Annual Event - Invention to Venture Conference June  2009
Annual Event Stonyfield Farm Entrepreneurship Institute

Annual Event - Business Evolution 2009

Annual Event - Maine Business Expo

Mainebiz 2009 Biz Leaders of the Year

Entrepreneurship Concentration now at USM School of Business
MTI's Maine Technology Asset Fund 
Annual Event - Speed Venture Summit - fall 08 - Manchester, NH 
GrowSmart Summit 2008: Charting Maine's Future - (Oct 08) 
Annual Event - Entrepreneur's Summit - Auburn, ME (Sept 08)
Graduate Client CrossRate Technology awarded $794K
Nora Irvine of Journey Gift Bags received Donovan Technology award
Ed McKersie elected new chair of MCED Board of Directors
New Leader for the Next Decade - Steve Bazinet @ MCED
mCaddie won 2008 Annual USM Business Plan Competition

2nd Annual National Entrepreneurship Week 2008
MCED celebrated 10th anniversary in Entrepreneurship & Innovation

Silver Performance Gear won 2007 USM Business Plan Competition
Gov. Baldacci proclaimed Nat'l Entrepreneurship Week 2007 in Maine
USM President's Press Release on MCED Relocation

Newsletter Archive

Invention to Venture Conference

Friday, JUNE 5, 2009

Invention to Venture Conference, at the USM Law School in Portland.

The workshop is designed to encourage innovative thinking, strategic planning for workforce development, entrepreneurial opportunities, networking, and collaboration among trade groups. It is intended for Maine's biotechnology research and industrial communities, and those that work closely with them. It will explore new opportunities in marine biotechnology and consider strategies for encouraging more entrepreneurship and risk-taking in Maine's impressive life science research sector.

Time: 8:30-5:00

Place: University of Maine School of Law (246 Deering Ave, Portland)

Cost: Participant guide and lunch are included in the fee.

·       $5 - Students

·       $25 - Faculty, Staff & Non-profit

·       $50 - Business, Legal and Financial Community

Contact: To register for the event, please go to http://www.invention2venture.org/maine09/

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Stonyfield Farm Entrepreneurship Institute

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Annual Event - Business Evolution 2009

Held in April, the Business Evolution 2009 was a series of seminars presented by the Association for Consulting Expertise featuring a wide range of topics offering advice on today’s critical business issues.

Sponsor: Association for Consulting Expertise

Contact: 595-7260. http://www.businessevolution09.com  

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Annual Event - Maine Business Expo
The Chamber's Maine Business Expo April 2009 (a B2B trade show) presented more than 120 exhibitors from Maine and out of state

on running your business in the new economy.
Location: Cumberland County Civic Center, Portland, ME
Contact: Kerry Rasor 207.772.2811  krasor@portlandregion.com

FMI: http://www.mainebusinessconference.com

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Mainebiz 2009 Biz Leaders of the Year:

Each year, Mainebiz chooses three Maine business leaders who demonstrate their leadership and business acumen at the helm of their companies. One from a large company (50 or more employees), one from a small company (fewer than 50 employees) and one from a nonprofit organization.

The 2009 Business Leaders of the Year: Ken Priest, CEO of Kenway Corp. in Augusta (large company) Mike Dow, founder of Tilson Technology Management in Portland (small company) John Fitzsimmons, president of the Maine Community College System in Augusta (nonprofit)

Contact: Laura Ashley at 761-8379 ext. 26 or email lashley@mainebiz.biz . www.mainebiz.biz/bloyrsvp.html  for details

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a Concentration in Entrepreneurship at the undergraduate level. This concentration, housed in the Department of Business Administration, builds on 3 electives in entrepreneurship which have been introduced to the curriculum over the past 10 years. The School of Business has built this capacity by sending teams consisting of a faculty member and an entrepreneur to the Price-Babson Fellows Program at Babson College to learn about the entrepreneurial environment and different pedagogies in the classroom.

