March NEWSLETTER

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(links to e-newsletter content at bottom of this page)

Feature client entrepreneur Jason Cianchette - Liquid Wireless

Client Happenings

MCED is pleased to announce 2 new clients

Business Resource of the Month

Upcoming Events

Links to information on our services, clients and sponsors

How to Use Google Analytics to Improve Your Website Mar 11

VC & Angel Investing: Valutation, Term sheets & Exit with SEGF Mar 25

MTI seed grant & development awards informational session April 1

Strategic Communication Planning: eliminate the “oh, no, I didn’t think
        of that” factor April 8

Partner Events:

Monthly networking - Maine Entrepreneurs LinkedIn Group Wed Mar 17

   week Mar 8

   week Mar 15

   week Mar 22

   week Mar 29

save the dates!

  - Maine Women's Fund roundtable brainstorming March 18

  - 2010 Science & Technology Action Plan at ACE breakfast forum 3/19

  - MIX (Maine Investment Exchange) Forum March 24

  - MTI seed grants & development awards information workshop Apr 1

MTI deadlines

SIFE (Students in Free Enterprise) organization at USM

link to past MCED 2010 workshops

NEWS

4th annual National Entrepreneurship Week in Maine

CreateMaine Entrepreneurs make NECN TV- channel 4

Click to HELP MCED get more votes at potential funder polls

CreateMaine kicks off National Entrepreneurship Week

ORPC makes front page new in Maine Sunday Telegram

ORPC & Stillwater Metalworks unveil pioneering technology

Top Gun William Ashland of Disaster Game in Mainebiz
Becky Stockbridge McKinnell of iBecCreative in Mainebiz

Thanks to all 2009 presenters of MCED workshop series

Berry Talbot Royer CPA's January newsletter

The SunriseGuide featured PPH Biz section front page

AccelGolf's William Sulinski on Mainebiz Sunday WCSH6

2009

TOP GUN showcase celebration pitch day is front page news!

MCED announces 5 Additional Board of Directors

Top Gun Advisor John Burns honored by FAME

Two MCED companies win MTI seed grants in November
MCED onsite Professionals-in-Residence win Marketing contest!

Top Gun Company Atayne in Fox Business & The Washington Post

MCED onsite Professionals-in-Residence featured PortlandBiz

CEI awarded $1.25 M for New Markets Tax Credit Program

MCED graduate AccelGolf named to MaineBiz Nxt 2009 list

Top Gun Advance Electronic Concepts wins Oct Dev. Award

MCED's Silver Performance Gear featured Portland Daily Sun

iBec Creative highlighted in Justin Ellis "Nxt" blog

iBec Creative nominated by Business Week for Best under 25

Amy Ireland of Zumsports wins Victoria Hillard Donovan Award

Top Gun Liquid Wireless nominated finalist - Speed Venture 09

Top Gun Company Atayne in MaineBiz "new ventures" 10/5/09

AccelGolf media notice & accolades @ Techstars pitch night

Top Gun Reception segment broadcast on Channel 8 news

Top Gun Entrepreneur Bruno Marino gets DOE funding  

New Professionals-in-Residence Program at MCED

MCED launches pilot Top Gun Applied Entrepreneurship Prog.

MCED selects 12 Top Gun Entrepreneurs

MCED recognizes Sponsors new Top Gun Entrepreneurs

Million Dollar Women's "solopreneur" sessions introduced

Organic Alchemy Composting wins 2009 Biz Plan Competition

MTI awards $50K Cluster Initiative Grant to MCED for TopGun Pilot

mCaddie receives MTI Development Award

mCaddie wins Canada's Queens University Competition
MTI announces Awards over $1M to Boost ME’s Technology Clusters
 

ANNUAL EVENTS OF NOTE:

National Entrepreneurship Week Feb 2009

Stonyfield Farm Entrepreneurship Inst - April 2009

Business Evolution 2009 -  April 2009

entreverge's Inaugural Awards Party - June 2009

Invention to Venture Conference June 2009

SIFE (Students in Free Enterprise) projects

Click here for link to news archives over 1 yr

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Mar 25 - "Investment by the Numbers: Valuation, Terms, and Exits"
             with John Burns of SEGF
             If you are thinking of looking for private capital for your
             business this Lunch and Learn is for you.  Join John Burns,
             Fund Manager of the Small Enterprise Growth Fund to get a
             crash course on the “numbers” of venture investing.  How do
             venture capitalists and angel investors value a business?
             What are the most important investment terms and what do
             they mean?  What types of exits are investors looking for?
             Most importantly learn how valuation, investment terms and
             exits are all related. <click here for printable flyer>

April 8 - Strategic Communication Planning with Susan deGrandpre
            of Collaboration Consulting
            <click here for details 4/8>

May 27 - Caselets of Management Challenges with Ann Leamon of
              Harvard Business School <click here for printable flyer>

June 10 - TBA

June 24 - "Knowing Your Entrepreneurial Style Can Help Your  
               Employees and Your Company Succeed"
               with Johanna Major of Cornerstone HR LLC  
               <click here for printable flyer>

Click link to pre-register for any MCED workshops

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2010 workshop series: THANKS TO OUR PRESENTERS!

January: "New Year REVOLUTION"

Presented by Jim Bouchard <click here for 1/28 flyer>

February:

• Effective PR - "Dealing With News Media in the Age of Twitter" Presented by Skip King <click here for 2/11 flyer>

• Calling all Entrepreneurs - 15 min coaching sessions with Maine Angel experienced entrepreneurs/investors <details>

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Monthly Networking Meeting

Maine Entrepreneurs LinkedIn Discussion Group

** Usually the 3rd Wed of the month at the Cumberland Club, courtesy of Macdonald Page light hors d'oeuvres will be available.

Topic: TBA

Date: Wednesday Mar 17, 2010

Time: 6-8 pm

Place: The Cumberland Club 116 High St, Portland <directions>

Contact: please post a comment to the discussion board so that moderator Kirk Hill can have a head count.

Click Here for the Maine Entreprenuer’s Group LinkedIn Discussion Page

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Tuesday March 9, 2010

Portland SCORE's Starting Your Own Business workshop

Learn all the "nuts and bolts" needed to get a new business up and running from experienced small business operators.

Sponsor: SCORE

Location: 2nd Floor, 100 Middle Street, Portland

Time: 2:00 p.m.
Cost: Visit www.scoremaine.com to register

Registration: To Register or more information

Business Website Basics - Online

This workshop goes over the nuts & bolts of having a website for your business. We discuss what costs are involved with having a basic marketing brochure site, what a domain name is and how to choose one, and what web hosting is and factors to consider before you sign up for a website hosting account for your website. This workshop is for any business owner or potential business owner who either thinks they need a website for their business or has a website but does not really feel they understand the basic components that make it up. You can participate in this workshop online either live in the virtual classroom, or you can access a recorded, self-paced version of the workshop where you ask the instructor questions in a discussion board/bulletin board format, or you can do both! The self-paced option for this workshop is accessible 24 hours a day for a two week period following the live workshop. To participate in this online workshop, you must have a computer on which you can download software (Windows 2000 or OS10 or above) with access to the internet (dialup is fine) and speakers or a computer headset/microphone. Generally you cannot take this workshop using a public access computers (e.g., libraries, Career Centers)

Sponsor: WBC at CEI

Location: Online

Time: 9:00AM to 11:00AM
Cost: $ 15

Registration: To Register or more information

Wednesday March 10, 2010

IDEXX: Made in Maine Company Gone Global

Breakfast presentation from Jonathan Ayers, President, CEO and Chairman of IDEXX Laboratories - THE global market leader in diagnostics & information technology solutions for animal health as well as water and milk quality.

Sponsor: USM Corporate Partners

Location: Univ. Events Rm, 7th Fl, USM Glickman Family Library, Portland

Time Coffee & conversation 7:15am, program & breakfast buffet 7:30am

RSVP http://usm.maine.edu/corporatepartners/rsvp/rsvp.html

Essentials of Project Management

Using a six-stage planning/organizing design, discussions and case studies, and a detailed manual as the guiding text, this two-day series will help you simplify and clarify the structure and process for well-run projects, emphasizing the role of the Project Manager and establishing clear responsibilities for all stakeholders.
* This class runs on 3/10/10 and 3/17/10

Sponsor: Central Maine Community College

Location: Kirk Hall, Room 107, CMCC, 1250 Turner St., Auburn

Time: 9am-4:30pm
Cost: $255

Registration: To Register or more information

Remove Obstacles from Achieving Your Business Objectives
Malcolm Poole, Running Fix Coaching and Consulting, will speak on how to Remove Obstacles from Achieving Your Business Objectives.  Feel free to bring a bag lunch. Beverages are provided.

