journalist today? The rise of social
media – Facebook, Twitter, blogs, YouTube and more –
allows anyone with a camera phone to end-run the
news media’s control of information. That means
that the public is increasingly likely to learn
about your organization (good news and bad) from
non-traditional sources.
But only rarely does social media or a blog actually
break a story – and when they do, they often have it
wrong. In fact, social media and the blogosphere
generally source their news items from conventional
sources. This means that newspapers and TV are
still in the driver’s seat. Your challenge:
shrinking budgets and news rooms are limit how much
news actually gets reported.
In this session, we’ll examine how conventional and
new media interact and what you need to know about
each in order to promote your organization (or
defend it if something’s going wrong).
Presenter:
Skip King has more twenty years of experience
in advertising, copywriting and public relations
experience. As a former chief communications officer
for an NYSE-listed company, he created and executed
external and internal communications and advertising
campaigns supporting explosive growth, product
introductions, acquisitions and divestitures, IPOs
and earnings results and high-visibility staff
changes.
He has extensive issues and crisis management
experience, having successfully managed major
business interruption stories, catastrophic accident
cases with international reach, environmental and
land use issues and major corporate restructuring.
In 2002 he founded Reputation Strategies, LLC, a
public relations consultancy based in Portland. He
also serves as Managing Director for Axon Design and
Marketing, a full-service marketing and design firm
with expertise in website development, print and
collateral development, broadcast advertising and
social media. Axon serves sectors including
technology and biotechnology, travel and tourism,
real estate, building contractors, NFPs and consumer
products.
Skip is a highly skilled and versatile writer with
numerous publications to his credit. He has created,
edited and produced newspapers and magazines,
websites, industrial videos, hundreds of television
and radio broadcast spots and countless stakeholder
communications.
<click here
for printable brouchure>
Time:
12:30 - 2:30 PM (sign in & networking begins at
noon)
*
Informal tours of MCED technology incubator
available following each workshop!
Cost: $10 (payable
at the door
or pre-pay using PayPal below)
*
No charge
for current MCED on-site & affiliate clients or any
student with ID
*
Feel free to bring a brown bag lunch. Coffee &
water will be provided
Location:
Abromson
Center, USM Portland Campus
RSVP:
workshops@mced.biz
or 228-8524
Laurie or Sandra
Reservations are encouraged
to assure adequate space and seating.
* Walk-ins are welcome space permitting.
The
Lunch and Learn Workshop Series
is sponsored by
The Maine Center for Enterprise Development organizes this
series of Lunch & Learn Workshops for Entrepreneurs
as a way to build the entrepreneurial community in
southern Maine. We gratefully acknowledge
Norway Savings Bank as our 2010 sponsor of
this Workshop Series for Entrepreneurs.
Click here to download printable directions to the
Abromson Center
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SAVE THE DATES!
(Usually the 2nd & 4th Thursdays)
Pre-register now!
workshops@mced.biz
or 228-8524
Feb 23 - Calling all Entrepreneurs -
sign up for 15 min dialog with
Maine Angel
Entrepreneurs/Investors to get feedback on a
business idea or perhaps help in navigating a
troublesome
issue.
Pre-register = by
appointment only. (sold out last yr)
<click
here for details 2/23>
Mar 11-
How
to Use Google Analytics to Improve Your Website with
Carole Mahoney,
Mahoney Internet Marketing
<click
here for details 3/11>
Mar 25 - Financing Terms with SEGF
April 8 -
Strategic Communication Planning with
Susan deGrandpre
of
Collaboration Consulting
<click
here for details 4/8>
May 13 - TBA
May 27 - Caselets of Management Challenges with Ann
Leamon of
Harvard Business School
June 10 - TBA
June 24 - TBA
Click link to pre-register for
any MCED workshops
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Feb 20-27, 2010
MCED and Maine's Eweek Coalition recognize National Entrepreneurship Week
Maine’s EWeek
Coalition sponsors statewide panel discussions,
workshops and networking events that promote, educate,
inspire and raise the visibility of Maine’s
Entrepreneurs
during the 4th Annual National Entrepreneurship Week the
end of February.
For info
on events in Maine go to
http://www.eweekmaine.com/
For
info on activities across the country:
www.NationalEweek.com)
Sponsor:
Maine’s EWeek Coalition, MCED, Maine SBDC, Others
Time:.
daily
Place:
statewide
Contact:
Click Here For More information
Highlighted events:
Monday February
22
Calling All
Entrepreneurs - Orono
Entrepreneurs sign up for 15 min dialog with Maine Angel
coaches to get feedback on a business idea or perhaps
help navigating a troublesome issue.
Access to experienced entrepreneurs/investors BY
APPOINTMENT
Sponsor: Maine Angels and Univ. of Maine
Time:
11-3
Place:
Target Technology Center, 20 Godfrey Drive, Orono
Cost:
no charge
Sign up:
theresa.paladino@umit.maine.edu or
207-866-6500
with
entrepreneur name, idea or company name, 10 word
description of idea, email address and phone contact
info. website address if applicable. No formal
presentations or written materials are expected.
** Also
available in Portland on Tues 2/23 and Brunswick Wed 2/24
Tuesday February
23
Calling All
Entrepreneurs - Portland
Entrepreneurs sign up for 15 min dialog with Maine Angel
coaches to get feedback on a business idea or perhaps
help navigating a troublesome issue.
Access to experienced entrepreneurs/investors BY
APPOINTMENT
Sponsor:
Maine
Center for
Enterprise Development and Maine Angels
Time:
noon - 5pm
Place:
Room 212 Abromson Center, USM Portland Campus
Cost:
no charge
Sign up:
eweekmaine@mced.biz
with
entrepreneur name, idea or company name, 10 word
description of idea, email address and phone contact
info. website address if applicable. No formal
presentations or written materials are expected.
** Also
available in Brunswick Wed 2/24
Tuesday February
23
Go Create the
Next Big Company workshop
Interactive opportunity with 4-6 top entrepreneurs under
30. Each Entrepreneur has 20 minutes interaction via
text messaging with audience. 3 MCED client
entrepreneurs will be featured!
- Becky Stockbridge McKinnell from iBecCreative
- William Sulinski from AccelGolf
- Jeremy Litchfield from Atayne
Location: Hannaford Lecture Hall
Time: 6 – 8 p.m.
Cost: Free admission
FMI:
www.createmaine.com
Wednesday
February 24, 2010
Calling All
Entrepreneurs - Brunswick
Entrepreneurs sign up for 15 min dialog with Maine Angel
coaches to get feedback on a business idea or perhaps
help navigating a troublesome issue.
Access to experienced entrepreneurs/investors BY
APPOINTMENT
Coaches include: John Burns, Fund Manager and Jayme Okma
Lee, Fund Associate, Small Enterprise Growth Fund (www.segfmaine.com),
Betsy Biemann, President of Maine Technology Institute (www.mainetechnology.org
) Drew Watt, President of Common Good Ventures (www.commongoodventures.com)
Sponsor: Small Enterprise Growth Fund (SEGF),
MTI, Maine Angels
Time:
9-2
Place:
Bowdoin College, Smith Union
Cost:
no charge
Sign up:
Jayme Okma Lee at 975-1423 or
jayme@segfmaine.com
with
entrepreneur name, idea or company name, 10 word
description of idea, email address and phone contact
info. website address if applicable.
No formal presentations or written materials are
expected.
** Also
available in Portland Wed 2/23
Thursday February 25,
2010
2nd Annual Maine Million
Dollar Women's Forum
This year's panelists include:
-
Susan Bouchard - Pioneer Telephone
-
Mary Ellen Fitzgerald - Critical Insights
-
Kelly Flagg - Flaggship Landscaping
-
Mary Allen Lindeman - Coffee by Design
-
Beth Sturtevant - CCB, Inc.
Location: Abromson Center at USM, Bedford Street
Portland
Time: 8:30- 11:30
Cost:
$20 in advance $25 at the door
Registration:
Visit
website for
more information & registration
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2010 workshop series:
THANKS TO OUR PRESENTERS!