In the Market Opportunity Analysis course, student teams evaluate case studies and work with a local business to analyze formally a market opportunity. Areas of analysis include target market identification, industry trends, demand analysis, capacity and fit issues, competitive analysis, and forecasting.

The Entrepreneurship and Venture Formation class is about starting a business and covers the benefits and costs, both personal and professional, of an entrepreneurial career. Students learn how to establish start-up teams, identify opportunities, and obtain resources. The course involves written self-appraisals, case analyses, team work, and presentations of comprehensive business plans.

Managing the Growing Entrepreneurial Venture is an interdisciplinary course emphasizing the application of entrepreneurial management concepts and strategies to the growth-oriented small business beyond the start-up stage to eventual maturity and harvest. Topics include venture opportunity analysis, stages of small business growth, making the transition from entrepreneur to entrepreneurial manager, formulating and implementing growth strategies, building an effective organization, marshaling organizational and financial resources for growth, managing under adversity, and managing rapid growth.

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The First Annual Speed Venture Summit took place in Manchester NH - Oct 2008

Speed-Venturing Event for Growth Capital

50 Businesses seeking growth capital for all stages of  development were selected out of 150 applicants to speed pitch to 25 of the region's savviest and shrewdest investors, from Angels to VC firms and private equity investors.  Following the 3 hour presenter-investor segment, the Summit offered an open business networking session with a pitch-off among the day's top companies.

The Speed Venture Summit™ was presented the NH High Technology Council and the NH Small Business Development Center.

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Maine Technology Asset Fund - NOW CLOSED

Round 1: Closed April 17, 2008 - Winners were announced 8/11/08

Round 2:  Closed Jan 21, 2009

The MTAF monies were managed by MTI and financed by a $50 million research and economic development bond that Maine voters approved in November 2007. The MTI Board approved the first round of awards on August 11, 2008, for an award total of almost $30 million.
<click here for list of 14 awardees>.

The second round of applications closed on Jan 21, 2009.

Awards had to be used for capital and infrastructure expenditures, such as facilities and equipment, for research, development and commercialization activities in Maine’s seven technology sectors that lead to the generation of high quality jobs across the state. Universities and colleges, nonprofit organizations and for-profit businesses could apply. The award criteria was weighted to encourage collaboration among organizations to work together to move new technologies to market.

Applications were reviewed competitively according to five criteria: economic impact, scientific merit, project team and institution, relevance to Maine’s innovation economy and collaboration.

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Since 2006, when the GrowSmart-Brookings report defined an "action plan for sustainable prosperity in Maine," the state of Maine has made major new commitments towards growing our innovation economy, enhancing our "quality of place," and reorganizing governments to make more efficient use of public resources.

Figuring out how to build a 21st-century transportation network is central to GrowSmart's efforts to make government more efficient, promote new forms of economic growth, and address our state's energy problems. Summit 2008 was a robust discussion about Maine's transportation priorities, with the tone set by two nationally-known keynote speakers.

Joel Rogers, a co-founder of the Apollo Alliance, talked about the opportunities of building a new, "green" economy. Jim Chrisinger of the Public Strategies Group, a reformer who previously worked to  transform Iowa's Department of Transportation, discussed the serious need for Maine's governments to reduce costs and become more responsive to citizens' needs.

Following the morning keynotes, was a workshop on "Smart Growth, Transportation, and Livable Communities" featuring Kate Rube, a spokeswoman of the national Transportation for America Campaign, and Kristina Egan of the Massachusetts South Coast Rail Program. Representing the Maine perspective was Tex Haeuser, who explored transit-oriented development possibilities as the planning director of South Portland, and Tony Donovan, a realtor specializing in new downtown development along the Downeaster route.

click to link to the website.

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This 1/2 day seminar was designed to provide entrepreneurs with the tools, resources and inspiration to launch a new business or grow an existing one! The Keynote Speaker was Ford Reiche, President, Safe Handling in Auburn and 2008 Mainebiz Large Company Business Leader of the Year.