Sponsor: Scarborough Community Chamber  

Location: Scarborough Public Library

Time: 12:00-1:30pm

Registration: Register online

Friday March 12, 2010

Guerilla Marketing

Marketing is not just advertising! This informative and interactive workshop will answer the question, "What is guerilla marketing?" and give helpful tips on how to run an effective marketing campaign on a shoestring budget.

Sponsor: Maine SBDC at CEI

Location: Wishcamper Building at USM, 34 Bedford St, Portland

Time: 9:00AM to 11:00AM
Cost: $15

Registration: To Register or more information

Building a High Trust/High Impact Workplace

Could your team be more cohesive, more responsive and adaptable to the challenges you face? Working with models related to candor, successful interpersonal dynamics and trust building, you will gain insight and strategies for leading groups and working with others to deepen your work relationships and achieve even more effective results.

Sponsor: Institute for Civic Leadership

Location: Freeport Community Library, 10 Library Drive

Time: 8:30am-4:30pm
Cost: $275

Registration: To Register or more information

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Monday March 15, 2010

Workplace Communication

Learn how to more successfully and effectively communicate with peers, supervisors, and teams in a work environment. Skills covered include listening, oral communication that involves speaking assertively, positively, and clearly; and handling difficult situations in the workplace with conflict resolution skills. Other skills practiced will include customer service communication skills and communication issues in a team based environment. This class runs from 3/15/10- 4/14/10

Sponsor: Portland Adult Education

Location: PAE-Riverton Rm501, 1600 Forest Ave,

Time: 11:30am-2:15pm
Cost: $59

Registration: To Register or more information

Tuesday March 16, 2010

Marketing Your Business

Learn how to bring together all the elements of a good marketing plan--your marketing materials, sales strategies, and a pricing plan.

Pre-registration is required.

Sponsor: Maine Centers for Women, Work, and Community/Wendy Rose

Location: Women, Work, & Community, UMA Campus Center, Augusta

Time: 9:00 am - 12:00pm
Cost: FREE

Registration: To Register or more information

Getting Your Website Developed - Online

In this workshop, we will explore the various ways your website can be developed either by you, a friend or family member, or a paid professional. We will discuss do-it-yourself options, how to successfully hire a website designer, how to add E-Commerce, and the ways in which each of these decisions will interact with the web hosting options you need. This workshop is for any business owner or potential business owner who either thinks they need a website for their business or has a website and needs to make revisions or add E-Commerce to the website. (Previously part of the Business Website Basics workshop.) You can participate in this workshop online either live in the virtual classroom, or you can access a recorded, self-paced version of the workshop where you ask the instructor questions in a discussion board/bulletin board format, or you can do both! The self-paced option for this workshop is accessible 24 hours a day for a two week period following the live workshop. To participate in this online workshop, you must have a computer on which you can download software (Windows 2000 or OS10 or above) with access to the internet (dialup is fine) and speakers or a computer headset/microphone. Generally you cannot take this workshop using public access computers (e.g., libraries, Career Centers).

Sponsor: WBC at CEI

Location: Online

Time: 9:00AM to 11:00AM
Cost: $ 15

Registration: To Register or more information

Portland SCORE's Marketing and Sales workshop

Learn how to develop and execute an effective marketing strategy, the various types of media available, and how to budget for marketing and promotion.

Sponsor: SCORE

Location: 2nd Floor, 100 Middle Street, Portland

Time: 2:00 p.m.

Registration: To

Wednesday March 17, 2010

Dimensional Negotiations

Create effective, efficient, logistical boundaries, handle stalls, prepare for both transactional and transformational negotiations, and use personality technology to plan your next negotiations event. Participants will practice disarming positional thinking and creating common ground. They will also learn to turn competition into collaboration, as well as learn to turn a move into a turn, and how to create relationships in negotiations that will last. This Workshop runs 2 days- March 17th and March 18th

Sponsor: Priority Learning

Location: 176 Main Street, South Portland

Time: 9am-4pm
Cost: $500

Registration: To Register or more information

Thursday March 18, 2010

The March 2010 E2Tech Forum

to be held in Augusta will be a panel discussion on the Economic and Business Perspectives on Federal Climate Legislation.   

This forum is being coproduced in conjunction with the Natural Resources Council of Maine and Clean Air – Cool Planet.

 At this special joint E2 Tech /Natural Resources Council of Maine / Clean Air – Cool Planet forum hear from internationally recognized economist Tom Tietenberg, emeritus professor from Colby College, about the key policy choices before Congress.  In addition, corporate representatives and other experts will share their perspectives on what this legislation might mean for Maine businesses, including Maine’s efforts to increase energy efficiency and lead on renewable energy.

Details on location, times, etc. will be announced soon and will also be posted on http://e2tech.org/.  

Adopting Rapid e-Learning

Do you have multiple audiences to reach in multiple locations with new product knowledge or company policies? Do you need to cut back on your training travel expenses? Do you have high turnover? If you answered yes to any of these questions, now's the time to introduce rapid e-Learning to your organization! Learn how at this informative 1 day workshop at VTEC. Topics covered: Rapid e-Learning Basics; Building your internal team; Applying the agile development process. Workshop limited to 25 attendees

Sponsor: VTEC Education Center

Location: 50 Foden Road, South Portland

Time: 9-4:30
Cost: $195.00

Registration: 207.699.3403 or Tricia@vtec.org

Women Standing Together

Roundtable format with other Women Standing Together members - Christy Hemenway of Gold Star Honeybees seeks ideas for staffing her growing business! Women standing together is a growing network of creative, dynamic women in the pursuit of the opportunity to launch entrepreneurial women to new heights. As women with the capacity to inspire, WST members are leaders who share the desire and passion to support and grow budding entrepreneurs. If you are collaborative, entrepreneurial, creative, innovative, market savvy, and philanthropic, this group is for you! Guests are welcome to attend prior to becoming a member.

Sponsor: Maine Women’s Fund – Women Standing Together

Location: Portland Harbor Hotel

Time: 11:45 am - 1:45

RSVP: thewomen@mainewomensfund.org or 774-5513. 

Budgeting Basics Workshop

In this workshop, you will learn about the basic components for building a budget. We will discuss money tracking, goal setting, and how having a sense of your overall financial situation can assist you in the process of building a budget.

Sponsor: Maine Centers for Women, Work, and Community

Location: Lewiston College, Learningworks, 51 Westminster St, Lewiston

Time: 9:00-11:00 am
Cost: FREE

Registration: To Register or more information

Friday March 19, 2010

Innovation & Entrepreneurship is Key to Moving Maine’s Economy Forward - Presentation by Catherine Renault, Ph.D., Director of the Office of Innovation in the ME Dept. of Economic & Community Development. The 2010 Science and Technology Action Plan is a blueprint for changing the trajectory of Maine's economy. It has been developed by Dr. Renault's office and the Maine Innovation Economy Advisory Board, with input from a wide variety of stakeholders. The plan is legislatively mandated every five years, beginning in 2010. Dr. Renault says "The plan aims to accomplish two things: to position Maine competitively in the
global economy through capitalizing on our natural tendency to be innovative, and to create jobs for our kids and grandkids so they can continue to live in this special place."

Sponsor:  A.C.E. (Assoc of Consulting Expertise)

Location: 5 Park St. Hilton Garden Inn, Freeport

Time: 7:30-10:00 am
Cost: Members-FREE/ Non-members-$20.00

Registration: To Register or more information

Business Writing Basics: A Grammar and Punctuation Review

Brush up on common areas of confusion in grammar and punctuation to gain renewed confidence and increased efficiency in writing. This is a course for those who want to communicate clearly.
You will learn:

* how to avoid common grammar traps
* how to use commas and semicolons with confidence
* how to apply tips for productive proofreading

Sponsor: Center for Continuing Education - USM

Location: Abromson Center, 88 Bedford St., USM, Portland

Time: 8:30am-3:30pm
Cost: $185

Registration: To Register or more information

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Monday March 22, 2010

Marketing Power Boot Camp with CS Wurzberger

In 6 hours CS Wurzberger will equip you with a solid, detailed Marketing Power Action Plan.

Sponsor: SCORE - Counselors to America's Small Business

Location: 2nd Floor, 100 Middle Street, Portland

Time: 9:30 a.m. - 4:30 p.m.
Cost: Visit: www.newmediamarketingpower.com

Registration: To Register or more information

Tuesday, March 23, 2010

Portland SCORE's Writing a Business Plan workshop

Learn what goes into a business plan, the resources available to develop and support the plan, and how to prepare the necessary financial forecasting documents.

