Courtesy / Foothill Fuels
Foothills Fuels Bio-White Gas was named a top 10 recreational innovation of 2019 by Popular Science.
Updated: June 29, 2020
Two Maine startups get into national cleantech accelerator program
Two Maine "clean technology" companies have been admitted into a national accelerator program that has helped some of the country's leading early-stage companies in the sector succeed.
The Maine companies — Yarmouth-based BaselineES and Foothill Fuels, of Portland — will join 45 regional peers in the Cleantech Open Northeast cohort of the annual Cleantech Open accelerator program.
The program says its mission is “to find, fund and foster the most promising cleantech startups on the planet.” Since 2005, the Cleantech Open has worked with 1,600 early-stage startups, which have gone on to raise $1.2 billion and create more than 3,000 clean-economy jobs.
BaselineES, founded in Waterville in 2010 and now based in Yarmouth where it employs 16 people, is a provider of facility-related engineering design and consulting services to clients from the Good Shepherd Food Bank to the Stop & Shop and Giant supermarket chains.
Foothill Fuels is a two-person firm that makes Bio-White Gas, a low-carbon, renewable fuel for use in camping and back-country travel. The product, launched last year, was named one of the "10 most thrilling recreation innovations of 2019" by Popular Science magazine, Mainebiz reported in December.
The two Maine companies will be in a class with 15 peers from Massachusetts, 12 from New York, six from New Jersey, six from Canada, three from Pennsylvania, two from Vermont and one from Rhode Island.
Together they form the largest cohort in the history of Cleantech Open Northeast, according to a press release.
This year's program will take place virtually because of the pandemic.
The Maine Technology Institute will cover costs for both Maine participants, while the Environmental & Energy Technology Council of Maine promoted and facilitated their applications.
"We've had Maine companies advance to the national finals in years past, but more recently, it's been some time since we've even had a company accepted," E2Tech Executive Director Martin Grohman told Mainebiz.
"We refocused this year on getting some participants into the program because it's such an opportunity,and we're proud of these two companies and wish them great success," he added.
Cleantech Open Northeast works in conjunction with partner accelerators, incubators and prize competitions across the region.
'Exciting time' for Maine participants
Laura Carpenter, energy and sustainability program manager at BaseLineES and who joined the company in 2014, said the startup excited to participate in the accelerator program as it looks at how to best expand and market its Internet of Things-based solutions.
"It’s inspiring and humbling to be part of a cohort with so many passionate and innovative teams," she told Mainebiz, "and we’re grateful to E2Tech and the Maine Technology Institute for supporting our participation in the program."
Foothill Fuels, founded by Brian Kennedy and Scott Eaton, sells to customers including Outward Bound the National Outdoor Leadership School.
Kennedy told Mainebiz that their next step is to introduce its product to retail markets and scale nationwide, though that was slightly delayed by COVID-19.
"This is where the Cleantech Open comes in," he said. "We want to make sure our marketing, operations, and product development capacity is the best it possibly can be as our business begins to scale. The mentoring, pitch and business plan competitions, and — potentially — funding opportunities are helping us push our business in these key areas as we enter this exciting time."
His company's plans come amid a boom in Maine's $3 billion outdoor recreation industry.
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