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February 4, 2022

Top Gun names six startups for regional competition in L/A

Mandy McDonald Kerfuffle Fiber Farm Mandy McDonald of Kerfuffle Fiber Farm will be one of the contestants in the LA Cohort of Top Gun.
By Peter Van Allen

The season for pitch competitions is fast approaching, and the six competitors for the Top Gun’s Lewiston-Auburn program were announced Friday.

Top Gun is an annual program for competitively selected entrepreneurs that combines mentoring with high- impact weekly learning sessions held in Portland, Bangor, Lewiston/Auburn, and Waterville. Since 2009, more than 200 entrepreneurs have gone through the program.

The LA Cohort of Top Gun will feature the following.

All Speed Tech Education, with founder Elizabeth Pajak, helps individuals become comfortable and confident using tech, with learning provided at the user's pace.            

Malik Hall
Bates College
Malik Hall of Teach2Move

Teach2Move, with founders Malik Hall, Katrina Hall, and Jamier Hall, is a seven-week program for schools that supports the social emotional needs of athletes across academics and athletics.  

Black Diamond Detailing, with founders Abdirahman Saeed and Abdinur Mohamed, offers auto detailing on the go for people with busy lives. 

The Maine Event Brew Tours & Shuttle, with founders Diana DeJesus and Robert Washington, offer unique, curated brew tour experiences in Androscoggin and Oxford counties. 

Deals Everywhere, with founder Nicholas Danforth, provides residents an easy app for finding local deals, while promoting local businesses.

Kerfluffle Fiber Farm, with founder Mandy McDonald, has the one-of-a-kind Hooded Infinity Scarf as the premier product from their growing fiber arts line. 

“Our cohort is composed of driven entrepreneurs with businesses that contribute to the quality of life and economy of the region. We love this program and investing time, mentoring, and support into growing their businesses. We are looking forward to the next 4 months and to the regional showcase and pitch-off in May," said Shanna Cox, president and CEO of the Lewiston Auburn Metropolitan Chamber of Commerce, which announced the competitors along with the Maine Center for Entrepreneurs, which organizes Top Gun.

The LA Cohort is supported by the cities of Auburn and Lewiston, as well as Munka Coworking.

About Top Gun and the Maine Center for Entrepreneurs

Entrepreneurs selected for each region completed an application process that included submitting a pitch deck, pitching their business, and one-on-one interviews with program staff. 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.

Top Gun is sponsored statewide by Bangor Savings Bank and supported by the Maine Department of Economic and Community Development, partner economic development organizations, and by local businesses, corporate and non-profit sponsors and dozens of volunteer advisors and mentors around the state. Additionally, the Maine Technology Institute has provided a $25,000 cash prize to be awarded at a final statewide Showcase pitch-off to be held in May 2022. 

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