Sponsor: SCORE - Counselors to America's Small Business

Location: 2nd Floor, 100 Middle Street, Portland

Time: 2:00 p.m.
Cost: Visit www.scoremaine.com to register

Registration: To Register or more information

Introduction to IP: What is intellectual property?  Why is it important to you?

This seminar will discuss a variety of intellectual property concepts such as protecting your web presence, whether or not you should patent an idea or trademark your business name. Presenter: Michael McGurk, Finnegan, Henderson, Farabow, Garrett & Dunner, LLP

Sponsor: Portland Chamber

Location: Chamber Offices

Time: 7-9 am
Cost: Free/Members, $10.00/non-members

Registration: Register online

Principles of Lean Manufacturing

What to expect: During the hands-on simulation you will be a member of our production team - you will apply Lean concepts, such as standardized work, visual signals, batch-size reduction, pull systems, and more designed to give you new tools to improve your business. We begin by manufacturing products in a chaotic, traditional manufacturing firm. Then Lean principles are applied to the results of your first simulation. For the remainder of the day, we revisit the manufacturing environment and use the Lean techniques that have been presented.

At the end of this workshop, you will be able to identify the eight areas of waste and understand how to eliminate them and move ahead. Applying Lean principles can improve your bottom line.

Sponsor: Maine MEP and Androscoggin Valley Council of Governments

Location: AVCOG, 125 Manley Road, Auburn

Time: 7:30am
Cost: $295

Registration: To Register or more information

Planning Your Website Content - Online

Regardless of whether you are designing/revising your website yourself or hiring a professional to do it, the most effective website will be one which is designed for your target market with website content that will get your message across before your website visitor hits the back button. But what should that message be? In this workshop, we discuss how to develop and prioritize content goals for your site, two key pieces of content that will help you get across your most important information to your visitor, and how and why to develop a written website plan before embarking on the creation or major revision of a website. This workshop is for any business owner or potential business owner who either thinks they need a website for their business or has a website and needs to make revisions or add E-Commerce to the website. (Previously part of the Planning Your Website Success workshop.)
Sponsor: WBC at CEI
Location: Online

Time: 9:00AM to 11:00AM
Cost: $ 15

Registration: To Register or more information

Wednesday March 24, 2010

Maine Investment Exchange Upcoming Forum

(Business Plans had to be submitted by Friday, February 19th)

The Maine Investment Exchange (MIX) provides regularly scheduled forums to bring together providers of risk capital with qualified entrepreneurs seeking capital. Presenting companies are pre-selected through an application process and are provided with an opportunity to make a brief formal presentation to an audience of investors and an opportunity for networking. MIX is an enterprise created by Maine & Company and supported by private businesses throughout the state.

Contact Maine & Company (pjd@maineco.org) for applications to present.

Sponsor: Maine Investment Exchange (MIX)
Location: Woodlands, Falmouth

Registration: To Register or more information

Changing Conflict Dynamics

Changing Conflict Dynamics is a must for anyone who has problems with or avoids conflict. Let's face it, conflict is the norm in most organizations and life itself. Learn your style of conflict. Experience the biology (Roots and Personal Impact Triggers) and define what conflict means to you and your desires regarding how to handle it. Deal with difficult conflict situations through assertions skills, both at home and in the workplace, while practicing how to assert your messages in a safe setting. This is a two day event, 3/24/10 & 3/25/10
Sponsor: Priority Learning
Location: 176 Main Street, South Portland

Time: 9am-4pm
Cost: $500.00

Registration: To Register or more information

Thurs March 25

"Investment by the Numbers: Valuation, Terms, and Exits"
with John Burns of SEGF
If you are thinking of looking for private capital for your business this Lunch and Learn is for you.  Join John Burns, Fund Manager of the Small Enterprise Growth Fund to get a crash course on the “numbers” of venture investing.  How do venture capitalists and angel investors value a business? What are the most important investment terms and what do they mean?  What types of exits are investors looking for? Most importantly learn how valuation, investment terms and exits are all related. <click here for printable flyer>

Sponsor: Maine Center for Enterprise Development & SEGF
Location: 213 Abromson Center, USM Portland Campus

Time:  12:30 - 2:30 (check in by 12:20)
Cost: $10 ( no charge to students w/ID or MCED onsite or affiliate clients

Registration: workshops@mced.biz  or 228-8524

"Coffee with a Million Dollar Woman"

First of the Roundtable series with 2010 Panelist Kelly Flagg of Flaggship Landscaping

Sponsored by:  KeyBank, Maine Biz, Echelon Circles

Location: USM Abromson Center  8:30 to 10:00 AM

Cost: $10 admission (includes garage parking voucher)

Register: Click here to register 

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Wednesday March 31, 2010

Understanding Web Statistics & Google Analytics – Online

From any website, it’s possible to learn a lot of information about its traffic and visitors – how many visits, how many unique visitors, how long visitors stay on a site, what pages are viewed, where they came from originally, even what search terms they used in Google to get to the site – if some form of comprehensive website statistics program is installed for the site. For most business owners, if they know what is available for website statistics, they don’t really understand how to use this information. In this workshop, the importance of installing Google Analytics – a free and very effective statistics program, how to read these reports, and how to use this information in business planning and determining the effectiveness of any website marketing strategies you employ. This workshop is designed for both those who have a business website already as well as those who are in the planning process for developing a business website. (Previously part of the Planning Your Website Success workshop.) You can participate in this workshop online either live in the virtual classroom, or you can access a recorded, self-paced version of the workshop where you ask the instructor questions in a discussion board/bulletin board format, or you can do both!

Sponsor: WBC at CEI
Location: Online

Time: 9:00AM to 11:00AM
Cost: $15.00

Registration: To Register or more information

“Inspiring Stories of Leadership”

The Honorable Angus S. King, Jr. shares the amazing story of Antarctic Adventurer Sir Ernest Shackleton and other great leaders from history. This is #6 in “Leadership Unplugged series” - designed to be a conversation with Maine leaders around issues of economic importance.  It is an opportunity for you to come together with other leaders in a relaxed setting to build relationships & enhance our ability to move Maine forward

Sponsor: Bowdoin College/ Maine Development Foundation

Time:  7:30 – 9:00 a.m.

Location: Daggett Lounge (Thorne Hall), Bowdoin College, Brunswick

Register: online at www.mdf.org/events/Leadership-Unplugged/216/

Thursday April 1, 2010

Seed Grant and Development Award Workshops

Program Specialists will take you through the application writing process. In this informative workshop you will learn what it takes to successfully assemble competitive Seed Grant and Development Award applications and acquire tips that will allow you to make your application clear, focused, complete and compelling.

Time: 9 a.m. to 11 a.m.

Location: Abromson Center, University of Southern Maine, Portland, Maine

Directions: http://usm.maine.edu/conferences/abromson/directions.html

Cost: No fee to attend. MTI will provide refreshments.

To register: please contact Linda Adams, Program Assistant at ladams@mainetechnology.org or

207-582-4790 x206. Reservations are strongly encouraged to help MTI assure adequate space and seating. Walk-ins are welcome, space permitting

New Ventures ™ Entrepreneurship Training

New VenturesTM is a 60 hour course for those interested in starting or expanding a small business. In-depth coverage of topics such as: your customer, competition, marketing, record keeping, taxes, legal aspects, financing, and operations. The ten - twelve week training leads to a written business plan. Successful graduates may be eligible for 3 UMA credits with a small processing fee. Class size is limited to 15. An application and interview are required. New Ventures is an approved training under the Unemployment Compensation system. Over 1200 individuals have graduated from the training over the past 20 years. Application, Orientation and interview are required. The orientation is April 1, 2009 9:00-12:00 noon, and classes are: April 8, 15, 22, 29, May 6, 13, 20, 27, June 3, 10, 17, 24, 2010

Sponsor: WBC at CEI
Location: USM Lewiston / Auburn College, Learningworks, Lewiston

Time: 9:00 am - 2:30-See above for dates
Cost: FREE

Registration: To Register or more information

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***   SAVE THE DATES!!!!!!

Thurs March 18

Roundtable format with other Women Standing Together members - Christy Hemenway of Gold Star Honeybees seeks ideas for staffing her growing business! Women standing together is a growing network of creative, dynamic women in the pursuit of the opportunity to launch entrepreneurial women to new heights. As women with the capacity to inspire, WST members are leaders who share the desire and passion to support and grow budding entrepreneurs. If you are collaborative, entrepreneurial, creative, innovative, market savvy, and philanthropic, this group is for you! Guests are welcome to attend prior to becoming a member.