January: "New Year REVOLUTION"
Presented by
Jim
Bouchard
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Monthly Networking Meeting
Maine
Entrepreneurs LinkedIn Discussion Group
** Usually the
3rd Wed of the month at the Cumberland Club, courtesy of
Macdonald Page
Topic: TBA
Date: Wednesday Feb 17, 2010
Time: 6-8 pm
Place: The Cumberland Club 116
High St, Portland <directions>
Contact:
RSVP to Kirk Hill on Maine Entreprenuer’s Group LinkedIn
Click Here
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Monday February 8, 2010
Starting Your Small Business
Join us for
this fast-paced, informative evening covering everything
you’ll need to know to start your small business.
Examine entrepreneurial characteristics, outline your
business plan (and why it is important to prepare one),
understand marketing and pricing, and how to finance
your startup costs. Leave better prepared to take that
next big step.
Sponsor:
Time:
6:00pm-8:30pm
Place: OOB High
School Rm109 40 E. Emerson Cummings Blvd
Cost:
$19
Contact:
Click here to Register of FMI
Thursday February 11, 2010
“Effective PR - Dealing With News Media in the Age of
Twitter”
Presenter: Skip King
Date: Thurs, February 11, 2010
Time: 12:00 – 12:20 registration
12:30-2:30 Workshop
Location: Room 214 Abromson Center - USM
Cost: $10.00 (payable the day of the seminar)
FREE for USM students with an ID card
RSVP to
workshops@mced.biz
More Info: call MCED at 228-8524
Beyond SEO: Alternative Ways to Drive Traffic to Your
Website
This workshop is designed for both those who have a business
website already as well as those who are in the planning
process for developing a business website. (Previously
part of the Marketing & Promoting Your Website
workshop.)
You can participate in this workshop online either live in the
virtual classroom, or you can access a recorded,
self-paced version of the workshop where you ask the
instructor questions in a discussion board/bulletin
board format, or you can do both! The self-paced option
for this workshop is accessible 24 hours a day for a two
week period following the live workshop. To participate
in this online workshop, you must have a computer on
which you can download software (Windows 2000 or OS10 or
above) with access to the internet (dialup is fine) and
speakers or a computer headset/microphone. Generally you
cannot take this workshop using a public access
computers (e.g., libraries, Career Centers).
Sponsor:
WBC@CEI
Time:
Live Online: February
11th, 2010 9:00 am-11:00 am
Self-Paced: February 12th
through February 25th, 2010
Place:
Online
Cost:
$15.00
Contact:Click
here to register
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Tuesday February 16, 2010
Marketing and Sales
This workshop covers all aspects of marketing and sales. It will
include both instruction and a discussion of: - Your
product or service and its value or benefit to your
customers - The market where you operate - Targeting
customers....those most apt to buy your offering -
Pricing Strategies - Promotion and advertising
strategies - Your competition
Sponsor:
SCORE - Counselors to America's Small Business
Time:
2:00pm-5:00pm
Place: 100 Middle Street, 2nd
Floor, Portland
Cost:
$30
Contact:
Click here to register or FMI
Wednesday February 17, 2010
The Art of Networking
We all know
that networking is important, even critical to our
success. Donors choose a nonprofit, in part, because
they know and trust the staff. Learn how to become an
expert networker, even if it's new to you or something
you've been uncomfortable doing in the past. Join us for
this half-day SkillBuilder where we'll discuss the
importance of networking as well as review some
networking "homeruns" and common mistakes
Sponsor:
Maine Association of Nonprofits
Time:
9am-noon
Place: UMA Campus Center on
Community Drive, Augusta
Cost:
$50, NonMember: $100
Contact:
Click here to register or FMI
Thursday, February 18,
2010
Budgeting Basics Workshop
In
this workshop, you will learn about the basic components
for building a budget. We will discuss money tracking,
goal setting, and how having a sense of your overall
financial situation can assist you in the process of
building a budget.
Sponsor: Maine
Association of Nonprofits
Time:
9am-noon
Place:
UMA Campus Center on Community Drive, Augusta
Cost:
FREE
Contact:
To Register or more information
Adopting Rapid e-Learning
Do
you have multiple audiences to reach in multiple
locations with new product knowledge or company
policies? Do you need to cut back on your training
travel expenses? Do you have high turnover? If you
answered yes to any of these questions, now's the time
to introduce rapid e-Learning to your organization!
Learn how at this informative 1 day workshop at VTEC.
Topics covered: Rapid e-Learning Basics; Building your
internal team; Applying the agile development process.
Workshop limited to 25 attendees
Sponsor: VTEC Education
Center
Time:
9-4:30
Place:
50 Foden Road, South Portland
Cost: $195.00
Contact: 207.699.3403-
FMI
Friday February 19, 2010
Culture As We Know It: The
role it plays in our daily lives
We
often hear the words "culturally competent services" in
professional lives, maybe a bit too often. What does
that really mean when each
individual brings his or
her own cultural frame-work? We've come a long way in
understanding differences and in developing highly
evolved
systems and practices to
meet the needs of our clientele which is increasingly
becoming racially and ethnically diverse. This talk
takes you on a journey of self assessment and personal
development that is relevant to your professional
growth. This workshop is for professionals who engage
diverse organizational stakeholders as it explores the
role of culture and changing dynamics within an
organization.
Sponsor: A.C.E
Time: 7:30 am -9:30 am
Place: Portland Country
Club
Cost: $17.00/members,
$22.00/guests
Contact:
Register Here
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February 20, 2010-February 27, 2010
National Entrepreneurship Week 2010 in Maine
Maine’s EWeek
Coalition sponsors panel discussions, workshops and
networking events that promote, educate, inspire and
raise the visibility of Maine’s Entrepreneurs.
For more
information
www.eweekmaine.com or <click
here>
For events &
activities across the country:
www.NationalEweek.com
Sponsor:
Maine’s EWeek Coalition, MCED, Maine SBDC, Others
Time:.
daily
Place:
statewide
Contact:
Click Here for more information on
eWeek Maine
Tuesday
February 23
Calling All
Entrepreneurs
Entrepreneurs sign up for 15 min dialog with Maine Angel
coaches to get feedback on a business idea or perhaps
help navigating a troublesome issue.
Access to experienced entrepreneurs/investors BY
APPOINTMENT
Sponsor:
Maine
Center for
Enterprise Development and Maine Angels
Time:
noon - 5pm
Place:
Room 212 Abromson Center, USM Portland Campus
Cost:
no charge
Contact:
eweekmaine@mced.biz
with
entrepreneur name, idea or company name, 10 word
description of idea, email address and phone contact
info. website address if applicable.
**
sessions also available in
- Orono: Mon 2/22 from 11-3
theresa.paladino@umit.maine.edu
or 866-6500
-
Brunswick: Wed 2/24 from 9-2!
jayme@segfmaine.com or 975-1423
Tuesday
February 23
Go Create the Next Big Company workshop
Interactive opportunity with 4-6 top entrepreneurs under
30. Each Entrepreneur has 15 minutes interaction via
text messaging with audience. 4 MCED client
entrepreneurs will be featured!
- Becky Stockbridge McKinnell from iBecCreative
- William Sulinski from AccelGolf
- Jason Cianchette from Liquid Wireless
- Jeremy Litchfield from Atayne
Location: Hannaford Lecture Hall
Time: 6 – 8 p.m.
Cost: Free admission
FMI:
http://www.createmaine.com/
Wednesday - Friday February 24-26
Innovation Engineering Leadership Institute Program -
3 day program for CEO's or Business Unit Leaders and
their direct reports.
Innovation Engineering teaches business leaders a
systematic approach to leading profitable growth through
innovation. Learn how to Create, Communicate and
Commercialize meaningfully unique ideas and products.
Learn an innovation leadership “tool kit” through
interactive case studies. PLUS, you reinforce learning
by directly applying it to your business, government or
non-profit organization.
