Advancing innovation & growth in Maine's food, agriculture, & aquaculture ecosystem.
Session 1: Program Kickoff
Strengthening Your Foundation for Success | October 5, 2023, Portland
Overview:
This session will give participants an overview of the program, opportunities to get to know the cohort, and an overview of best business practices.
Speakers:
Jason Mitchell, FoodTech Maine Program Manager
Evan Gilman, Steamboat Road Consulting
Learning Outcomes:
Leverage Personal Strengths and Leadership
Develop an understanding of top strengths and how to apply them to leadership roles effectively to lead a team and business.
Develop Effective Strategies
Gain insight into crafting effective strategies based on customer alignment and competitive advantage analyses.
Strategically Utilize the Business Model Canvas
Learn how to employ the Business Model Canvas as a strategic planning tool.
Navigate the Innovation Ecosystem
Gain insight into the innovation ecosystem and the ability to analyze and map their own unique ecosystem.
Enhance Stakeholder Engagement
Create strategies to cultivate relationships and engage effectively with stakeholders within the innovation ecosystem.
Materials Links:
Session 2: Technology & Innovation
Staying Competitive, Compliant, and Protected | November 8, 2023, Brunswick
Overview:
This session will prepare participants to continually innovate to stay competitive, navigate industry-specific regulatory requirements, and understand the importance of intellectual property rights for their business success.
Speakers:
Dan Gray, VP of Product Development at FISBA
Tom Marlow, Patent Attorney at Black Hills IP
Josh Mangin, Maine Regulatory Training and Ethics Center (MeRTEC)
Learning Outcomes:
Product Development and Innovation
Participants will be equipped to identify opportunities for product improvement and innovation to stay competitive.
Regulatory and Compliance
Participants will learn about the regulatory landscape and compliance requirements relevant to their industry, as well as strategies for risk management.
Intellectual Property Protection
Participants will learn the fundamentals of Intellectual Property Rights (IPR) and its significance to their business.
Materials Links:
Session 3: Building a Market for Innovative Products & Services
Market Research, Positioning, and Sales Strategy | December 4, 2023, Portland
Overview:
Building a Market for Innovative Products & Services: Brand Positioning, Market Discovery, & Adapting to Evolving Market Needs
Speakers:
Scott Macleod, Head of Planning at VIA
Steph Lindsay, Marketing & Growth, BlueSpace Strategy
Richard Bilodeau, Entrepreneurship & Marketing Lecturer at USM and UMaine
Learning Outcomes:
Strategically Position Your Brand
Gain insight into the role of branding, its importance in driving business, and how to develop your brand and position.
Align Marketing & Sales Strategy
Understand strategies to align marketing and sales efforts for effective business growth.
Conduct Market Research & Identify Target Markets
Use market research to refine and validate value propositions, including through market segmentation, targeting, and positioning.
Assess Market Fit
Evaluate product-market fit using the Product Opportunity Evaluation Matrix (POEM), which enables informed decision-making and prioritization to align innovative offerings with customer needs.
Market Expansion and Evolution
Utilize design thinking as a user-centric, innovative problem-solving approach to effectively understand, address, and adapt to evolving market needs and preferences.
Materials Links:
Session 4: Data-Driven Decision Making
Leading Your Business Effectively and Efficiently | January 17, 2024, Brunswick
Overview:
In this session, participants will learn how to use data to make strategic business decisions, enabling them to manage their business effectively and efficiently.
Speakers:
Raynor Large, CEI
Rob Cowans, NEPW Logistics
Michelle Terorotua, Compass Logistics
Learning Outcomes:
Financial Forecasting
Understand strategies to collect, analyze, and interpret financial data to create accurate financial forecasts
Strategic Financial Modeling
Understand the dynamics of various business scenarios and their impact on key financial metrics, empowering informed and strategic decision-making
Logistics Insights
Gain insights regarding warehousing, fulfillment strategies, 3PL, as well as national and international shipping, paving the way for effective business growth and scalability
Materials Links:
Session 5: Navigating the Fundraising Landscape
From Debt Financing to Angels and Beyond | February 8, 2024, Portland
Overview:
In this session, participants will explore various fundraising avenues, from debt financing to grants, explore venture capital and angel investors criteria, and learn how to craft a tailored fundraising strategy.
Speakers:
Amy Leshure, CEI
Andrea Suter, Pierce Atwood
Anna Steffeney, LeaveLogic Founder and Executive Director of FamTech.org
Learning Outcomes:
Various Fundraising Avenues
Understand various fundraising avenues including debt financing, equity financing, crowdfunding, and grants, and how to assess suitability for each based on business needs and growth objectives
Venture Capital and Angel Investors
Participants will learn about venture capital and angel investors, their investment criteria, advantages and challenges, and how to secure investors
Fundraising Strategy Development
Participants will gain the knowledge and skills to develop a fundraising strategy tailored to their business growth goals, including fundraising targets, timelines, and resource requirements
Materials Links:
Session 6: Charting the Path to Success
Program Wrap-up and Showcase Preparation | March 2024
FoodTech Maine Showcase Event
Highlighting Maine's FoodTech Industry and Inaugural Program Cohort | March 2024
About the FoodTech Maine Program
The FoodTech Maine program connects and fosters collaboration among early-stage and mid-sized companies with a product or service that utilizes technology, innovation, or science in the AgriFood industry.
The FoodTech program leverages technology solutions to improve efficiency, sustainability, and quality in the food industry and improve food and beverage products' taste and nutritional benefits.
Experienced mentors, immersive education, an inclusive community, access to market data, and a showcase event are just a few of the important elements that comprise the FoodTech program.
Meet the FoodTech Maine Team
About: Program Portal
This portal is designed to unite all those involved in the MCE FoodTech Maine program into a single space where knowledge is shared, connections are made, and information is easily disseminated. Officially, this Portal aims to provide quick access to what you need throughout your time in the FoodTech Maine program, including tools and information, files, and other critical communication. Unofficially, The Portal is a tool designed to greatly reduce the amount of busy work done by email and trying to remember links.
We recommend you bookmark this Portal homepage as it will be your link to all things FoodTech Maine wherever you are and whenever you want. The Portal is accessible by desktop, laptop, tablet, or phone. The content in The Portal will change as the program progresses, so check this space frequently.