Sponsor: Maine Women’s Fund – Women Standing Together

Location: Portland Harbor Hotel

Time: 11:45 am - 1:45

RSVP: thewomen@mainewomensfund.org or 774-5513. 

Friday March 19

Innovation & Entrepreneurship is Key to Moving Maine’s Economy Forward - Presentation by Catherine Renault, Ph.D., Director of the Office of Innovation in the ME Dept. of Economic & Community Development. The 2010 Science and Technology Action Plan is a blueprint for changing the trajectory of Maine's economy. It has been developed by Dr. Renault's office and the Maine Innovation Economy Advisory Board, with input from a wide variety of stakeholders. The plan is legislatively mandated every five years, beginning in 2010. Dr. Renault says "The plan aims to accomplish two things: to position Maine competitively in the
global economy through capitalizing on our natural tendency to be innovative, and to create jobs for our kids and grandkids so they can continue to live in this special place."

Sponsor:  A.C.E. (Assoc of Consulting Expertise)

Location: 5 Park St. Hilton Garden Inn, Freeport

Time: 7:30-10:00 am
Cost: Members-FREE/ Non-members-$20.00

Registration: To Register or more information

Wednesday March 24, 2010

Maine Investment Exchange Upcoming Forum

Business Plan Due Date:  Friday, February 19th

Breakfast forum at the Woodlands Club, Falmouth

More information to follow.

Contact Maine & Company   (pjd@maineco.org ) for applications to present.

Thursday April 1, 2010

Seed Grant and Development Award Workshops

Program Specialists will take you through the application writing process. In this informative workshop you will learn what it takes to successfully assemble competitive Seed Grant and Development Award applications and acquire tips that will allow you to make your application clear, focused, complete and compelling.

Time: 9 a.m. to 11 a.m.

Location: Abromson Center, USM, Portland

Directions: http://usm.maine.edu/conferences/abromson/directions.html

Cost: No fee to attend. MTI will provide refreshments.

To register: please contact Linda Adams, Program Assistant at ladams@mainetechnology.org or 207-582-4790 x206. Reservations are strongly encouraged to help MTI assure adequate space and seating. Walk-ins are welcome, space permitting

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Maine Technology Institute (MTI) Grant Programs Upcoming application deadlines

FMI: forms & online registration, visit www.mainetechnology.org. Complete applications must be in the MTI office by 5 p.m. on day of the deadline, 405 Water Street, Suite 300, Gardiner, ME  04345.

* Seed Grants (6/year)  

Next deadlines for seed grants is April 15 by 5:00 p.m. Proposals received after 5:00 p.m. will not be accepted. 
Up to $12,500 per project available.

* Development Awards (3/yr)

Next deadline for development awards is June 7, 2010 by 5pm.
Up to $500,000 per project available - (must be matched).

MTI Cluster Initiative Program (CIP)

4th round of the Cluster Initiative Program (CIP) deadline is projected to be March 2010.  See website. Request for Applications here.

• Up to $500,000 per project available - (2/yr)
  Next deadline for full project grants Thurs, October 8, 2009

• Up to $50,000 for planning or feasibility studies -
  may be applied for on a rolling basis.

• Participation in a workshop or a personal interview is required for submission of an application for both award levels.

• All cluster initiative awards require an award recipient to contribute matching funds to the project on a 1:1 basis

The awards are made to support Maine’s technology sectors and businesses by improving the effectiveness of their infrastructure, resources, networks and focuses on collaborative efforts.

Look for updated information on the MTI website.

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At USM, there's an easy way to start moving forward before making the full commitment to apply to grad school.  Most graduate programs allow non-matriculated students (students with undergraduate degrees who have not been accepted into a program) to take graduate courses before completing an application. If a student is subsequently admitted to a program, the relevant courses will count toward the degree.

USM has a new Expanding Horizons Scholarship Program for non-matriculated students taking a graduate course for the first time this fall.  Up to twenty $500 scholarships are available to help students step back into the classroom and try something new.

For more information about the scholarship and graduate courses at USM contact:

Amy Gieseke, agieseke@usm.maine.edu or 780-5921 or check online at  www.usm.maine.edu/grad/Fall09

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CREATEMAINE - Young entrepreneurs urged others to go for it! 

Kick off event for National Entrepreneurship Week gets print & TV media coverage!

PPH newspaper article

NECN TV NEWS CLIP

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MCED and Maine's Eweek Coalition recognized National Entrepreneurship Week Feb 20-27, 2010

Maine’s EWeek Coalition sponsored statewide panel discussions, workshops and networking events to promote, educate, inspire and raise the visibility of Maine’s Entrepreneurs during the 4th Annual National Entrepreneurship Week the end of February.

Maine Events:  www.eweekmaine.com 
National site:   www.NationalEweek.com

click for printable pdf of the week's events

click for Portland events flyer

Highlighted events:

Calling All Entrepreneurs - coaching sessions in Orono, Portland & Brunswick - 15 hours

Entrepreneurs signed up for 20 min dialog with Maine Angel coaches to get feedback on a business idea or help navigating a troublesome issue, get access to experienced entrepreneurs/investors (All the available appointment slots were full by 5 days prior!)
Sponsored by: Maine Angels, Univ. of Maine, Maine Center for Enterprise Development, SEGF, and Bowdoin College.

Go Create the Next Big Company

Interactive opportunity with 6 top entrepreneurs under 30, especially  aimed at HS & college students.  www.createmaine.com  

3 MCED client entrepreneurs were featured!

     - Becky Stockbridge McKinnell from iBecCreative

     - William Sulinski from AccelGolf 

     - Jeremy Litchfield from Atayne

Also:

- Ryan Beaumont, RM Beaumont Corp (significant contract relationship
   with MCED client Ocean Renewable Power Company)
- Ryan Donnelly, Director of Interactive Marketing & Client Services,
   UCompareHealthCare

- Jeff Shaw,  Founder/Executive Director, Maine Academy of Modern Music

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Just one Click to Help MCED!

Change.org recently launched the 2010 Ideas for Change in America competition. One idea is titled: "Business Incubation helps foster Innovation." MCED Executive Director Steve Bazinet thought you might be interested in getting involved and recommends you check it out. You can read more and vote for the idea by Clicking Here 

                                  
The top 10 voted ideas will be presented at an event in Washington, DC to relevant members of the Obama Administration, and then promoted to Change.org's full community of more than 1 million people. So MCED  could have a real impact.

Make A Difference!

WRITE US IN to help us serve Maine’s entrepreneurs & start-ups with the help of Bangor Savings Bank.

Go to the online poll by the Bangor Savings Foundation. By typing in "Maine Center for Enterprise Development" in the "Other" box under the Greater Portland / Lewiston/ Auburn section as one of your 3 non-profit recipient choices, you can make a real difference for our business incubator and in-turn Maine’s economic development process! Winners will be announced in early March

Bangor Savings Bank Foundation's unique, grant-making initiative, Community Matters More  seeks help in allocating a total of $100,000 to 68 community non-profits throughout Maine. In addition to financial support, the organizations listed on the "Community Matters More" ballot will receive exposure for their work to enhance the quality of life in Maine thanks to major support by partners WGAN 560 Newsradio, Blueberry Broadcasting, WLBZ-TV 2 and WCSH-TV 6.

MCED invites you, your friends, colleagues and neighbors to participate by visiting www.communitymattersmore.com or a Bangor Savings Bank branch nearest you. Voting ends March 2, 2010.

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click here for online version of article

Go Create the Next Big Company workshop

Interactive opportunity with 5 top entrepreneurs under 30. Each Entrepreneur has 15 minutes interaction via text messaging with audience. 3 MCED client entrepreneurs will be featured!

     - Becky Stockbridge McKinnell from iBecCreative

     - William Sulinski from AccelGolf 

     - Jeremy Litchfield from Atayne

     - Ryan Beaumont, RM Beaumont Corp (significant contract
       relationship with MCED client Ocean Renewable Power Company)
    - Ryan Donnelly, Director of Interactive Marketing & Client Services,
      UCompareHealthCare

Location: Hannaford Lecture Hall 

Time: 6 – 8 p.m.

Cost: Free admission

FMI: http://www.createmaine.com/

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IN THE NEWS!

Ocean Renewable Power Company featured in Feb 21 Maine Sunday Telegram front page. "Tide effects: A lot of hopes are riding on the final demonstration of a turbine designed to tap the powerful tides off Eastport"

link to front page article from 2/21 Maine Sunday Telegram

Pioneering tidal energy technology unveiled

Ocean Renewable Power Company has more good news. ORPC collaborates with Stillwater Metalworks in Bangor to make Maine a national leader in tidal ocean energy.  

link to article on Mainebiz Online

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Feb 8 Mainebiz features Top Gun Entrepreneur William Ashland of Disaster Game! 

link to 2/8 Mainebiz article

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MCED graduate client Becky Stockbridge McKinnell of iBecCreative was featured in the "Newsworthy" column as an "Upstart entrepreneur" in the Jan 11, 2010 MaineBiz issue for her recognition by BusinessWeek

< click here for link to the article >

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2009 workshop series: THANKS TO OUR PRESENTERS!