Presented by Preti Flaherty, Mainebiz, Albin, Randall & Bennett, The Maine SBDC and the Androscoggin Chamber of Commerce.

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Nora Irvine of Journey Gift Bags receives the Women in Technological Entrepreneurship Award funded by the Victoria Hilliard Donovan Fund 

Proceeds from the Victoria Hilliard Donovan Fund, managed by the Maine Community Foundation, have been directed for use by the Maine Center for Enterprise Development (MCED) for the Women in Technological Entrepreneurship Award.  The MCED provides an annual $500 financial award to women entrepreneurs who are developing technology-based products through the MCED's incubation program at the University of Southern Maine and the USM Business Plan competition.

The MCED is proud to announce that Affiliate Nora Irvine of Journey Gift Bags as the 2008 award winner.  Journey Gift Bags offers a line of fancy, reusable, fully lined sacks tied with shimmering ribbons.  These bags are inspired by exquisite silk squares called ‘furoshiki,’ used in Japan to elaborately tie around gifts.  Each bag has a Journey Card, a 24-page booklet in its own fabric pocket, attached by a satin cord.  As the bags are reused, the Journey Cards are passed along as well and collect stories of celebration.  

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Ed McKersie Becomes Board Chair for
 the Maine Center for Enterprise Development

Prior to establishing Pro Search, Inc. in 1994, he was Director of Search Services for the corporate offices of a national employment services firm, responsible for recruiting, hiring and training search consultants for the company's 35 office network. Ed holds a B.S. in Economics/ Finance from Bentley College and has been a featured speaker and trainer at human resources and recruiting/staffing industry events nationwide. He is Chairman of the Business Advisory Council of Goodwill Industries of Northern New England, Chairman of USM Corporate Partners and is on the Best Places to Work in Maine Planning Committee.

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Steven Bazinet is new Executive Director

assist growth-oriented companies in the art of creating and capturing value. He has a knack for solving problems and developing ideas in innovative and bottom-line oriented ways.

As an entrepreneurial family member, owner, advisor and senior level executive of numerous privately-held companies, Steve has always been empathetic to the challenges of building enterprises of high value.  “For the past five years I have enjoyed my experience as an interim management and corporate finance professional. The MCED is a new sort of opportunity for me - one that combines my finance and business acumen with my passion for helping companies move through their various stages of development.” His primary focus will be to refine the growth strategy of MCED and to solidify a business model which fosters incubation for many years to come.

<Back to top News Archive >  <Back to Current News & Events Page>

A graduate of Plymouth State University with a Bachelors Degree in Management, Steve has also completed extensive training at Bell Leadership Institute in Chapel Hill, NC; the Investment Banking Institute, Boston, MA; and is a graduate of the Executive Management Program, at the Leadership Institute, Boston University.

<click here to email Steve Bazinet>

<click here for copy of press release>

<click here to view Steve's Resume>

<click here to view July 28 article in MaineBiz>

<click here to view June 27 article in Portland Press Herald>

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2008 was the 7th year of the USM Student Business Plan Competition,  the only one of its kind in the state of Maine. 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. The six finalist teams (out of the initial 30+ registered teams) pitched their business idea at the finals on Sat April 5 before the 3 judges. Each gave a short description and participated in a student panel discussion Wed April 9 at the USM Corporate Partners Breakfast where mCaddie (d/b/a mGolfCo) was announced as this year's winner!