TIME: 7:00 AM to 10:00 PM for Days 1 & 2; 7:00 AM
to 5:00 PM on Day 3 During the day you will learn the
system and in the evening you will apply it to your
business.
LOCATION: Sunday River
Sponsors:
University
of Maine Foster Center for Student Innovation
&
Eureka! Ranch
In
partnership with the
Maine Development Foundation,
Maine State Chamber of Commerce and
NIST/MEP
Cost:
$295/ person incl. all course materials,
breakfasts and lunches. (Lodging is separate, but blocks
of rooms are on hold at each location.)
Contact:
REGISTER ONLINE
or by mail or fax via the
registration form.
FMI:
http://www2.umaine.edu/innovation/leadership.html
or 581-1454
Thursday February 25, 2010
2nd Annual Maine Million Dollar Women's Forum -
This year's panelists include:
-
Susan Bouchard - Pioneer Telephone
-
Mary Ellen Fitzgerald - Critical Insights
-
Kelly Flagg - Flaggship Landscaping
-
Mary Allen Lindeman - Coffee by Design
-
Beth Sturtevant - CCB, Inc.
Location: Abromson Center at USM, Bedford Street
Portland
Time: 8:30- 11:30
Cost:
$20 in advance $25 at the door
Registration:
Visit
website for
more information & registration
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*** SAVE THE DATES!!!!!!

February 20, 2010-February 27, 2010
National Entrepreneurship Week 2010 in Maine
Maine’s EWeek
Coalition sponsors panel discussions, workshops and
networking events that promote, educate, inspire and
raise the visibility of Maine’s Entrepreneurs.
For more
information
www.eweekmaine.com or <click
here>
For events &
activities across the country:
www.NationalEweek.com
Sponsor:
Maine’s EWeek Coalition, MCED, Maine SBDC, Others
Time:.
daily - Feb 20-27, 2010
Place:
statewide
Contact:
Click Here for more information on
eWeek Maine

Innovation Engineering Leadership Institute Program -
3 day program for CEO's or Business Unit Leaders and
their direct reports.
Innovation Engineering teaches business leaders a
systematic approach to leading profitable growth through
innovation. Learn how to Create, Communicate and
Commercialize meaningfully unique ideas and products.
Learn an innovation leadership “tool kit” through
interactive case studies. PLUS, you reinforce learning
by directly applying it to your business, government or
non-profit organization.
TIME: 7:00 AM to 10:00 PM for Days 1 & 2; 7:00 AM
to 5:00 PM on Day 3 During the day you will learn the
system and in the evening you will apply it to your
business.
DATES/LOCATION: Feb 24-26 - Sunday River
Mar 24-26 - Portland
SOLD OUT
Sponsors:
University
of Maine Foster Center for Student Innovation
&
Eureka! Ranch
In
partnership with the
Maine Development Foundation,
Maine State Chamber of Commerce and
NIST/MEP
Cost:
$295 per person incl all course materials,
breakfasts and lunches. (Lodging is separate, but blocks
of rooms are on hold @ location.)
Contact:
REGISTER ONLINE
or by mail or fax via the
registration form.
FMI:
http://www2.umaine.edu/innovation/leadership.html
or 581-1454

Wednesday March 24, 2010
Maine Investment Exchange Upcoming Forum
Business Plan Due Date:
Friday, February 19th
More information to follow.
Contact
Maine & Company for applications to present.
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Maine Technology Institute (MTI) Grant Programs Upcoming
application deadlines
FMI: forms & online registration, visit
www.mainetechnology.org.
Complete applications must be in the MTI office by 5 p.m. on
day of the deadline, 405 Water Street, Suite 300, Gardiner,
ME 04345.
*
Seed Grants (6/year)
Next deadlines for seed grants is Feb 11, 2010
by 5:00 p.m. Proposals received after 5:00 p.m. will not be
accepted.
Up to $12,500 per project available.
*
Development Awards
(3/yr)
Next deadline for development awards is
February 9, 2010 by 5pm.
Up to $500,000 per project
available - (must be matched).
MTI
Cluster Initiative Program (CIP)
4th round of the Cluster Initiative Program
(CIP) deadline is
projected to be March 2010. See website.
Request for Applications here.
-
Up to $500,000 per project
available - (2/yr)
Next deadline for full
project grants
Thurs, October 8, 2009
-
Up
to $50,000 for planning or feasibility studies -
may be
applied for on a
rolling basis.
-
Participation in a
workshop or a
personal interview is required for submission of an
application for both award levels.
-
All
cluster initiative
awards require an award recipient to contribute
matching funds to the project on a 1:1 basis
The awards are made to support Maine’s technology sectors
and businesses by improving the effectiveness of their
infrastructure, resources, networks and focuses on
collaborative efforts.
Look for updated information on the
MTI website.
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USM's
Expanding Horizons
Scholarship
Prog
for 1st time graduate school
students |
At USM, there's an easy way to start moving forward
before making the full commitment to apply to grad
school. Most graduate programs allow
non-matriculated students (students with undergraduate
degrees who have not been accepted into a program) to
take graduate courses before completing an application.
If a student is subsequently admitted to a program, the
relevant courses will count toward the degree.
USM has a new Expanding Horizons Scholarship Program for
non-matriculated students taking a graduate course for
the first time this fall. Up to twenty $500
scholarships are available to help students step back
into the classroom and try something new.
For more information about the scholarship and graduate
courses at USM contact:
Amy Gieseke,
agieseke@usm.maine.edu or 780-5921 or
check online at
www.usm.maine.edu/grad/Fall09
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Just one Click to Help MCED!
Could MCED get your quick help?
Change.org
recently launched the 2010 Ideas for Change in America
competition.
Our idea is titled: Business Incubation helps foster
Innovation. MCED hopes you might be interested in getting
involved, and check it out. You can read
more and vote for the idea by
Clicking Here
(search on incubation or browse by cause "jobs and the
economy")
The top 10 voted ideas will be presented at an event in
Washington, DC to relevant members of the Obama
Administration, and then promoted to Change.org's full
community of more than 1 million people. So MCED could
have a real impact.
Make A Difference!
WRITE US IN to help us serve Maine’s
entrepreneurs and start-ups with the help of Bangor
Savings Bank. By writing MCED in the
Other box under Greater Portland / Lewiston/ Auburn
section you can make a real difference for our
business incubator and in-turn Maine’s economic
development process!
Bangor Savings Bank Foundation once again kick offs
its unique, grant-making initiative, Community
Matters More and seeks help to allocate a
total of $100,000 to 68 community non-profits
throughout Maine. In addition to financial support,
the organizations listed on the Community Matters
More ballot will receive exposure for their work to
enhance the quality of life in Maine thanks to major
support by partners WGAN 560 Newsradio, Blueberry
Broadcasting, WLBZ-TV 2 and WCSH-TV 6.
MCED invites you, your friends, colleagues and
neighbors to participate by visiting
www.communitymattersmore.com
or a Bangor Savings Bank branch nearest you. Voting
ends March 2, 2010.
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Feb 8
Mainebiz features Top Gun Entrepreneur
William Ashland of Disaster Game!
link to 2/8 Mainebiz article
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MCED graduate client Becky Stockbridge McKinnell
of iBecCreative was featured in the "Newsworthy"
column as an "Upstart entrepreneur" in the Jan 11,
2010 MaineBiz issue for her recognition by
BusinessWeek
<
click here for link to the article >
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2009 workshop series:
THANKS TO OUR PRESENTERS!
