Upcoming Events:
REGISTRATION OPEN! 2024 Maine Entrepreneurs Summit
REGISTRATION OPEN! Webinar Series: BioStartup Blueprint: From Idea To Funding
Past Events:
On April 9th, 2024, Innovators, foodies and tech enthusiasts attended MCE’s inaugural FoodTech Maine Showcase featuring 6 MCE FoodTech Maine member companies, highlighting how the convergence of sustainability and technology is advancing our food system. Attendees were introduced to the innovative companies in MCE’s first FoodTech Maine Cohort: Springtide Seaweed, Ocean Farm Supply, Salmonics, Cap n’ Stem, Maine Garum Company and Everything Seaweed. Peter Handy, President and CEO of Bristol Seafood, provided the keynote and insights on the role of food tech in Maine and around the world, and how Bristol became one of the world’s leaders in seafood sustainability. Over 100 people attended the event held at the McGoldrick Center at USM.
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Natural Products Expo East – September 2023, Philadelphia, PA
MCE’s Food Accelerator Team exhibited at the 2023 Natural Products Expo East trade show alongside a distinguished group of award-winning MCE member companies that included Atlantic Sea Farms, Bristol Seafood, Diggables, and Maine Crisp Co. Additional MCE Food Accelerator member companies also participated in the show, including: Luke’s Lobster, Grandy Organics, Green Bee, Maine Homestead, Ocean’s Balance, Papous Kitchen, Pineland Farms Dairy, Short Creek Farm and Vena’s Fizz House.
In addition to exhibiting and promoting Maine’s food industry, MCE hosted a ‘Make it Maine’ Cocktail Reception featuring signature Maine beverages, surf & turf appetizers and tasty snacks. This exclusive event provided a unique opportunity for targeted buyers from leading grocers, retailers, and distributors within the natural and specialty foods industry to explore and savor the diverse range of products and meet the passionate founders and innovators of Maine’s food community.
MCE’s inaugural Maine Entrepreneurs Summit; a half-day event celebrating Maine entrepreneurship. The summit kicked off with “Perfecting Your Pitch” Workshops, followed by Keynotes and a Fireside Chat with John Harthorne, Founder/Managing Director of Two Lanterns Venture Partners, and founder of MassChallenge; Hannah Pingree, Director, Governor’s Office of Policy Innovation and the Future; Brian Whitney, President of Maine Technology Institute and Tom Rainey, Executive Director of MCE. The day continued with a trade show style event showcasing the 2023 Top Gun entrepreneurs and culminated with the 2023 Top Gun Pitch Contest where Reach My Teach took home the $25,000.00 prize.
Our inaugural Maine Food Producer Showcase was held on June 9, 2022 at Thompson’s Point in Portland, MEApproximately 300 people (food industry buyers, distributors, investors and business resources) attended this valuable B2B event, celebrating and showcasing 42 of Maine’s emerging Food and Beverage companies participating in MCE’s Food Accelerator Programs. Attendees were able to meet with Maine’s food & beverage producers and food industry leaders, taste a wide variety of delicious Maine-made products including grains, produce, proteins, pasta, sauces, seafood, sweets, snacks and beverages, and discover new business opportunities. The first Maine Golden Fork Awards were also announced at the event for Best in Retail, Best in Foodservice and Best New Product.
MCE’s Maine Food Producer Showcase will be held every other year, so stay tuned for 2024!
