Scratchpad Accelerator wraps fifth cohort focused on food and aquaculture; graduation event planned for Startup Maine Week

Lisa Libertore, program manager for Scratchpad Accelerator, updated MXG participants on the accelerator’s fifth cohort and said Scratchpad has operated for 10 years and pivoted to a virtual model during the pandemic. She noted partners and funders, including MTI, Bangor Savings Bank and the Maine Office of Business Development (DCED support referenced earlier by another speaker), and said the program provides one‑on‑one consulting, mentorship, financial modeling workshops and investor hours with local investor groups.

Libertore described the 2025 cohort companies: Naughty Sister Sea Farm (female‑owned oyster farm seeking a captain and commercial growth), Singing Pastures (charcuterie sourcing from pasture‑based farms), Watermelon Pie (recipe and cooking community platform), and p3rd Earth (formerly Paramount Products), a packaging company focused on regenerative packaging intended to reduce ocean pollution. She said Scratchpad leverages partners such as Maine Angels and Maine Venture Fund for investor meetings and Sebring Reed for financial modeling workshops.

Libertore invited MXG members to a Scratchpad Accelerator celebration during Startup Maine Week on May 20 from 12:00 to 1:30 p.m. "Please consider coming to our celebration of entrepreneurship," she said, and asked network members to help spread the word.

Libertore said Scratchpad is seeking additional funding and sponsorships to continue running cohorts; Bangor Savings Bank has been a continuing sponsor. She said Scratchpad is evaluating future cohort timing and fundraising to determine the next start date.