Maine's leading food, beverage & seafood accelerator for scaling brands.
MCE's Cultivator program is a year-long, hands-on accelerator designed to help established food and beverage companies scale to the next level. Each business is paired with a dedicated team of industry experts who work alongside them to assess strengths, identify gaps, and create a prioritized, trackable strategic plan. Throughout the year, participants benefit from targeted coaching and mentoring, skill-building workshops, interactive webinars, and technical trade support—equipping them with the tools, insights, and connections to grow with confidence.
Key Program Elements
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Receive an in-depth evaluation of your company with a tailored action plan to guide your growth. Assessment and strategic growth areas include sales & marketing, finance, operations, and building out your team. Each company is paired with a dedicated project manager to guide the process and create a customized plan that addresses specific challenges and goals.
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Each company is supported by an advisory team of industry experts who conduct an in-depth company review and provide on-going support throughout the year.
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MCE’s food industry expertise spans multiple channels, including foodservice, grocery, retail, and eCommerce. Our consultants and industry leaders bring years of experience in operational efficiencies; financial acumen regarding COGs, logistics, and distribution; and strategies for successful market expansion and growth. Funding is available for additional technical assistance projects.
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Sharpen your skills through targeted workshops, webinars and food trend reports. Join a supportive community of Maine entrepreneurs—collaborating,
sharing insights and best practices, and growing value-added brands together
What Our Clients Are Saying
“Engaging the advisory team from MCE is simply the best thing that I have ever done for my company. The process pointed out issues with our business (both known and unknown), provided us with possible solutions, and brought our work team closer together. We are already implementing suggestions from MCE.
If you are thinking of partnering with MCE, DO IT! It is the best thing that ever happened to Spartan LLC.”
- Ken Curtis Sparta, Spartan Sea Farms
"The MCE Cultivator program helped build our sales and we're seeing significant growth in the NYC area. MCE helped with sales strategy, operations, capacity planning, and KPIs. It’s great to know someone has our backs."
- Sarah Speare, Tootie’s Tempeh, Inc.
"We are miles ahead of where we were, thanks to the Cultivator Program. We were able to get a different perspective of our business that really opened our eyes. MCE was also instrumental in helping us get the funding needed to execute on our plan."
- Christopher Campbell, Maine Cap N' Stem
Is the Cultivator Program
Right for You?
Yes - if you:
Have built a strong value-added food brand
Operate with a scalable business model
Are ready to accelerate your growth and expand into new markets
“Our year-long Cultivator program is designed to help both emerging and established brands refine their strategy, scale production, and ultimately achieve their goals. Throughout the year, industry experts serve as an advisory board, providing valuable insight, experience, and critical feedback. Additionally, your dedicated project manager will act as a facilitator and accountability coach, ensuring you allocate the necessary time to work on your business rather than just in it.” ~ Naomi Neville, Program Manager
Ready to Learn More?
Applications for this 12-month program are
accepted on a rolling basis.
