This year's Top Gun contestants cover IT, electric boats and kimchi
PHOTO / COURTESY, TEMO USA
Temo USA in Portland, the first U.S. subsidiary of French electric motor maker Temo, was selected for the 2025 Top Gun class.
From information technology to kimchi to electric boats, 22 entrepreneurs were selected from among 24 applicants for the 2025 Top Gun class.
Top Gun is a program of the Maine Center for Entrepreneurs in Portland, along with the Upstart Center for Entrepreneurship in Orono and the Northern Maine Development Commission in Caribou.
Beginning in 2009 with 12 companies, the Top Gun program has worked with over 370 Maine entrepreneurs across the state to launch and grow their startups.
For the 2024 class, 41 entrepreneurs were selected from 57 applicants.
The numbers are down this year because fewer regions are participating, Laurie Johnson, Maine Center for Entrepreneurs’ program manager, told Mainebiz.
“Last year we were hosting Top Gun in five regions and this year we are hosting in three,” she said. “Every few years some regions decide to take a year off to let a bit of demand in an area build up.”
The three regions are Portland, Machias and Bangor.
Waterville and Lewiston/Auburn are taking a break in order to re-engage after building up some demand in their communities.
“Another region we have worked in, that has been on hiatus, but we have been in discussion about re-engaging with in 2026, is Rockland,” she said. “We choose regions to work with based on regional interest and partnerships available in the area.”
Bangor
Bangor’s participants include Bytesum Technologies and Red Kettle Foods.
Established by Austin Wickett, Bytesum Technologies is an information technology services company specializing in computer repair, network services and IT-related education training for residential homes and small and medium-sized businesses.
Ger Liang Tysk is the chef and owner behind Red Kettle Foods and its production of kimchi. Naturally fermented in Belfast, the kimchi and pickles bring fresh Maine ingredients and Asian fermentation traditions together, handmade in small batches, seasoned with Maine sea salt and slow-fermented, according to its website.
Additional Bangor participants are:
- Buba OG LLC, Jessie Muhlin
- Chickadee Facilitation, Meg Hegemann
- Haymay Creamery, Kate Turcotte
Machias
Machias participants will include Battambang Bistro, founded by Christina Khinas a Cambodian family business offering frozen Cambodian goods shipped to the door.
Another Machias participant will be Holly Smevog’s HMS Career Coaching, which helps people advance their careers and navigate career change. Smevog is an occasional contributor to the Mainebiz Ask ACE column.
The other Machias participants are:
- Dennys River Homes, George McBride
- Gin Majka, Gin Majka
- Great Wass Shellfish, Kyle Pepperman
- Kelly Hinkle, Kelly Hinkle
- Theater of Dice LLC, Ambrosia Ross
Portland
Oysters and electric boats are among the enterprises selected for the Portland cohort.
Virginia Shaffer’s Lady Oyster Tours and Tastings, in Phippsburg, was founded in 2024 as an "oyster-centric" food tour company, including oyster tastings and hands-on oyster farm tours.
Nicholas Steenberg is the manager of Temo USA, which opened in late 2024, with a sales office in Portland and warehouse space in Scarborough, as the first U.S. subsidiary of the French maker of electric boat motors.
Additional Portland participants are:
- CellField Technologies Inc., Mitch Nachtigall
- K.Becker, Kimberly Becker
- Life Ideals, Karen Lane
- Maine Canned Fish, Erika Colby, Joshua Scherz
- Mama Mia Making, Rory Nickerson
- New Approaches, Hannah Curtis
- Peace House Studio, Nick Bergmann
- Seafood Mama, Heather Moretti
“These individuals represent the diverse spirit of innovation that is driving the future of our state’s economy,” said Johnson. “The 15-year-old Top Gun program provides an invaluable opportunity for entrepreneurs to not only refine and test their business ideas but also gain critical skills, mentorship and resources to bring their ventures to life.”
The competitive selection process included completing an online application and pitching their business at an interview.
Over the course of the 15-week program, staff and mentors will guide participants through “hands-on” training and group learning exercises taught by subject matter experts in finance, business and marketing.
Top Gun is sponsored and supported by the Maine Technology Institute, Maine Department of Economic and Community Development, Pierce Atwood, partner economic development organizations, local businesses, corporate and nonprofit sponsors and dozens of volunteer advisors and mentors around the state.
Established in 1997, Maine Center for Entrepreneurs has accelerated the growth of hundreds of businesses and established a mentor network of over 300 members.
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