Jan:  "Wanted: More Competitive Development Award Applications" - presented by Jessie Gogan, MTI Development Award Specialist  Click Here for printable flyer

Feb: National Entrepreneurship Events- 40+ statewide events

March: How to Engage Your Business in the Social Media -  presented by Lynnelle Wilson, Marketing 2.0 Business Growth Specialist and founder & President of Bold Vision Consulting, and Rebecca Stockbridge founder & President of iBecCreative

Click here for PDF of presentation

Click here Intro to Social Media for Business (slides by Lynelle Wilson)

Click here for workshop listing of social media links

April: An Entrepreneur’s Approach to Licensing:  A Means to an End - Presented by Dr Peter Millet, serial entrepreneur

     click here for PowerPoint

May: From Basements to Bootstraps & Beyond: Strategies to Grow Your Business - Presenter Chris Speh, Chair of Maine Angels

     click here for PowerPoint

June: Using LinkedIn to Enhance Your Business Presence Presented by Kirk Hill, Founder LinkedIn Maine Entrepreneurs' Discussion Group and of Quai, Inc.

    click here for link to Powerpoint presentation (Slide Share on LinkedIn!)

July: To Tweet or Not to Tweet (Using Twitter for Business)

Presented by John Moore, Quai, Inc

     click here for PowerPoint

July: "Facebook for Business "
Presented by: Lynnelle Wilson of Bold Vision Consulting
<click here for printable flyer>

August: " Broadcast Your Business - Adding YouTube to Your Marketing Strategy " Presented by- Amanda O'Brien, Inbound Marketing Manager at Hall Web Services.

<click here for PowerPoint & video of session on shareslide>

<click here for PowerPoint slides on Hall website>

October: " Branding and Your Logo"

Presented by: Taja Dockendorf of T-Doc Creative

<click here for PowerPoint >

November: "Create a Dream Team Starting with You"

Presented by: Nancy Brook of Authentic Work

[link to printable flyer]
 

December: "Sales & Marketing for Tech Start-ups ... The Very Top Secret Techniques"

Presented by: Kerem Durdag

<click here for powerpoint presentation (slide share)>

<click here for printable flyer>

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The SunriseGuide was prominently featured on the front page of the Sunday Dec 20, 2009 Maine Sunday Telegram. The Living Green, Saving Green article by John Richardson discusses the benefits of the 4th annual  "coupon book for consumers who want to save the world on a budget" and for those that want to learn how to live a more sustainable lifestyle from the 6 educational chapters. 

click here for link to PPH article

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William Sulinski of AccelGolf was one of 3 panelists featured on the WCSH Channel 6 Mainebiz Sunday on Dec 20, 2009. Watch it online now, plus further content only seen on the web!

Carol Coultas, Mainebiz editor, introduced 3 of the 10 emerging leaders and innovators that made up the 2009 Mainebiz Next list:
Megan Williams, executive director of Hardy Girls Healthy Women; Suzanne Fox, president of Fox Intercultural Consulting Services; and William Sulinski, CEO of AccelGolf.
They spoke with Alan Hinsey about how they turned their passions into successful business models - and the importance of networking and mentors for startup businesses and organizations.

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TOP GUN showcase celebration pitch day makes front page news!

The Top Gun grand finale of MCED's intensive 3 month applied entrepreneurship program was a success and made the front page of the Portland Press Herald on Nov 20, 2009.  <link to Top Gun article>

Pitch Day was the culmination of an intense 3 month program that linked the State’s most promising innovative entrepreneurs with our most seasoned business professionals who helped guide them in validating their business model. Each week offered a 2 hour evening presentation led by respected professionals and successful entrepreneurs. This was in addition to time during the week working side-by-side with their mentor

Link here for entire Top Gun news article

Link Here for Top Gun Website

Link Here for Pitch Day photos on our Facebook Page

Top Gun again recognizes the Top Gun program sponsors for their financial support: Our primary sponsors include Maine Technology Institute, MacDonald Page, Bernstein Shur, Pro Search, Wright Express; our principal sponsors also gave generous funding or in-kind services: Berry Talbot Royer, Hall Web Services, and T-Doc Creative. We appreciate our partner sponsors: Furman Gregory Deptula, Woodard & Curran, University of Maine, and the Maine Investment Exchange and our Contributors: Blue Wave Strategies, Bangor Savings Bank and Eaton Peabody. Thank you to all!

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MCED elects 5 additional Board Members

On Nov 20, 2009, MCED Board chair Ed McKersie announced that the Board of Directors had unanimously approved the addition of 5 new Directors, filling out the full compliment of Board members per the Bylaws of the non-profit business incubator.

New Directors are:

Kerem Durdag - Partner, Blue Wave Investments
Corson "Corky" Ellis - Founder, Kepware Technologies

David Hiatt - Chief Financial Officer

Catherine Renault - Director Office of Innovation

Janet Yancey-Wrona - COO, AIKO Biotechnology

<see news release>

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Top Gun Advisor John Burns Wins FAME's Dirigo Award

John Burns, Fund Manager for the Small Enterprise Growth Fund received this year's Dirigo Award from the Finance Authority of Maine (FAME).  Each year FAME recognizes select Maine business people and educators in a number of categories. The Dirigo Award for Business goes to "an individual within the commercial lending or economic development community who exemplifies a history of successfully leveraging resources by providing assistance to businesses in the State of Maine."

John has served as Fund Manager of the Small Enterprise Growth Fund since 2000. John's responsibilities include the full range of venture industry activities: marketing, deal generation, investment analysis, due diligence, company monitoring and support, as well as the development of exit strategies. He is also responsible for maintaining a strong relationship with the Small Enterprise Growth Board, the Governor's office, and the Legislature. John has played a significant role in bringing capital to 30 Maine companies to date, and has steered the SEGF through a number of returns of capital to the Fund.

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2 MCED companies win MTI Seed Grants in November 09

 Organic Alchemy Composting Process Design & Test                    

MCED Campus Venture company : Organic Alchemy Composting

delivers a solid waste management solution for commercial organic waste from southern Maine hospitality and institutional establishments. The Seed Grant will support the development of a process that transforms organic wastes to high-quality compost.

Award: $6,620 Match: $7,651

Sector: Environmental Technology

Use of PDM Software in Energy Management Systems

MCED graduate company : iSagacity – Portland

This project will complete proof of concept testing for the application of iSagacity’s Process Data Mining software in the application of managing energy in commercial building. PDM is an advanced data analysis platform for knowledge management and equipment monitoring and can be used in a variety of industrial and commercial applications.

Sector: Environmental Technology

Award: $12,500 Match: $14,695

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Congratulations to our Professionals-in-Residence group which was one of the three businesses that won one of the MaineBusiness.com marketing New Business Stimulus Packages. Winners were announced Nov 9, and each will receive goods and services worth more than $6,000 from Maine companies:

• Work It Up
• Andrew J. Brewer Construction
• LifeStages

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Top Gun Company Atayne -featured in

The WashingtonPost.com:

• Green Your Exercise 11/5 <link to article on Atayne >
• Bettering your body and the world 11/5: <link to article on Atayne>

Fox Small Business Center: "Turning one Athlete's Trash into a Successful Business" 11/3 <link to article on Atayne>

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MCED Professionals-in-Residence - Work it UP - featured in MaineBiz's daily PortlandBiz

Program pairs unemployed with companies in need
After practicing his job pitch again and again at meetings of unemployed professionals, David Craig decided there must be another way for the jobless to network, to meet executives, to find a job. So, Craig devised an alternative networking plan, which has morphed into a new nonprofit called Work it UP.
Read more >>  

<Nov 3 Portland Biz online>

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 Coastal Enterprises Inc. has received $125 million in federal money for its New Markets Tax Credit Program to fund economic development in rural communities <link to CEI New Market Tax Credit Program>

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William Sulinski and the AccelGolf  team was selected by Mainebiz  as 2009 Mainebiz Next List - a group nominated by the business community for shaping the future of Maine's economy. They were one of 10 to be honored at the Reception at the Ocean Gateway Terminal on Nov. 5.

