PRESQUE ISLE, Maine – Northern Maine Development Commission has worked collaboratively with the Maine Center for Entrepreneurship and Machias Savings Bank to bring the business accelerator program Top Gun to Aroostook County.
Robert Clark, executive director of NMDC, said, “The Top Gun program is returning to Machias and Presque Isle and this is Maine’s best business accelerator program. I am thrilled our businesses have this tool as an opportunity to grow.”
The Top Gun program ran last year for the first time in these regions. The 2025 classes will begin in January, but the application and review process will begin now. The capacity of each of the classes are about 6-8 businesses at each location. Locations include Portland, Bangor, Waterville, Presque Isle and Machias.
The 15-week intensive program provides hands-on mentorship, business projections and mentorship to prepare businesses for a regional pitch competition. This year’s pitch competitions will be held in Presque Isle and Calais. The winners of each competition will move on to the statewide competition where businesses hope to bring home the grand prize, a $25,000 cash prize. This program is all about building a strong entrepreneurial ecosystem for startups and innovative business owners and getting them the skills they need to scale or grow more than it is for the monetary award. For businesses to begin, informational sessions are planned for Aroostook County from 12– 2 p.m. on November 7 at Ignite Presque Isle with lunch provided. Registration for the informational sessions is recommended but not required, https://www.nmdc.org/event/topgun-business-accelerator-informational-session-aroostook-county/.
TopGun applications are due November 30, https://mced.biz/top-gun.
The cost to participate in the program is $600. Full scholarships are available through Northern Maine Development Commission by calling Jacob Pelkey at 207-498-5065 or emailing jpelkey@nmdc.org.
The first class is from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. on January 18. The Top Gun Pitch & Networking is May 6-10 and the Top Gun Showcase is May 16 at the University of Southern Maine.
Who should come: People with a desire to be a business mentor. Share your skills.
Businesses/ideas with a desire to grow. Be serious about it.
Be creative, dedicated, and out-of-the-box thinkers.
Those who want to grow are growing the entrepreneurial ecosystem.
Stakeholders and the media. All are welcome. Lunch is provided.
