WATERVILLE, MAINE, January 2021 — The Harold Alfond® Institute for Business Innovation at Thomas College and Central Maine Growth Council are delighted to once again announce that they will be partnering with the Maine Center for Entrepreneurs to host the Top Gun business accelerator program in February 2021. This year’s program is being hosted online and is the third year that Thomas College and Central Maine Growth Council have hosted the program for the Waterville region.
This year’s Central Maine Top Gun program will consist of seven companies ranging from a software company to a high-end pizza dough manufacturing company. The entrepreneurs selected for participation in the program completed a rigorous application process that included pitching their business and one-on-one interviews with program staff and volunteer business leaders.
One of the program’s hallmarks is providing each business with a mentor and this activity will take place before the program begins in early February. Top Gun consists of “hands-on” training and group learning exercises taught by subject matter experts in finance, business law, marketing, and other critical aspects of business development.
“Entrepreneurship is perhaps the signal most important aspect of any economy. Being able to consistently start and grow companies is not only beneficial to the entrepreneur, it creates jobs for the region and ultimately wealth for the community,” says Executive Director of the Harold Alfond® Institute for Business Innovation, Mike Duguay. “The Top Gun program is one of the most innovative and hands-on business assistance programs that entrepreneurs have access to within Maine and we’re truly honored to be able to host it again this year.”
Duguay also said: “This year’s group of entrepreneurs are especially innovative in their respective industries. I’m personally excited to see how we may be able to help them scale their ventures as quickly as possible in order for them to establish themselves in their niche and secure market share.”
Businesses participating in the Waterville program include: HusseyMedical LLC, The Cubby, SledTRX, The Good Crust, SubLocal, Wela and The Acadian.
About Thomas College: Founded in 1894, Thomas College offers undergraduate and graduate degrees in programs ranging from business, entrepreneurship, and technology, to education, criminal justice, and psychology. Its Guaranteed Job Program, the first of its kind in the nation, is built on student’s academic, career, and leadership preparation. Thomas is also home to the Harold Alfond Institute for Business Innovation and the Center for Innovation in Education. Money Magazine recently ranked Thomas 23rd in the Country for adding the most value to their degrees, and data reported by the New York Times ranks Thomas in the top 15 percent of all college and universities in the U.S. for upward mobility of its graduates. For more information, visit www.thomas.edu or contact MacKenzie Riley at [email protected] or 207-859-1313.