Jan: "Wanted: More Competitive Development
Award Applications"
- presented by
Jessie
Gogan,
MTI
Development Award Specialist
Click Here for printable flyer
Feb:
National Entrepreneurship
Events- 40+ statewide events
March:
How to Engage Your
Business in the Social Media
- presented by
Lynnelle Wilson, Marketing 2.0 Business Growth
Specialist and founder & President of
Bold Vision Consulting, and
Rebecca Stockbridge
founder & President of
iBecCreative
Click here for PDF of presentation
Click here
Intro to Social Media for Business
(slides by Lynelle Wilson)
Click here for workshop listing of social media
links
April: An Entrepreneur’s Approach to Licensing:
A Means to an End
-
Presented by Dr Peter Millet, serial
entrepreneur
click here for PowerPoint
May:
From Basements to Bootstraps & Beyond: Strategies to
Grow Your Business
- Presenter Chris Speh, Chair of
Maine Angels
click here for PowerPoint
June:
Using
LinkedIn to Enhance Your Business Presence
Presented by
Kirk
Hill,
Founder
LinkedIn Maine Entrepreneurs' Discussion Group
and
of
Quai, Inc.
click here for
link to Powerpoint presentation
(Slide Share on LinkedIn!)
July: To Tweet or Not to Tweet (Using Twitter
for Business)
Presented by John
Moore,
Quai, Inc
click here for PowerPoint
July:
"Facebook for Business "
Presented by:
Lynnelle Wilson of
Bold Vision Consulting
<click
here for printable flyer>
August: " Broadcast Your Business - Adding YouTube
to Your Marketing Strategy "
Presented by-
Amanda O'Brien, Inbound Marketing Manager at
Hall Web Services.
<click
here for PowerPoint & video of session
on shareslide>
<click
here for PowerPoint slides on Hall
website>
October:
" Branding and Your Logo"
Presented by:
Taja Dockendorf of
T-Doc Creative
<click
here for PowerPoint >
November: "Create a Dream Team Starting with You"
Presented by:
Nancy
Brook
of
Authentic
Work
[link
to printable flyer]
December: "Sales & Marketing for Tech Start-ups
... The Very Top Secret Techniques"
Presented by: Kerem Durdag
<click
here for powerpoint presentation (slide share)>
<click
here for printable flyer>
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The
SunriseGuide was prominently featured on the front
page of the Sunday Dec 20, 2009 Maine Sunday Telegram.
The Living Green, Saving Green article by John
Richardson discusses the benefits of the 4th annual
"coupon book for consumers who want to save the world on
a budget" and for those that want to learn how to live a
more sustainable lifestyle from the 6 educational
chapters.
click here for link to PPH article
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William Sulinski of
AccelGolf was one of 3 panelists featured on the
WCSH Channel 6 Mainebiz Sunday on Dec 20, 2009.
Watch it online now, plus further content only seen on
the web!
Carol Coultas, Mainebiz editor,
introduced 3 of the 10 emerging leaders and innovators
that made up the 2009 Mainebiz Next list:
Megan Williams, executive director of
Hardy Girls Healthy Women;
Suzanne Fox, president of Fox
Intercultural Consulting Services; and
William Sulinski, CEO
of
AccelGolf.
They spoke with Alan Hinsey about how they turned
their passions into successful business models - and the
importance of networking and mentors for startup
businesses and organizations.
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TOP GUN showcase celebration pitch day makes front
page news!
The Top Gun grand finale of MCED's
intensive 3 month applied entrepreneurship program was a
success and made the front page of the Portland Press
Herald on Nov 20, 2009.
<link
to Top Gun article>
Pitch
Day was the culmination of an intense 3 month program
that linked the State’s most promising innovative
entrepreneurs with our most seasoned business
professionals who helped guide them in validating their
business model. Each week offered a 2 hour evening
presentation led by respected professionals and
successful entrepreneurs. This was in addition to time
during the week working side-by-side with their
mentor
Link here for entire Top Gun news article
Link
Here for Top Gun Website
Link
Here for Pitch Day photos on our Facebook Page
Top Gun again recognizes the Top Gun program
sponsors for
their financial support: Our primary sponsors include
Maine Technology Institute, MacDonald Page, Bernstein
Shur, Pro Search, Wright Express; our principal sponsors
also gave generous funding or in-kind services: Berry
Talbot Royer, Hall Web Services, and T-Doc Creative. We
appreciate our partner sponsors: Furman Gregory Deptula,
Woodard & Curran, University of Maine, and the Maine
Investment Exchange and our Contributors: Blue Wave
Strategies, Bangor Savings Bank and Eaton Peabody. Thank
you to all!
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MCED elects 5 additional Board
Members
On Nov 20,
2009, MCED Board chair Ed McKersie announced that the
Board of Directors had unanimously approved the addition
of 5 new Directors, filling out the full compliment of
Board members per the Bylaws of the non-profit business
incubator.
New Directors
are:
Kerem Durdag - Partner, Blue Wave Investments
Corson "Corky" Ellis - Founder, Kepware Technologies
David Hiatt - Chief Financial Officer
Catherine Renault - Director Office of Innovation
Janet Yancey-Wrona - COO, AIKO Biotechnology
<see news
release>
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Top Gun Advisor John Burns Wins FAME's Dirigo Award
John Burns, Fund Manager for the Small Enterprise Growth
Fund received this year's Dirigo Award from
the Finance Authority of Maine (FAME). Each year FAME
recognizes select Maine business people and educators in
a number of categories. The Dirigo Award
for Business goes to "an individual within
the commercial lending or economic development community
who exemplifies a history of successfully
leveraging resources by providing assistance
to businesses in the State of Maine."
John has served as Fund Manager of the Small Enterprise Growth
Fund since 2000. John's responsibilities include the
full range of venture industry activities: marketing,
deal generation, investment analysis, due diligence,
company monitoring and support, as well as the
development of exit strategies. He is also responsible
for maintaining a strong relationship with the Small
Enterprise Growth Board, the Governor's office, and the
Legislature. John has played a significant role in
bringing capital to 30 Maine companies to date, and has
steered the SEGF through a number of returns of capital
to the Fund.
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2 MCED companies win MTI Seed
Grants in November 09
Organic
Alchemy Composting Process
Design & Test
MCED
Campus Venture company :
Organic
Alchemy Composting
delivers a solid waste management
solution for commercial organic waste from southern
Maine hospitality and institutional establishments. The
Seed Grant will support the development of a process
that transforms organic wastes to high-quality compost.
Award: $6,620 Match: $7,651
Sector: Environmental Technology

Use of PDM Software
in Energy Management Systems
MCED graduate company :
iSagacity
– Portland
This project will complete proof of
concept testing for the application of iSagacity’s
Process Data Mining software in the application of
managing energy in commercial building. PDM is an
advanced data analysis platform for knowledge management
and equipment monitoring and can be used in a variety of
industrial and commercial applications.
Sector: Environmental Technology
Award:
$12,500 Match: $14,695
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Congratulations to our Professionals-in-Residence group
which was one of the three businesses that
won one of the MaineBusiness.com marketing New
Business Stimulus Packages. Winners were announced
Nov 9, and each will receive goods
and services worth more than $6,000 from Maine
companies:
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Top Gun Company Atayne
-featured in
The WashingtonPost.com:
Fox Small Business Center:
"Turning one Athlete's Trash into a Successful Business"
11/3 <link
to article on Atayne>
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MCED Professionals-in-Residence - Work it UP -
featured in MaineBiz's daily PortlandBiz
Program pairs unemployed with companies in need
After practicing his job pitch again and again at
meetings of unemployed professionals, David Craig
decided there must be another way for the jobless to
network, to meet executives, to find a job. So, Craig
devised an alternative networking plan, which has
morphed into a new nonprofit called Work it UP.
Read more >>
<Nov 3 Portland Biz online>
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Coastal Enterprises Inc. has
received $125 million in federal money for its New
Markets Tax Credit Program to fund economic development
in rural communities <link
to CEI New Market Tax Credit Program>
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William Sulinski and the
AccelGolf
team was selected by
Mainebiz as 2009 Mainebiz Next List -
a group nominated by the business community for shaping
the future of Maine's economy. They were one
of 10 to be honored at the Reception at the Ocean
Gateway Terminal on Nov. 5.