<article on MaineBiz 2009 Next List>

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Top Gun Entrepreneur wins Development Award

Advance Electronic Concepts, located in Portland, won an Oct 2009  MTI Development Award in the Precision Manufacturing Technology category. The provide world class industrial refrigeration control products to leading case manufacturers and supermarket chains. They are focusing on the design, fabrication, testing and commercialization of an energy-efficient, solid-state lighting system for supermarket refrigeration cases.

Award: $ 124,850 Match: $ 130,850

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Silver Performance Gear, iBecCreative, & USM Biz Plan highlighted in The Portland Daily Sun -
front page of the Oct 21, 2009 edition!

<click here for article>

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iBec highlighted in Justin Ellis Nxt blog "Portland Young Gun among America's Best" for Business Week nomination of "25 under 25" 

click here for link to blog

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MCED graduate Becky Stockbridge - iBecCreative - selected as one of BusinessWeek's "Best Young Entrepreneur"

finalist in the 25 U.S. Entrepreneurs Ages 25 and Under!

This summer, BusinessWeek set out on its fifth annual search to find the country's most promising young entrepreneurs. As in previous years, Newsweek asked readers to nominate candidates ages 25 and under running their own companies. Newsweek will announce the top vote-getters on Nov. 9.

click here for link to online article

winner were announced Nov 9: link to announcement

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Amy Ireland of Zumsport has been awarded the Victoria Hilliard Donovan Award.

Entrepreneur Amy Ireland of MCED Affiliate company Zumsport is the 3rd annual recipient of the Victoria Hilliard Donovan Award.

A Fund was created by Michael Donovan and Deborah Curtis in memory of their daughter, who died in 1988. Proceeds from the Victoria Hilliard Donovan Fund, which is managed by the Maine Community Foundation, have been directed for use by the MCED for the Women in Technological Entrepreneurship Award. The family was “proud to honor the memory of Victoria via the entrepreneurial success of women who are creating technology based companies that benefit the state of Maine.” Mr. Donovan helped found the MCED in the mid-1990s in his role as director of the Greater Portland Economic Development Council.

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Where Capital & Business Match in Minutes 

ENTREPRENEURS-EXECUTIVES-GROWING COMPANIES
 
 

The second-year Speed Venture Summit was set up as a speed-dating style event for fast-growth business and investors in New England - Oct 28 in Nashua, NH

Six of MCED's Top Gun Entrepreneurs applied and were selected to be one of the 50 companies to present to investors at the Speed Venture Summit on Wed Oct 28 in Nashua, NH (see below). These founders are Catherine Bickford of Artascope, Jason Cianchette of Liquid Wireless, William Crain of Pondera, Jeremy Litchfield of  Atayne, Susan MacKay of Zeomatrix and Bruno Marino of PEM (Plantetary Emissions Management).

Awards were given to top 2 vote getters at the networking reception:
Renewable energy startup Highest Wind LLC, of Newmarket, N.H., took home the top prize Wednesday, winning by a whistle on an audience “applause-o-meter.”

Co-hosted by the New Hampshire High Technology Council and the New Hampshire Small Business Development Center, the summit attracted 47 entrepreneurs and their startups who gave private pitches to potential investors, culminating in the public, five-finalist “pitch-off”. The five finalists included Highest Wind, EnerTrac Inc., Telling Stone Software, Boston Heart Lab Corp. and ColdStor Data Inc. More than 350 attendees made enough noise to award top honors to Highest Wind and runner-up honors to EnerTrac. (Highest Wind makes small-scale, on-site, wind-powered electricity generation technology to help power rural organizations with too little wind for wind turbines. EnerTrac makes remote-monitoring service, based on software as a service, to lower delivery costs for heating oil/propane companies.)

MCED Top Gun and onsite client Liquid Wireless was also nominated as a finalist, but had had to leave prior to the final "pitch-off."

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Top Gun Company Atayne -featured in "New Ventures" section of the Oct 5, 2009 MaineBiz
"Green Gear - A conversation with Jeremy Litchfield, chief pace-setter and founder of Atayne in Portland" 

<click here for link to online article >

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AccelGolf media notice after Techstars pitch night

Boston and San Francisco TechStars’ Investor Days led to a wide range of coverage: CNET, TechCrunch, VentureBeat, MassHighTech, The Boston Globe, and Xconomy. (click on underlined links to view full articles)

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Channel 8 stopped by the Opening Night Reception and Showcase at the Woodland Clubs for the Top Gun Entrepreneurs and shot some footage for the 11 pm news. <Click here for the link!>

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One of our own Top Gun Entrepreneurs is off to a great start: Bruno Marino & PEM !

Planetary Emissions Management  was selected by the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) as one of 19 projects to enhance the capability to simulate, track, and evaluate the potential risks of carbon dioxide (CO2) storage in geologic formations.

Coal is the Nation's most abundant energy resource, supplying nearly 50
percent of domestic electricity. In order for low-cost electricity from
coal-fired power plants to remain available, economical methods for
capturing and storing the greenhouse gas emissions from these plants must be developed. It is widely believed that CO2 storage in deep geologic formations will be one of the most economical ways to achieve this goal.

* Planetary Emissions Management Inc. (PEM), is commercializing a carbon-14 field-ready analyzer with a sensitivity of approximately 1 part per million of fossil fuel-produced CO2 in ambient air. The analyzer will be deployed at sites where CO2 leaks from natural geologic
reservoirs and at a pilot CO2 injection site for testing and validation.
Ideally, this will be followed by long-term deployment at large-scale
operating CO2 storage projects. (DOE share: $2,003,703; recipient share: $429,300; duration: 48 months).

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MCED’s new Top Gun Program –

MCED launched the start of the new Top Gun program with a reception and dinner at the Woodlands in Falmouth on Thursday, August 27th. Tom Chappell (formerly of Tom’s of Maine) was the keynote speaker. With his new business venture, Ramblers’ Way Farm, Mr. Chappell, well knows the perils and pitfalls of a start-up. He inspired all in attendance to both “act” and “think” locally. The reception gave Top Gun entrepreneurs, mentors, and advisors a chance to meet and get to know each other.  The evening ended with each of the 12 Top Gun entrepreneurs introducing their particular company. WMTW TV channel 8 was there for coverage on their 11:00 pm newscast that evening. <click here for link to clip>

The first learning session for Top Gun was sponsored and hosted by Verrill Dana. The Entrepreneurs had an opportunity to present their elevator pitch and got excellent feedback from the Advisory Board and mentors present. The panel of industry leaders, Ann Leamon, Chris Speh, Greg Fryer and guest entrepreneur, Karem Durdag, gave a compelling presentation on the topic of communicating and selling. They talked about what investors look for in a business plan, executive summary, elevator pitch and fundraising presentations. Verrill Dana and the panel of presenters certainly set the bar for the 11 weeks to follow!

Top Gun was also written up in the Portland Press Herald  outlining the program’s intent with added quotes from the entrepreneurs on what they are hoping to gain. For entire article Click Here

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The Top Gun Entrepreneurs Class of 2009:

Norm Archer & Scott Nash Nashbox

William Ashland                    Disaster Game

Catherine Bickford              Artascope Playworks, LLC

Jason Cianchette                 Liquid Wireless

William Crain                         Pondera Pharmaceuticals, Inc

Cynthia Gagnon                   Advance Electronic Concepts

Mark Henry                           Mark Henry Enterprises, Inc.

William Keleher                    Micro Technologies, Inc.

Jeremy Litchfield                 Atayne LLC

Susan MacKay                      Zeomatrix

Bruno Marino                       Planetary Emissions Mgment

Scott Patch                          Refill Management Systems

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Top Gun Sponsors Recognized

Top Gun would like to recognize the following sponsors for their financial support :Firstly, our primary sponsors for without whom the Top Gun program or opening reception would not have been possible. They are; Maine Technology Institute (gave us the funds to seed the innovative program); MacDonald Page, Bernstein Shur, Pro Search and Wright Express. Also, we would like to thank our principal sponsors for their generous funding and in-kind services; Berry Talbot Royer, Hall Web Services, and T-Doc Creative. Rounding out our program and funding needs were our partners; Furman Gregory Deptula, Woodard & Curran, University of Maine, and Maine & Company; and our contributors; Eaton Peabody, Bangor Savings Bank, and Blue Wave Strategies who helped to underwrite the cost of the program for our entrepreneurs.