2008 Student Business Plan Competition Winners
Kurtis Petersons (center) and James Daniels with
Dr. Valarie Lamont, Associate Dean of Innovation and Entrepreneurship

The 6 finalist teams in the '08 USM Business Plan competition:

·         bwell health (team of Dr. Kevin Bardwell and Jennifer Baker)

·         Comprehensive Wound Care Center (team of Gisele Castonguay, Lorri Pelletier & Liz Beal)

·         Fresh Pulp (team of Scott Abbotts, April Joyce, & Aimee Goodwin

·         Jewel Dust (team of Andrew Sangalang & Bryan Hamel)

·         Journey Giftbags (Nora Irvine)

·         mCaddie (d/b/a mGolfCo) (team of Kurtis Petersons & James Daniels)

mCaddie  is a  credible social network wrapped around an intuitive GPS based scorecard, which feeds statistics into a robust database for use by a mobile golf caddie application. mCaddie will provide club suggestions, distance to hole information, and will integrate with satellite maps and course information. Accessible through the mobile Internet, mCaddie is also being developed for Apple's iPhone and Google's Android platforms.

mCaddie is an MCED Campus Ventures company , the program that helps student teams compete. Through this private sector sponsorship, MCED was able to provide one-year commercialization services scholarships to all competition finalists in 2008. Supporters of Campus Ventures to date have included Clark Associates Insurance, Key Bank, Pierce Atwood, Pro-Search, Inc., Mr. Widgery Thomas, the Maine Office of Innovation, Bangor Savings Bank and the Maine Community Foundation.

<click here for more info on MCED's Campus Ventures Program>
<click here for more info on the USM Business Plan Competition>
<click here for descriptions on the 2008 finalists - May/June bulletin>

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2nd Annual National Entrepreneurship Week

As proclaimed by  Governor John Baldacci, Maine celebrated and recognized the 2nd Annual National Entrepreneurship Week the last week in February. There were over 40 activities around the state hosted by various organizations offering entrepreneurship education programs and preparation to our youth and adults for careers in the 21st Century. Governor Baldacci proclaimed Entrepreneurship Week in Maine recognizing the significant contribution of these entrepreneurial businesses to economic growth and job creation.  Entrepreneurship is a driving force in the U.S. economy. During the past 15 years, businesses less than five years old accounted for about 70 percent of the net job creation. To maintain America's edge as an entrepreneurial society, more Americans in the future will need to generate new ideas and better innovations to keep pace with the large populations of educated citizens in emerging and globally savvy economies.

Governor Baldacci with EWeek Maine Steering Committee members:
(L->R) Sandra Stone, Valarie Lamont (Chair) and Barbara Hart.

<click here to see President Bush's letter of congratulations>

<Click here to see the proclamation>

For a listing of the 2008 events here in Maine <click here> 

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MCED CELEBRATES 10^th ANNIVERSARY and GRADUATES 3 COMPANIES

On Tues, November 13, The Maine Center for Enterprise Development hosted a 10^th Anniversary Reception/Celebration of Entrepreneurship and Innovation in the Abromson Center, on the Portland USM Campus. Lead sponsor for the event was Verrill Dana, LLP with additional sponsorship support provided by Evergreen Credit Union; Arnson Environmental & Safety; MacDonald Page & Co., LLC; Ranson Environmental Consultants, Inc. and Davidson Associates.  Approximately 130 guests came to honor this exciting time in our organization’s young history.

The featured speaker was Diane Sammer, President & CEO of Emergent Music, LLC of Portland whose product is Goombah, a web-based service for music discovery. Goombah connects people to music and each other based on their taste, and was recently named one of the Top 100 Most Useful Websites by The Guardian and "New Technology of the Year 2007" by MESDA.  She was also co-founder of Systems/Link, which was named by Inc. magazine to the "Inc. 500 list of the fastest growing companies in the U.S." and Diane was featured in Wireless Week magazine as one of 24 "Enterprising Women of Wireless." Diane is currently Chair of the Board of Directors of the Small Enterprise Growth Fund, a state-funded venture capital fund. She has also served as a judge for the University of Southern Maine Student Business Plan Competition.

