Top Gun

Top Gun is a customized, entrepreneurial development program that identifies highly talented entrepreneurs in Maine and matches them with mentors who will help guide them as they continue to develop their innovative business model.

Top Gun teaches emerging entrepreneurs the critical skills needed to manage and grow a scalable, innovative enterprise. Though entrepreneurs whose businesses demonstrate truly scalable innovation have deep and specialized industry knowledge, many do not have the 360-degree bbusiness skills needed to succeed at the forefront of their sector. Top Gun accelerates that learning through a regimented curriculum and by pairing particpants with mentors and service providers that can help them leverage their expertise.

Top Gun is not an academic exercise. Think of Top Gun as a trial by fire or being thrown into the deep end of the pool. Particpants are selected based on their model's merits as a scalable, innovative venture at the right time and place for its success. Therefore, they are expected to apply advanced start-up techniques on an accelerated timetable to overcome real business obstacles in order to capitalize on the timing and feasibility of their model, turning it into a successful, sustainable enterprise.

Participant

Top Gun is highly selective, looking at both the merits and capability of the applicant and their business as well as the feasibility of that venture given the current climate. Top applicants will:

• Entrepreneurs who have identified a true market opportunity and are pursuing an innovative business model to fill that opportunity
• A company with high-growth potential and an interest in staying in Maine.
• Receptive to coaching, connections, and educational programming. Also, willingness to share experiences and expertise by participating in networking events and mentoring opportunities.

While the focus is primarily on high-growth oriented, innovative entrepreneurs, there are no rigid limitations on the type of individual that may apply. The program is offered at an affordable cost of $500. All Top Gun participants are required to join MCED as Affiliate members.

Upon the completion of a class of Top Gun, all participants are encouraged to remain clients of MCED and continue to receive the same level of benefit and access to resources they became aware of and accustomed to during participation in the Top Gun program.