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MCED launches Professionals-in-Residence (PiR)  

The Maine Center for Enterprise Development (MCED) has formed a cooperative partnership with Work it UP, a group of professionals who will be offering pro-bono counsel in marketing, finance, project management and other business related functions to MCED clients. The relationship offers Work it UP members a greater opportunity to engage with a broader range of client prospects, and they in turn offer a tremendous benefit to MCED clients. Work it UP founders will reside onsite and provide assistance to MCED incubator client businesses. MCED clients will have access to Work it UP project teams for specific project needs by using the capabilities of the Work it UP program members. Work it UP maintains a skills assessment database of their participants and will coordinate project management, project leadership, skills development and teambuilding training. For more information about Work it UP, see their website at www.workitup.org. The staff of Work it UP can be reached at information@workitup.org . <link to testimonial>

They are also soliciting proposals for short-term projects from non-MCED Maine businesses, municipalities and non-profit organizations. The goal is to apply the skills, talents, knowledge and experience of the unemployed professional workforce to the project needs of Maine enterprises, so that client organizations become stronger, more competitive and ultimately create job opportunities – thereby keeping Maine talent employed in Maine.

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MCED Affiliate Company Zumsport awarded July Seed Grant for Proof of concept pilot project

zumsport LLC – located in Yarmouthis preparing to launch its first product, zumbitz. This new performance food combines science and innovation. The project will enable the company to produce and distribute zumbitz while gathering market‐data. Findings will be applied to development and commercialization, which will create opportunities in

precision manufacturing and agricultural.

Sector: Advanced Technology for Forestry and Agriculture

Award: $12,370 Match: $21,300

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MCED graduate company ORPC Maine LLC,  wins Maine Technology Asset Grant

June 2009- ORPC Maine LLC selected by MTI for the 2nd rd of awards for the  Maine Technology Asset Fund. The were awarded $806,138 for their OCGen Turbine Generator Unit Commercialization Project to be matched by $897,702

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Maine Million Dollar Women introduce
"Solopreneur Sessions" For Women Entrepreneurs 

Ever wish you had someone to brainstorm with about business who truly understood your female entrepreneurial mindset? "Over the past few months we've noticed that many of the women attending the roundtable events were solopreneurs in search of information and feedback. Running a 'one woman' business has it's unique challenges and who better to understand them - other women solopreneurs! "

Small groups of 8 to 10 peers (non-competing industries) meet to share ideas and information, and gain the knowledge they need to grow their businesses. Each session includes business tools for planning, business development, and promoting the small business, will be Facilitator lead in a confidential setting. - Space is limited -

When: Sessions begin August 18 

Where: USM Abromson Center

Cost: $85 per month 

Register: Email to request information and register by August 14 

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entreverge Inaugural Award's Party
 

June 25, 2009 was the first annual "entreverge" awards! 5 local Entrepreneurs were awarded new electric guitars in recognition of their innovation and contribution to the Maine business community: Congratulations to:

Atayne Clothing (performance apparel made from trash)

emilie inc. photography (photojournalism wedding photographer)

Pemaquid Communications (usability/accessibility in web design)

Topline Marketing (natural, free range, organic brokerage firm)

Turtle Love Committee (sterling/semi precious stone wedding rings

Place: Port City Music Hall (Portland)

Hosted by: Propel and the Portland Regional Chamber

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Organic Alchemy Composting wins 2009 USM Annual Business Plan Competition

The five finalist teams in the 8th annual USM Student Business Plan Competition (from the initial 30+ registered teams) pitched their business plan to the 3 judges on 4/4, and gave a brief presentation at the 4/8 USM Corporate Partners Breakfast.

The five finalist teams in the USM Business Plan Competition were:

• The Card (team of John McEvoy, Ryan Mahan, Matthew McEvoy )

• Kor Floral (team of Alexandra Kadar, Katarina de Khan)

• Maine Play (team of Ashlea Loring, Lauren Faulkner)

• Organic Alchemy Composting (team of Brett Richardson, Greg Williams)

• Tooth Protectors (team of Christopher M. Gagne, Sabrina M. Toye, Kelly A. Blue)

And the winner was..... Organic Alchemy Composting! 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. 

Thanks to our Business Community sponsors, a 1 year residency in the MCED incubator assistance program has been offered to Organic Alchemy Composting as the winner. The other 4 finalists are also eligible to apply for 1 year residency scholarships to launch their venture. Founding sponsorship support  for Campus Ventures Program was provided by Clark Associates, Pierce Atwood, Mr. Widgery Thomas and the Maine Office of Innovation. Key Bank has renewed their sponsorship already for 2009.

If your company is interested in becoming a sponsor of the Campus Ventures Program, please contact Steven Bazinet at 228-8525 or Sbazinet@mced.biz.
 

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Back to top       Back to News Menu   Go to Top Gun Info Page

mCaddie Inc. has been awarded a $235K Development Award from MTI

Maine Technology Institute announced the award to advance mCaddie's web-based golf technology internet platform and bring their product to the marketplace. The award is contingent upon mCaddie raising $325,768 in private funding and in kind equivalent as matching funds. Joe Migliaccio, MTI’s manager of business innovation programs, noted that the investment will provide critical support that the early-stage Maine company needs to achieve the development milestones required to successfully commercialize. William Sulinski, mCaddie’s founder, feels that the Development Award will allow his company to leverage a larger round of financing if MTI’s extended due diligence is viewed positively as they seek investors. The company is currently based at the Maine Center for Enterprise Development. The MTI press release boasts that companies funded by MTI have leveraged nearly $200 million from public and private sources and are creating jobs faster with higher wages than the average Maine company. < more >

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The Manufacturers’ Association of Maine will receive $499,605 from MTI and external matching funds totaling $621,665 to create a Maine Aerospace Alliance within the Association. The award will be used to seek out and secure contracts with prime contractors and Original Equipment Manufacturers (OEM) as well as assist companies in securing certifications and training that will strengthen Maine’s competitive position in the aerospace industry. This award follows an earlier, smaller-scale project that determined that there was significant interest from OEMs and aerospace firms to support a larger investment in this field, and the effort has potential to build on infrastructure becoming available with the closing of the Brunswick Naval Air Station.

For more information see: www.mainetechnology.org .

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   (Students in Free Enterprise)

The USM SIFE organization also resides in the MCED incubator. SIFE is a nonprofit national organization founded in 1975 that cultivates the partnership of business and higher education, to foster student communication and leadership skill development through the teaching of free enterprise principles.

OFFICERS for the 2009-2010 academic year:

John Voyer- Sam Walton Fellow

Tim Pulsoni- Co- President

Nevin Duffey- Co- President

Tyler Wells- Treasurer

Joanne Hemmond- Secretary

Jason DeCampos- Media Liaison

Jamie Adams- Recruitment Officer

USM SIFE Projects:

Long Creek Project: This is the fifth year of partnering with the Long Creek Youth Detention Center. SIFE members present a series of ten workshops at the facility to deliver information that will act as a foundation of knowledge that the residents can use in their transition out of the facility and into the work force.

JA Teaching:  This project is made possible through a partnership with Junior Achievement of Maine. Two groups of SIFE members go into local elementary and middle schools to present lesson plans established by JA of Maine to educate youth on subjects such as free market economics.

Titan Project: This project is coordinated by Junior Achievement of Maine. It is a competition among high school students from around the state who compete over the internet to establish a successful product and learn about the financial and marketing aspects behind it. The winning team is announced during the February 2009 National Entrepreneurship Week.

College 101:  College 101 is a project that connects USM SIFE with local high schools juniors and seniors. SIFE members go into high schools to inform prospective college students about the basic financial aspects of college, applying to college, and college life.

High School Business Plan Competition: In this project, SIFE members go into local high schools to educate students on how to create a business plan with the aim of encouraging aspiring entrepreneurship at the high school level.

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5 minutes with Jason Cianchette

Entrepreneur: Jason Cianchette
Business: Liquid Wireless
Liquid Wireless is a mobile lead generation company that creates data and voice leads for our advertisers using mobile marketing techniques. Our system has generated over 50,000 customer leads and helps advertisers reach the 60 million Americans who surf the web from mobile devices.

• What belief did you hold at the beginning of your career that has changed?
I originally thought that success was the result of individual efforts and now I realize that any large accomplishment requires a great team of people working together.

• What is the best advice that has been given to you?
Do everything as if it will be reported on the cover of the New York Times. I was given this advice in Boston and it is even more relevant here in Maine where everyone knows each other.

• What has been your most satisfying moment in business?
In 2000, I joined a startup called Upromise, which had a great team, lots of resources and a mission to become the largest non-governmental source of college funding in the country. I learned a great deal working for some of the best marketers in the world and the company has now helped over 1.4 million people save for college

• What was your biggest opportunity?
Three years ago the two founders of MocoSpace hired me as their first employee. Together we created the third most popular mobile website in North America, which gave me a big head start in understanding this new industry

• What was your biggest ah-ha moment?
In 2008 I was trying to decide what exactly my new startup should do. At a conference in New York, I learned about the growing demand for performance based advertising on the PC web. I then realized that there was an opportunity to jump ahead of the competition by taking this new pricing model to the mobile web.