<article on
MaineBiz 2009 Next List>
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Top Gun Entrepreneur wins Development Award
Advance Electronic Concepts, located in Portland, won an
Oct 2009 MTI Development Award in the Precision
Manufacturing Technology category. The provide world
class industrial refrigeration control products to
leading case manufacturers and supermarket chains. They
are focusing on the design, fabrication, testing and
commercialization of an energy-efficient, solid-state
lighting system for supermarket refrigeration cases.
Award: $ 124,850 Match: $ 130,850
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Silver Performance Gear, iBecCreative, & USM Biz Plan
highlighted in The Portland Daily Sun
-
front page of the Oct 21, 2009 edition!
<click
here for article>
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iBec highlighted in Justin Ellis Nxt blog "Portland
Young Gun among America's Best" for Business Week
nomination of "25 under 25"
click here for
link to blog
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MCED graduate Becky Stockbridge -
iBecCreative - selected as one of BusinessWeek's "Best Young
Entrepreneur"
finalist in the 25 U.S. Entrepreneurs Ages 25 and
Under!
This summer, BusinessWeek set out on its fifth
annual search to find the country's most promising young
entrepreneurs. As in previous years, Newsweek asked
readers to nominate candidates ages 25 and under running
their own companies. Newsweek will announce the top
vote-getters on Nov. 9.
click here for
link to online article
winner were announced Nov
9:
link to announcement
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Amy Ireland of
Zumsport
has been awarded the Victoria Hilliard Donovan Award.
Entrepreneur Amy Ireland of MCED Affiliate company
Zumsport is the 3rd annual recipient of the Victoria
Hilliard Donovan Award.
A Fund was created by Michael Donovan and Deborah Curtis
in memory of their daughter, who died in 1988.
Proceeds from the Victoria Hilliard Donovan Fund, which
is managed by the Maine Community Foundation, have been
directed for use by the MCED for the Women in
Technological Entrepreneurship Award.
The family was “proud to honor the memory of Victoria
via the entrepreneurial success of women who are
creating technology based companies that benefit the
state of Maine.” Mr. Donovan helped found the MCED in
the mid-1990s in his role as director of the Greater
Portland Economic Development Council.
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Where Capital & Business Match in Minutes
ENTREPRENEURS-EXECUTIVES-GROWING COMPANIES
The second-year
Speed Venture Summit was set up as a speed-dating style event for fast-growth
business and investors
in New England
- Oct 28 in Nashua, NH
Six of MCED's Top Gun Entrepreneurs applied and were
selected to be one of the 50 companies to present to
investors at the Speed Venture Summit on Wed Oct 28 in
Nashua, NH (see below). These founders
are
Catherine Bickford of
Artascope,
Jason Cianchette of Liquid
Wireless,
William Crain of Pondera,
Jeremy Litchfield of
Atayne,
Susan MacKay of Zeomatrix
and
Bruno Marino of PEM (Plantetary
Emissions Management).
Awards were given to top 2 vote getters at the
networking reception:
Renewable energy
startup Highest Wind LLC, of Newmarket, N.H., took home
the top prize Wednesday, winning by a whistle on an
audience “applause-o-meter.”
Co-hosted by the New Hampshire High Technology Council
and the New Hampshire Small Business Development Center,
the summit attracted 47 entrepreneurs and their startups
who gave private pitches to potential investors,
culminating in the public, five-finalist “pitch-off”.
The five finalists included Highest Wind, EnerTrac Inc.,
Telling Stone Software, Boston Heart Lab Corp. and
ColdStor Data Inc. More than 350 attendees made enough
noise to award top honors to Highest Wind and runner-up
honors to EnerTrac. (Highest
Wind makes small-scale, on-site, wind-powered
electricity generation technology to help power rural
organizations with too little wind for wind turbines.
EnerTrac makes remote-monitoring service, based on
software as a service, to lower delivery costs for
heating oil/propane companies.)
MCED Top Gun and onsite client
Liquid Wireless was also nominated as a finalist,
but had had to leave prior to the final "pitch-off."
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Top Gun Company Atayne
-featured in "New Ventures" section of the Oct 5, 2009
MaineBiz
"Green Gear - A
conversation with Jeremy Litchfield, chief pace-setter
and founder of Atayne in Portland"
<click
here for link to online article >
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AccelGolf media notice after Techstars pitch night
Boston
and San Francisco TechStars’ Investor Days led to a wide
range of coverage:
CNET,
TechCrunch,
VentureBeat,
MassHighTech,
The Boston Globe, and
Xconomy. (click on underlined links to view full
articles)
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Channel 8 films Top Gun Opening Showcase for 11pm news
segment
Channel 8 stopped by the Opening Night Reception and
Showcase at the Woodland Clubs for the Top Gun
Entrepreneurs and shot some footage for the 11 pm news.
<Click
here for the link!>
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One of our own Top Gun
Entrepreneurs is off to a great start: Bruno Marino &
PEM !
Planetary Emissions
Management was selected by the
U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) as one of 19 projects to
enhance the capability to simulate, track, and evaluate
the potential risks of carbon dioxide (CO2) storage in
geologic formations.
Coal is the Nation's most abundant energy resource,
supplying nearly 50
percent of domestic electricity. In order for low-cost
electricity from
coal-fired power plants to remain available, economical
methods for
capturing and storing the greenhouse gas emissions from
these plants must be developed. It is widely believed
that CO2 storage in deep geologic formations will be one
of the most economical ways to achieve this goal.
* Planetary Emissions Management Inc. (PEM), is
commercializing a carbon-14 field-ready analyzer with a
sensitivity of approximately 1 part per million of
fossil fuel-produced CO2 in ambient air. The analyzer
will be deployed at sites where CO2 leaks from natural
geologic
reservoirs and at a pilot CO2 injection site for testing
and validation.
Ideally, this will be followed by long-term deployment
at large-scale
operating CO2 storage projects. (DOE share: $2,003,703;
recipient share: $429,300; duration: 48 months).
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MCED’s new
Top Gun Program –
MCED launched the start of the new
Top Gun
program with a reception and dinner at
the Woodlands in Falmouth on Thursday, August 27th. Tom
Chappell (formerly of Tom’s of Maine) was the keynote
speaker. With his new business venture,
Ramblers’ Way Farm, Mr. Chappell, well knows
the perils and pitfalls of a start-up. He inspired all
in attendance to both “act” and “think” locally. The
reception gave
Top Gun
entrepreneurs,
mentors,
and
advisors
a chance to meet and get to know each other. The
evening ended with each of the 12 Top Gun entrepreneurs
introducing their particular company. WMTW TV channel 8
was there for coverage on their 11:00 pm newscast that
evening. <click
here for link to clip>
The first learning session for Top Gun was sponsored and
hosted by
Verrill Dana.
The Entrepreneurs had an opportunity to present their
elevator pitch and got excellent feedback from the
Advisory Board and mentors present. The panel of
industry leaders, Ann Leamon, Chris Speh, Greg Fryer and
guest entrepreneur, Karem Durdag, gave a compelling
presentation on the topic of communicating and selling.
They talked about what investors look for in a business
plan, executive summary, elevator pitch and fundraising
presentations. Verrill Dana and the panel of presenters
certainly set the bar for the 11 weeks to follow!
Top Gun was also written up in the Portland Press Herald
outlining the program’s intent with added quotes from
the entrepreneurs on what they are hoping to gain. For
entire article
Click Here
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The Top Gun
Entrepreneurs
Class of
2009:
Norm Archer & Scott Nash Nashbox
William Ashland Disaster
Game
Catherine Bickford Artascope Playworks, LLC
Jason Cianchette Liquid
Wireless
William Crain Pondera
Pharmaceuticals, Inc
Cynthia Gagnon
Advance Electronic Concepts
Mark Henry Mark
Henry Enterprises, Inc.
William Keleher Micro
Technologies, Inc.