Emcee for the festive evening with a welcome speech highlighting the Campus Ventures program was given by Edward S. McKersie, President Pro Search, Inc. and Chair, USM Corporate Partners. John Ferland, President MCED, gave a retrospective 10^th Anniversary message emphasizing how far the technology incubator had come, and the vision for the 2^nd decade. <click here for timeline>

(top L-R) speaker Diane Sammer of Emergent Music, Emcee Edward S. McKersie, President Pro Search, Inc. and Chair, USM Corporate Partners, MCED Executive Director John Ferland; (bottom L-R) Michael Leathem & Zachariah Conover of CrossRate Technology, Rebecca Stockbridge of Medicreative, Joel Glatz & Brad Taylor of Frontier Energy

** Photo by M. Kathleen Kelly    Back to top   Back to Current News & Events Page

 ììììì    Honored were 3 graduating companies    ììììì

CrossRate Technology

CrossRate Technology, led by Zachariah Conover (President/CEO) and Michael Leathem, is a leader in high reliability position, navigation, and time receivers. Through its application of patent pending eLoran technology, coupled with GPS, CrossRate is helping to secure America's critical national infrastructure and keep people safer while they work and play.

Frontier Energy

Frontier Energy, founded by Joel Glatz and Brad Taylor, is the first full-service oil company in the nation to offer retail bioheat fuel, and Maine's first distributor of blended Biodiesel for transportation. Frontier supplies blended biodiesel fuel to LLBean, Dragon Products, and the municipalities of Portland, South Portland, Falmouth, Cape Elizabeth and Scarborough, and is a major wholesaler of Biofuels to numerous downstream marketers throughout New England.

MediCreative

MediCreative, owned by Rebecca Stockbridge, provides graphic and web design services to medical professionals to help doctors create a brand identity and web presence for their practice. MediCreative was one of the finalists in the 2006 USM student business plan competition and a 2006 Libra Future Fund grant recipient, (which targets interesting projects proposed by persons 18-25 years old.) In November 2007, to better service her growing client base of businesses outside of the healthcare field, Becky launched iBec Creative - a web and graphic design company geared to the needs of businesses.

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<click here for photo recap of event>

Silver Performance Gear wins 2007 USM Business Plan Competition Three of the five student teams selected as finalists in the USM Student Business Plan Competition were incubated at MCED. At the Awards Breakfast sponsored by Corporate Partners on Wed.  April 11, Entrepreneur A. Silver of Silver Performance Gear and team member Alireza Khojasterhazad were selected as the winners, accepting the award check for $10,000 and a commitment of $15,000 in services.

Silver Performance Gear will design and manufacturer athletic apparel for well-endowed women and hard–to-fit women. They seek to solve the problem of inadequate breast support for active well-endowed women and transform the sports bra market. SPG’s value proposition includes using smart fabrics and developing design patents to truly offer a new generation product to a growing market sector. 

Alireza Khojastehzad (SPG), Valarie Lamont (Director, Center for Entrepreneurship, School of Business at USM) and A. Silver (SPG)

Click here for the press release              

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National Entrepreneurship Week Feb 24 - March 3, 2007
Governor Baldacci proclaims Entrepreneurship Week in Maine, and performed a ceremonial signing of the proclamation in his office Friday 2/23/07, joined by entrepreneurs from around the state.

Click here for the press release       

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September 2008

July/Augest 2008

May/June 2008

April 2008

March 2008

February 2008

January 2008

December 2007
November 2007

October 2007
USM Corporate Partners New Chair Profile - Ed McKersie
August/September 2007

July 2007

June 2007
Interview with Dean James Shaffer
New Entrepreneurship Concentration at USM School of Business
May 2007
USM awards sports bra designer (PPH - 4-20-07)
April 2007
March 2007
February 2007
January 2007
list of 2006 L&L workshops
December 2006
November 2006
Change of address/ We've moved! postcard
October 2006
September 2006
National Association Highlights MCED Training Program  - Aug 2006
August 2006
July 2006
USM President's Press Release on MCED Relocation June 2006
June 2006
May 2006
April 2006
March 2006
February 2006
January 2006
December 2005
October/November 2005
August/September 2005
June/July 2005
April/May 2005
February/March 2005
January 2005
December 2004
October/November 2004
September 2004

For additional archived newsletters, please contact
Sandra Stone at SStone@mced.biz.

 

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