• How did you finance your business?
I financed my business through personal savings and consulting work. Liquid Wireless is now profitable and we're growing by reinvesting our profits.

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MCED CLIENT HAPPENINGS:

Top Gun Entrepreneur, William Ashland makes gamesmanship news in Feb 8 Mainebiz with his Disaster Game start-up. Click Here for Article

Stillwater Metalworks in Bangor has teamed up with MCED graduate client, Ocean Renewable Power Co. of Portland to deploy a turbine unit off the coast of Eastport that will be the largest ocean energy device ever submerged in U.S. waters. The  demonstration project will confirm ORPC's ability to reliably generate grid-compatible tidal energy on a commercial scale with its proprietary technology. It will also allow for collection of important data on TGU performance and its interaction with the marine environment. ORPC expects to install the first full-scale, grid connected tidal TGU in Maine in early 2011.

ORPC has received a development award  to accelerate production of OCGen™ model for tidal energy from a pre-commercial phase to commercial production, in the process boosting Maine’s traditional industries as well as its emerging technologies.
Award: $285,000 Match: $1,784,535

To read more about ORPC, check out the  front page! of the Feb 21 Maine Sunday Telegram Click here to read full article.
 
Graduate Client, Becky Stockbridge of iBec Creative garnered some good exposure during National Entrepreneurship Week and her involvement in the CreateMaine event. Click here for video coverage and article
 
Top Gun graduate company, Pondera Pharmaceuticals, Inc, located in Pownal, will use its Development Award to complete the trial design and to secure University of New England School of Pharmacy (UNE-COP) Institution Review Board (IRB) and Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approval of their patent-pending combination of ultra-low-dose drugs to enhance the pain relieving qualities of the body’s own pain relievers, known as endorphins. With these drugs, moderate to severe pain can be treated from within the patient’s own body rather than by flooding it with narcotic opioid drugs that have notorious side effects and risks of abuse.
Award: $50,000 Match: $50,000 - Biotechnology sector
 
Top Gun graduate Catherine Bickford and Artascope have been very busy. With two new hires , they are gearing up to launch their direct to consumer line on May 1st via Amazon.com. Check out their products and keep updated by visiting their website!

MCED Board Member, Corky Ellis and his company, Kepware Technologies, located in Portland, will use their Development Award to expand their market to other major hardware manufacturers with the design of their first non-Windows OPC (OLE for Process Control) product. With this Award, Kepware will hire six students from the University of Maine’s Electrical Engineering program.
Award: $500,000 Match: $525,000

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MCED is pleased to announce 2 new clients

VFG Wind Turbine – Scott Moffat of Kittery (with partners Ben Brickett & Greg Govoni) Introduces a new patent pending generator for direct drive wind turbines based on the Variable Force Generator (VFG). Their windmill is modular and scalable, and can be customized . They have a prototype, and project applications from small scale residential to multi-megawatt commercial.

New Hope Products Company, Inc – Paul Joseph Shumaker Jr of Biddeford. The MOSTLIKE project is a technology that creates a new option for TV and digital device advertising. The system combines and crosses over the advertising, entertainment, on-line social networking and market data collection and sales industries. Several system innovations are going through the patenting process now.  

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Upcoming Events:

Guerilla Marketing

Friday March 12, 2010
Sponsor: Maine SBDC at CEI
Location: Wishcamper Building at USM, 34 Bedford St, Portland
Time: 9:00AM to 11:00AM
Cost: $15
Registration: To Register or more information
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Marketing Your Business

Tuesday March 16, 2010
Learn how to bring together all the elements of a good marketing plan--your marketing materials, sales strategies, and a pricing plan.
Pre-registration is required.
Sponsor: Maine Centers for Women, Work, and Community/Wendy Rose
Location: Women, Work, & Community, UMA Campus Center, Augusta
Time: 9:00 am - 12:00pm
Cost: FREE
Registration: To Register or more information
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Maine Entrepreneur's Monthly Meeting

Wednesday March 17, 2010
Maine Entrepreneurs LinkedIn Discussion Group Monthly Networking Meeting
** Usually the 3rd Wed of the month at the Cumberland Club, courtesy of Macdonald Page
Topic: TBA 
Time: 6-8 pm
Place: The Cumberland Club 116 High St, Portland <directions>
RSVP to Kirk Hill on Maine Entreprenuer’s Group LinkedIn Click Here
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Innovation & Entrepreneurship is Key to Moving Maine’s Economy Forward

Friday March 19, 2010
Presentation by Catherine Renault, Ph.D., Director of the Office of Innovation in the ME Dept. of Economic & Community Development. The 2010 Science and Technology Action Plan is a blueprint for changing the trajectory of Maine's economy. It has been developed by Dr. Renault's office and the Maine Innovation Economy Advisory Board, with input from a wide variety of stakeholders. The plan is legislatively mandated every five years, beginning in 2010.
Sponsor: A.C.E. (Assoc of Consulting Expertise)
Location: 5 Park St. Hilton Garden Inn, Freeport
Time: 7:30-10:00 am
Cost: Members-FREE/ Non-members-$20.00
Registration: To Register or more information
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Portland SCORE's Writing a Business Plan workshop

Tuesday, March 23, 2010
Sponsor: SCORE - Counselors to America's Small Business
Location: 2nd Floor, 100 Middle Street, Portland
Time: 2:00 p.m.
Cost: go to www.scoremaine.com
Registration: To Register or more information
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"Investment by the Numbers: Valuation, Terms, and Exits"
with John Burns of SEGF

Thursday, March 25, 2010
A crash course on the “numbers” of venture investing.  How do venture capitalists and angel investors value a business? What are the most important investment terms and what do they mean?  What types of exits are investors looking for? Most importantly learn how valuation, investment terms and exits are all related.

Sponsor: Maine Center for Enterprise Development & SEGF
Location: 213 Abromson Center, USM Portland Campus

Time:  12:30 - 2:30 (check in by 12:20)
Cost: $10 ( no charge to students w/ID or MCED onsite or affiliate clients

Registration: workshops@mced.biz  or 228-8524

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“Inspiring Stories of Leadership”

Wednesday, March 31
The Honorable Angus S. King, Jr. shares the amazing story of Antarctic Adventurer Sir Ernest Shackleton and other great leaders from history.
Sponsor: Bowdoin College/ Maine Development Foundation
Time: 7:30 – 9:00 a.m.
Location: Daggett Lounge (Thorne Hall), Bowdoin College, Brunswick
Register: online  click here 
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Seed Grant and Development Award Workshops

April 1, 2010
Time: 9 a.m. to 11 a.m.
Location: Abromson Center, University of Southern Maine, Portland, Maine
Directions: Click Here
Cost: No fee to attend. MTI will provide refreshments.
To register: contact Linda Adams, Program Assistant at
ladams@mainetechnology.org or 207-582-4790 x206.
Reservations are strongly encouraged to help MTI assure adequate space and seating. 
_____________________________________________________

For More Upcoming Events...

Please visit our website Click Here

MTI GRANT APPLICATION DEADLINES:  (see website )

 MTI Seed Grant Award deadlines: April 15, 2010 by 5:00pm

MTI Development Awards Application deadline: June 7, 2010 by 5pm

MTI Cluster Initiative Program deadline: follow link for updates

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Business Resource of the Month!

IBec!Creative
iBec Creative is a leading graphic and web design company that delivers innovative solutions to help businesses succeed.
Sign up for their newsletter and "iBec! Tip of the week. Get great hints for marketing your business, google analytics, newsletter mailing and more!

For more great business resources visit our website's Resource page

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For More Information on our services

Click here for information on MCED clients and graduates.

Click here for information on the Top Gun Program
Click here to request more information.
Click here for a list of our sponsors.

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The Maine Center for Enterprise Development provides an experiential learning environment to start-ups and early stage entrepreneurs for the creation and growth of quality companies through incubation, entrepreneurial development and education.   

For information, please contact Steven Bazinet, MCED President, at SBazinet@mced.biz or call him at 228-8524

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Business Assistance Provider

March 2010

February 2010

January 2010

list of 2009 L&L workshops

December 2009

November 2009

October 2009

September 2009

August 2009

July 2009
June 2009

May 2009

April 2009
Mar 2009
Jan/Feb 2009

December 2008

November 2008

October 2008
September 2008

MaineBiz article on new Executive Director - July 08

July/August 2008
Portland Press Herald article - new Exec. Director - June 08
May/June 2008
April 2008
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list of 2008 L&L workshops

ist of 2007 L&L workshops
list of 2006 L&L workshops

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

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