Jeremy Litchfield Atayne LLC
Susan
MacKay Zeomatrix
Bruno
Marino Planetary Emissions
Mgment
Scott
Patch Refill
Management Systems
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Top Gun Sponsors
Recognized
Top Gun would like to recognize the following sponsors
for their financial support :Firstly, our primary
sponsors for without whom the Top Gun program or opening
reception would not have been possible. They are; Maine
Technology Institute (gave us the funds to seed the
innovative program); MacDonald Page, Bernstein Shur, Pro
Search and Wright Express. Also, we would like to
thank our principal sponsors for their generous funding
and in-kind services; Berry Talbot Royer, Hall Web
Services, and T-Doc Creative. Rounding out our program
and funding needs were our partners; Furman Gregory
Deptula, Woodard & Curran, University of Maine, and
Maine & Company; and our contributors; Eaton Peabody,
Bangor Savings Bank, and Blue Wave Strategies who helped
to underwrite the cost of the program for our
entrepreneurs.
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MCED launches
Professionals-in-Residence (PiR)
The Maine Center for Enterprise Development (MCED) has
formed a cooperative partnership with Work it UP,
a group of professionals who will be offering pro-bono
counsel in marketing, finance, project management and
other business related functions to MCED clients. The
relationship offers Work it UP members a greater
opportunity to engage with a broader range of client
prospects, and they in turn offer a tremendous benefit
to MCED clients. Work it UP founders will reside
onsite and provide assistance to MCED incubator client
businesses. MCED clients will have access to Work it
UP project teams for specific project needs by using
the capabilities of the Work it UP program
members. Work it UP maintains a skills assessment
database of their participants and will coordinate
project management, project leadership, skills
development and teambuilding training. For more
information about Work it UP,
see their website at
www.workitup.org.
The staff of Work it UP can be reached at
information@workitup.org
. <link to testimonial>
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Work it UP is an innovative economic
development and reemployment program that grew
out of the Unemployed Professionals group at the
Portland Career Center. Founded in 2009 by David
Craig, Stephen Buyze, Nina Dearborn, Patricia
Davis, and Kenneth Zimmerman, they have
501(c)(3) non-profit corporation application
pending. |
They are also soliciting proposals for short-term
projects from non-MCED Maine businesses, municipalities
and non-profit organizations. The goal is to apply the
skills, talents, knowledge and experience of the
unemployed professional workforce to the project needs
of Maine enterprises, so that client organizations
become stronger, more competitive and ultimately create
job opportunities – thereby keeping Maine talent
employed in Maine.
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MCED
Affiliate Company Zumsport awarded July Seed Grant for
Proof of concept pilot project
zumsport LLC –
located in Yarmouthis preparing to launch its first
product, zumbitz. This new performance food
combines science and innovation. The project will enable
the company to produce and distribute zumbitz
while gathering market‐data. Findings will be applied to
development and commercialization, which will create
opportunities in
precision manufacturing and agricultural.
Sector: Advanced Technology for Forestry and
Agriculture
Award: $12,370 Match: $21,300
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MCED
graduate company ORPC Maine LLC,
wins
Maine
Technology Asset
Grant
June
2009-
ORPC Maine LLC
selected by MTI for the
2nd rd of awards for the Maine Technology Asset
Fund. The were
awarded $806,138 for their OCGen Turbine Generator Unit
Commercialization Project to be matched by $897,702
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Maine Million Dollar Women introduce
"Solopreneur Sessions"
For
Women Entrepreneurs
Ever wish you had someone to brainstorm with about
business who truly understood your female
entrepreneurial mindset? "Over the past few months we've
noticed that many of the women attending the roundtable
events were solopreneurs in search of information and
feedback. Running a 'one woman' business has it's unique
challenges and who better to understand them - other
women solopreneurs! "
Small groups of 8 to 10 peers (non-competing industries)
meet to share ideas and information, and gain the
knowledge they need to grow their businesses. Each
session includes business tools for planning, business
development, and promoting the small business, will be
Facilitator lead in a confidential setting.
- Space is limited -
When: Sessions begin August 18
Where: USM Abromson Center
Cost: $85 per month
Register:
Email to request information and register by August
14
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entreverge
Inaugural Award's Party
June 25, 2009 was the first annual "entreverge" awards!
5 local Entrepreneurs were awarded new electric guitars
in recognition of their innovation and contribution to
the Maine business community: Congratulations to:
Atayne Clothing
(performance apparel made from trash)
emilie inc. photography
(photojournalism wedding photographer)
Pemaquid Communications
(usability/accessibility in web design)
Topline Marketing
(natural, free range, organic brokerage firm)
Turtle Love Committee
(sterling/semi precious stone wedding rings
Place:
Port City Music Hall (Portland)
Hosted by:
Propel and the
Portland Regional Chamber
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Organic Alchemy Composting wins 2009 USM Annual Business
Plan Competition
The five finalist teams in the 8th annual USM
Student Business Plan Competition (from the initial 30+
registered teams) pitched their business plan to the 3
judges on 4/4, and gave a brief presentation at the 4/8
USM Corporate Partners Breakfast.
The five finalist teams in the
USM Business Plan Competition were:
-
The Card
(team of John McEvoy, Ryan Mahan, Matthew McEvoy )
-
Kor Floral
(team of Alexandra Kadar, Katarina de Khan)
-
Maine Play
(team of
Ashlea Loring, Lauren Faulkner)
-
Organic Alchemy Composting (team of
Brett Richardson, Greg Williams)
-
Tooth Protectors
(team of Christopher M. Gagne, Sabrina M. Toye,
Kelly A. Blue)
And the winner was.....
Organic Alchemy Composting! The competition is designed to promote the
entrepreneurial spirit and recognize small business
ideas in Maine. The competition allows student teams to
create and develop an original business idea into a
solid business plan in the hopes of winning $10,000
in cash and $15,000 in consulting services to start
their business venture.
Thanks to our Business Community sponsors, a 1 year
residency in the MCED incubator assistance program has
been offered to
Organic Alchemy Composting as
the winner. The other 4 finalists are also eligible to
apply for 1 year residency scholarships to launch their
venture.
Founding sponsorship
support
for Campus Ventures Program was provided by Clark
Associates, Pierce Atwood, Mr. Widgery Thomas and the
Maine Office of Innovation. Key Bank has renewed their
sponsorship already for 2009.
If your company is interested in becoming a
sponsor of the Campus Ventures Program, please contact
Steven Bazinet at 228-8525 or
Sbazinet@mced.biz.
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MTI awards MCED
$50K for "Top Gun" Program
The Maine Technology Institute awarded The Maine Center
for Enterprise Development (MCED) $49,377 in Cluster
Initiative Program funds to support entrepreneurs
working to commercialize new technologies in MCED's new
Applied Entrepreneurship Program. The funds were awarded
under the
feasibility, planning and test market level of the CIP
program. MCED is developing a pilot program that
will provide training, resources and mentoring to
technology-focused entrepreneurs across a range of
clusters.
As part of the Applied Entrepreneurship Program, MCED
will tap the expertise of existing business leaders to
mentor less experienced entrepreneurs and to strengthen
Maine’s high-potential technology entrepreneurs and
expand Maine’s innovation economy.
<click
here for a copy of MTI's press release>
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mCaddie
Inc.
has been awarded a $235K Development Award from MTI
Maine
Technology Institute announced the award to advance
mCaddie's
web-based golf technology internet platform and bring
their product to the marketplace. The award is
contingent upon mCaddie raising $325,768 in private
funding and in kind equivalent as matching funds. Joe
Migliaccio, MTI’s manager of business innovation
programs, noted that the investment will provide
critical support that the early-stage Maine company
needs to achieve the development milestones required to
successfully commercialize. William Sulinski, mCaddie’s
founder, feels that the Development Award will allow his
company to leverage a larger round of financing if MTI’s
extended due diligence is viewed positively as they seek
investors. The company is currently based at the Maine
Center for Enterprise Development. The MTI press release
boasts that companies funded by MTI have leveraged
nearly $200 million from public and private sources and
are creating jobs faster with higher wages than the
average Maine company. <
more >
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.JPG)
mCaddie wins Queen’s University Entrepreneurs'
Competition.
