Courtesy / EforAll Maine
Obinna Okani
Updated: June 7, 2023
Maine business accelerator names inaugural leader
Obinna Okani, a Portland-based entrepreneur committed to supporting underrepresented individuals, has been named the inaugural director of Entrepreneurship for All Maine, a new business accelerator.
Set to launch this fall, EforAll Maine will support aspiring entrepreneurs from underrepresented groups, in line with the mission of a Lowell, Mass.-based nonprofit.
Participants will receive training and support to start, grow or sustain a business or nonprofit across a range of industries from professional services to manufacturing and technology.
“Obinna’s social engagement and entrepreneurial track record are stellar. We are thrilled to welcome his leadership, commitment to empowering BIPOC communities and ethos to our new EforAll Maine location,” said Lisa Archibald, the group's regional director
Okani currently serves as director of partnerships for the Nimble Group LLC, the Cumberland-based organizer of events, including the Maine HR Convention.
Previously, he served as community and engagement manager for the entrepreneurship team at Northeastern University's Roux Institute. Okani is also the co-founder of a lifestyle brand for Nigerian professionals and creatives worldwide called Naija Made.
“Working closely with the entrepreneurial ecosystem in Maine for the past two years, I’ve met incredible business owners and founders driven to make their dreams come true but lacking the right resources and support,” he said. “I am elated to be working with underrepresented entrepreneurs to provide them the roles and confidence they need to build businesses that can transform Maine’s economy.”
EforAll programs, offered twice a year, include regular pitch contests, community events and a year-long business accelerator offered free of charge.
To date, EforAll alumni have launched more than 14,000 businesses, which in 2022 alone provided more than 2,100 local jobs and $66 million in revenue. Besides Maine, EforAll has a presence in Longmont, Colo., Northwest Arkansas, R.I. and several communities in Massachusetts.
"We know that Mainers are industrious, highly motivated and entrepreneurial, and there are some great organizations in place to help a lot of these individuals," Meralis T. Hood, CEO of EforAll, told Mainebiz earlier this year. "EforAll is unique in that it plans to focus specifically on underserved entrepreneurs who may not be pursuing their business ideas, as it simply feels too daunting or out of reach.”
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