Founder Flex Program

The Founder Flex Program is a free, customized, one on one support program for blue economy startups. Designed around each company’s specific objectives, it can help you address a range of challenges as you look to design, build, or expand your venture.

This is not a cohort-based program. Instead, we offer flexible timing and rolling applications—allowing us to provide meaningful support outside of our structured programs and help you address time-sensitive needs.

You will receive direct mentorship, access to industry-leading expertise from the Gulf of Maine Research Institute (GMRI), and curated resources tailored to accelerate your company forward.

This program is ideal for blue economy entrepreneurs who are:

• Exploring Maine as a business location: Learn about opportunities and resources for starting or relocating your company.
• Navigating the funding landscape: Get insights into funding options, grants, and investment opportunities.
• Seeking regulatory and market guidance: Understand industry regulations, customer discovery strategies, and market entry pathways.
• Leveraging R&D resources: Tap into our network of regional research and development facilities.

Program Requirements

Who can apply?

• At least one full-time founder.
• A focus on the blue economy and evidence of product-market fit, scaling potential, and sustainable impact.
• Relevance or connection to the Gulf of Maine region (does not need to be located in the region but must have technical relevance and potential for customers).

Focus Sectors

The Founder Flex Program program supports businesses in the following sectors:

• Seafood: Solutions that enable the production, traceability, and marketing of fish, kelp, shellfish, and under-utilized species.
• Climate: Technologies offering solutions in the areas of ocean-related carbon reduction, sequestration, adaptation, and mitigation.
• Ocean Data: Hardware and software innovations that improve operations, forecasting, and decision-making for ocean-based users.
• Sustainable Oceans: Solutions that monitor water quality, improve ecosystem health, and protect coastal access and infrastructure.
• Ocean Energy: Software, data, monitoring, analysis, and services related to the implementation of renewable energy, energy efficiency, or electrification.
• Other Ocean Products: Products and technologies sustainably derived from ocean resources with broader applications.

How to Apply

Submit a Founder Flex Program Application, where you’ll provide details about your business and outline the specific objectives you aim to achieve during the program.

FAQs

Is this in person or virtual?

The program is virtual with the possibility to schedule in-person meetings if your team is local to Portland, Maine.

How is the program organized and What is the time commitment of the program?

Each founder is paired with a Gulf of Maine Ventures mentor, who will assess support needs and serve as the primary point of contact for coordinating meetings with GMRI technical advisors and facilitating connections with external partners.

To maximize the impact of these sessions, participants are expected to prepare materials and information in advance to ensure productive discussions with experts.

Is funding provided as part of the program?
No, this program does not offer grant or equity funding. However, participants receive expert guidance and support at no cost, thanks to our funding partners: Economic Development Administration, Builders Initiative, and Small Business Administration.