From January 22nd to the 24th, mCaddie
was in Kingston, Ontario to compete in Canada's largest
business plan competition. The Queen's Entrepreneurs'
Competition provided the opportunity to pitch to over
100 judges, including the CEO's of
PricewaterhouseCoopers, Visa Canada, and UBS Canada,
over the three days of the event.
mCaddie successfully bested the top sixteen teams from
as far as India, Portugal, Britain and the Philippines
to win the $15,000 cash prize and an exclusive weekend
at the Fox Harb'r resort. The experience was incredibly
valuable in preparation to solicit outside investment.
Financial support for mCaddie's travel was generously
provided by the Maine
Center for Enterprise Development,
Pro Search,
Inc., and the USM
Center for Entrepreneurship at the School of
Business.
mCaddie is a mobile application and niche social
network startup for golfers. The winner of the 2008 USM
Business Plan Competition and recipient of grants from
both the Maine Technology Institute and Libra Future
Fund, mCaddie is developing software which leverages
golf's inherent competitiveness and social nature to
curb the sport's declining popularity. A mobile
application suite and web based social network guides
self-improvement by providing previously inaccessible
statistics; enhances competition by relieving rule
complexity and geographical limitations; and augments
the golf course's ability to cultivate and extend
customer relationships. mCaddie has just launched its
newest version of their site at
http://www.mcaddie.com and now has almost 20,000
courses in their database.
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Maine Technology
Institute (MTI) Awards over $1 Million to Boost
Maine’s Technology Clusters
Three Cluster Initiative Program Awards given to
grow technology-intensive industries in the
state. |
The awards will generate over $1.3 million in outside
matching funds to strengthen and grow innovative
businesses throughout Maine.
The Manufacturers’
Association of Maine will receive $499,605 from MTI and
external matching funds totaling $621,665 to create a
Maine Aerospace Alliance within the Association.
The award will be used to seek out and secure contracts
with prime contractors and Original Equipment
Manufacturers (OEM) as well as assist companies in
securing certifications and training that will
strengthen Maine’s competitive position in the aerospace
industry. This award follows an earlier, smaller-scale
project that determined that there was significant
interest from OEMs and aerospace firms to support a
larger investment in this field, and the effort has
potential to build on infrastructure becoming available
with the closing of the Brunswick Naval Air Station.
The Maine Food Producers Alliance will be created
by a collaborative agreement between the Maine Grocers
Association and the Maine Manufacturing Extension
Partnership with an award totaling $458,922 and outside
matching funds of $680,268. The Alliance will develop
market capacity for Maine’s food producers through
marketing, network development and a web-based ordering,
distribution and fulfillment system. Their efforts will
also include creation of a Maine specialty food brand
and a promotion through the Chef’s Kitchen television
show.
The third award for $50,000 will go to the Environmental
and Energy Technology Council (E2Tech). Along with
$58,000 in matching funds, E2Tech will use the award to
launch a new ocean energy cluster.
The organization will take advantage of the global
EnergyOcean 2009 Conference taking place this June in
Rockland, to lay the groundwork for this emerging
cluster. E2Tech will develop a strategic plan to
showcase existing Maine businesses and assets, including
the state’s independent research institutions and
universities, attract outside investment, and build on
policy momentum from the Governor’s Ocean Energy Task
Force to secure Maine’s place in this growing industry.
For more information see:
www.mainetechnology.org
.
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(Students in Free Enterprise)
The USM
SIFE organization also resides in the MCED incubator.
SIFE is a nonprofit national organization founded in
1975 that cultivates the partnership of business and
higher education, to foster student communication and
leadership skill development through the teaching of
free enterprise principles.
OFFICERS for the 2009-2010 academic year:
John Voyer- Sam Walton Fellow
Tim Pulsoni- Co- President
Nevin Duffey- Co- President
Tyler Wells- Treasurer
Joanne Hemmond- Secretary
Jason DeCampos- Media Liaison
Jamie Adams- Recruitment Officer
USM
SIFE Projects:
Long Creek
Project:
This is the fifth year of partnering with the Long Creek
Youth Detention Center. SIFE members present a series of
ten workshops at the facility to deliver information
that will act as a foundation of knowledge that the
residents can use in their transition out of the
facility and into the work force.
JA Teaching:
This project is made possible through a partnership with
Junior Achievement of Maine. Two groups of SIFE members
go into local elementary and middle schools to present
lesson plans established by JA of Maine to educate youth
on subjects such as free market economics.
Titan Project:
This project is coordinated by Junior Achievement of
Maine. It is a competition among high school students
from around the state who compete over the internet to
establish a successful product and learn about the
financial and marketing aspects behind it. The winning
team is announced during the February 2009 National
Entrepreneurship Week.
College 101:
College 101 is a project that connects USM SIFE with
local high schools juniors and seniors. SIFE members go
into high schools to inform prospective college students
about the basic financial aspects of college, applying
to college, and college life.
High School
Business Plan Competition: In this project, SIFE members go into local high schools to
educate students on how to create a business plan with
the aim of encouraging aspiring entrepreneurship at the
high school level.
Environmental Sustainability Project:
SIFE will work with Sam's Club again this year on the
Sam's Club Environmental Sustainability Challenge.
SIFE helps two Sam's Club Business Members to make their
businesses more environmentally sustainable.
Insurance Fraud:
For this project we will be creating a presentation
spreading awareness of insurance fraud and educating USM
students on the costly effects it has on everyone.
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MCED is pleased to announce 2 new clients
Welcome to on-site client
GamesThat Give.
GamesThat Give lets you play the free, casual games you
love and enjoy while generating donations for your
favorite charity at the same time.
We would also like to give a warm welcome to new
affiliate client
Peter Snell
and Associates.
Peter Snell & Associates have designed a functional
software program that can process any text in English
and translate into the underlying mindset of the
speaker/writer as of the time of expression.
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Just one Click to Help MCED!
Dear MCED Supporter,
I wanted to see if I could get your quick help.
Change.org
recently launched the 2010 Ideas for Change in America
competition.
Our idea is titled: Business Incubation helps foster
Innovation. I thought you might be interested in getting
involved and recommend you check it out. You can read
more and vote for the idea by
Clicking Here
The top 10 voted ideas will be presented at an event in
Washington, DC to relevant members of the Obama
Administration, and then promoted to Change.org's full
community of more than 1 million people. So we could
have a real impact.
Thanks for the help!
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Make a difference!
Write us IN to help us serve Maine’s entrepreneurs and
start-ups with the help of Bangor Savings Bank.
By writing MCED in the
Other
box under Greater Portland / Lewiston/ Auburn
section you can make a real difference for our business
incubator and in-turn Maine’s economic development
process!
Bangor Savings Bank Foundation is thrilled to once again
kick off its unique, grant-making initiative, Community
Matters More. As a previous participant in Community
Matters More, we want to be sure to give you the
opportunity to help us allocate a total of $100,000 to
68 community non-profits throughout Maine.
In addition to our financial support, the organizations
listed on the Community Matters More ballot will receive
substantial exposure for the work these organizations do
to enhance the quality of life in Maine thanks to major
support by our partners WGAN 560 Newsradio, Blueberry
Broadcasting, WLBZ-TV 2 and WCSH-TV 6.
We invite you, your friends, colleagues and neighbors to
participate by visiting
www.communitymattersmore.com or a Bangor
Savings Bank branch nearest you. Voting begins January
18, 2010 and ends March 2, 2010.
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MCED Workshop
-
Thurs Feb 11
link to
workshop details
pre-pay using
paypal
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MCED CLIENT HAPPENINGS:
Top Gun
graduate and on-site client Bruno Marino and
PEM Carbon are really making things happen for 2010.
Planetary
Emissions Management Inc. (PEM), announces plans to
track carbon flux in Maine’s forests. Measuring levels
of carbon in defined areas of forest could result in
opportunities for Maine forest landowners to participate
in carbon trading based on the amount of carbon taken up
by the forest.
PEM has also organized a working group to explore carbon
trading and forest stewardship with interns from USM.
The working group is open to interested parties. Maine’s
19 million acres of forests could prove to be a
significant economic asset in terms of carbon
sequestration.
They currently have three job openings: Field Laser
Instrument Technician; Database Systems Manager; and
Carbon Cycle Models: 13C, 14C Data/Model Fusion and
Applications Related to Carbon Pricing and Trading.
Please click here for job descriptions and application
information.
_______________________________________________________
Top Gun graduate and on-site client Atayne has opened
an
online outlet store and
have also added some great new pages to their website-
check out the
Science made Simple page for
some interesting and fun facts!
_______________________________________________________
Top Gun
graduate company
Refill Management Systems is growing
strong. Following Top Gun, they have decided to
focus their immediate energy on completing the
prototype and getting it into customer's hands as soon
as they can. They will have a "functional" user
interface up and running in a couple of weeks for
testing and to provide customer demonstrations. The full
beta product is looking like mid-March.
From a
fundraising standpoint, RMS was successful in receiving
a Seed Grant this round and is exploring with MTI's
consultant a SBIR grant application.
Lastly,
RMS's President, Dr. Patch, was recently interviewed for
a feature on electronic health records to be published
in Scientific American Magazine later this spring.
________________________________________________________
Becky Stockbridge McKinnell of graduate company
iBec Creative
has had
national recognition when considered to be a top
entrepreneur under age 25 in BusinessWeek’s annual
competition.This month she has received more local fame
in a great article by MaineBiz. A Massachusetts native,
McKinnell says Maine is a great place for business.
“Maine offered me a lot of helpful assistance getting my
business started. I definitely want to stay in Portland.
I want to grow my team to about 10 people, and [grow]
the business to $2 million to $5 million in the next
four years.” For more on Becky and iBec Creative's
MaineBiz article
Click Here
________________________________________________________
On January 29th,
Ocean Renewable Power Company
unveiled the first, all-composite,
hydrokinetic turbine to be built in the U.S. Joined by
business partners, R&D collaborators, and government
representatives for the ceremony, CEO Chris Sauer
presented the proprietary, commercial-scale turbine to
members of the press.
In addition to Sauer, Congresswoman Chellie Pingree;
Betsy Biemann of the Maine Technology Institute; Steve
Van Vogt of the Maine Composites Alliance; and UMaine
professor Mick Peterson spoke at the event.
The company expects to launch its tidal energy project
in Eastport later this month.
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Upcoming
Events:
Thursday, February 11, 2010
“Effective PR - Dealing With News Media in the Age
of Twitter”
Presenter : Skip King
Date: Thurs, February 11, 2010
Time: 12:00 – 12:20 registration
12:30-2:30 Workshop
Location: Room 214 Abromson Center
- USM
Cost:
• $10.00 (payable the day of the seminar)
• FREE for USM students with an ID card
RSVP to
workshops@mced.biz
More Info: call MCED at 228-8524
_____________________________________________________
Tuesday February 17, 2010
Monthly Networking Meeting
Maine Entrepreneurs LinkedIn Discussion Group
** Usually the 3rd Wed of the month at the
Cumberland Club, courtesy of Macdonald Page
Topic: TBA
Date: Wednesday Feb 17, 2010
Time: 6-8 pm
Place: The Cumberland Club 116
High St, Portland <directions>
Contact: RSVP to Kirk Hill on
Maine Entreprenuer’s Group LinkedIn or
Click Here
for more information
_____________________________________________________
February 20, 2010-February 27, 2010
National Entrepreneurship Week 2010 in Maine
Sponsor:
Maine’s EWeek Coalition, MCED, Maine SBDC, Others
Time: daily
Place: statewide
Cost: FREE
Contact:
Click Here FMI
_____________________________________________________
Tuesday February 23, 2010
Calling all Entrepreneurs - Portland
Sponsor:
Maine Center for Enterprise Development and Maine
Angels
Time: noon - 5pm
Place: Room 212 Abromson Center,
USM Portland Campus
Cost: no charge
Contact:
eweekmaine@mced.biz with
entrepreneur name, idea or company name, 10 word
description of idea, email address and phone contact
info. website address if applicable.
** sessions also available in
- Orono: Mon 2/22 from 11-3
theresa.paladino@umit.maine.edu
866-6500
-
Brunswick: Wed 2/24 from 9-2!
jayme@segfmaine.com or 975-1423
_____________________________________________________
Tuesday February 23, 2010
Go
Create the Next Big Company workshop
Your Host for the evening, Kerem Durdag
Interactive opportunity with 4-6 top entrepreneurs
under 30. Each Entrepreneur has 15 minutes
interaction via text messaging with audience.
3 MCED client entrepreneurs will be featured!
- MCED Graduate- Becky Stockbridge McKinnell from
iBecCreative
- MCED Graduate- William Sulinski from AccelGolf
- MCED Affiliate- Jeremy Litchfield from Atayne
Also:
- Ryan Beaumont, sole proprietor, RM Beaumont Corp
- Ryan Donnelly, Director of Interactive Marketing &
Client
Services , UCompareHealthCare
Location: Hannaford Lecture Hall
Time: 6 – 8 p.m.
Cost: Free admission
FMI:
http://www.createmaine.com/
_____________________________________________________
For More Upcoming Events...
Please visit our website
Click Here
MTI GRANT APPLICATION DEADLINES: (see
website
)
MTI
Seed Grant Award deadlines:
December 10, 2009, 5:00pm
MTI
Development Awards Application
deadline: February 9,
2010,
MTI
Cluster Initiative Program
deadline: follow link for updates
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Business Resource of the
Month!
Newsletter From:
Berry, Talbot and Royer-
Certified Public Accountants
FEATURE ARTICLES
• Cash Flow: The Life Blood of Business
• How to Get Paid On Time
• Changes in Tax Brackets and Benefits for 2010
TAX TIPS
• IRS Announces 2010 Standard Mileage Rates
• 2010 Rules for Roth IRAs
• Filing Requirements for Dependents
• Receive Your Refund Faster with Direct Deposit
For more great business resources visit our
website's
Resource page
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For More Information
on our services
Click here for information on
MCED clients and graduates.
Click here for information on the Top Gun Program
Click here to request more information.
Click here for a list of our
sponsors.
Fan Us! Join
Our Group!
Follow Us!

The Maine Center for Enterprise Development provides
an experiential learning environment to start-ups
and early stage entrepreneurs for the creation and
growth of quality companies through incubation,
entrepreneurial development and education.
For information, please contact Steven Bazinet, MCED
President, at
SBazinet@mced.biz
or call him at 228-8524
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Please Share Our
Newsletter
Do you know of anyone
who would appreciate receiving either notices of our
monthly “lunch & learn” workshops for entrepreneurs, or
our monthly e-newsletter? Share our newsletter!
Also, if you know of business students, inventors,
entrepreneurs, investors, and/or professionals with a
startup or technology focus who might like to be
informed and involved, please forward this newsletter.
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February 2010
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2009
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MaineBiz article on new Executive Director -
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list of 2008 L&L workshops
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For additional archived newsletters, please contact
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"TOP GUN" Takes Off! |
 "The
BeGlobal Network enthusiastically supports the efforts
of the Maine Center for Enterprise Development to
develop a comprehensive and customized system of support
services for Maine’s innovation based entrepreneurs.
This is precisely the type of entrepreneurial attention
that is necessary in Maine and we believe that these
efforts will have a positive impact on new product and
company creation in Maine’s targeted technology
sectors."
- Tim
Honey,
President and Founder, BeGlobal Network
FMI:
sbazinet@mced.biz
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click here
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MCED Vision |
The Maine
Center for Enterprise Development provides an experiential
learning environment to start-ups and early-stage
entrepreneurs for the creation and growth of innovative
companies
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