CASE STUDY
Tanbark designs and manufactures non-plastic packaging solutions
Tanbark designs and manufactures non-plastic…
Tanbark aims to solve the modern problem of plastic waste by leveraging Maine’s legacy of pulp and paper, using molded fiber packaging as a replacement for rigid single-use plastic. To date, Tanbark has been involved with each domain of the Roux Institute, a true testament to the level of talent and resources the Roux Institute is able to provide companies.
This year-long accelerator program is designed for early-stage tech startups and focuses on supporting underrepresented founders. The program is free to attend, with no fees or equity requirements. Its goal is to make the startup ecosystem accessible to all.
We accept 10 startups each year to work on-site at the Roux Institute’s campus in Portland, Maine. Participants will collaborate with students, researchers, partners, and other entrepreneurs, fostering connections and synergies within our community.
The program is industry agnostic but we love seeing ventures that align with the Roux Institute’s focus areas – climate and sustainability, artificial intelligence, computer and data sciences, digital engineering, advanced manufacturing, advanced life sciences, medicine, and national security.
The program is divided into three phases:
Program Intensive (3 months)
The intensive of the Founders Residency includes a two-week orientation where you will get to know the other founders in your cohort, learn about all the support and resources available to you, and will connect with our incredible mentors. During the 3-month intensive, we meet on an almost-daily basis for support forums, networking, community-building, and workshops ranging from customer discovery and sales to hiring and equity incentive plans.
Your Story (3 months)
After the Intensive, we turn down the pace to meet only once or twice per week. This phase focuses on leadership and pitching, getting you comfortable in your role as founder and preparing you to speak to investors and other stakeholders. This phase culminates in our Venture Showcase, a pitch-event to celebrate your progress and re-connect you to our community.
Build & Scale (6 months)
The last 6 months of the program are much more hands-off. You continue to work from our space but we only meet a couple of times per month to keep everyone accountable and supported. During this phase, a lot of startups take advantage of working with or hiring our grad-students, collaborating with our researchers, and connecting with our corporate partners.
When founders join us, they receive:
Educational Programming: Get up to speed on product-market fit, fundraising, finance, legal considerations, and more, with leading subject matter experts and workshops designed to help you succeed.
Network: Tap into Northeastern University’s global network of investors, researchers, SMEs, and corporate partners to turbo-charge your growth
Mentorship: Match with expert mentors to work alongside you throughout the program
Legal counsel: Work with our Legal Fellow to receive legal guidance and tap into our law-firm partners to receive pro-bono legal advice.
Design and business services: Benefit from an extra set of hands on your team. Our designer and business analyst can take on projects for your startup ranging from a website redesign to a market analysis of your industry.
Peer Community: Join the Roux Institute’s network of 100+ portfolio companies for guidance and learnings from those that have done this before.
Workspace: Get access to the Roux Institute’s cutting-edge, open-concept campus in downtown Portland, surrounded by top researchers and experts in fields like AI, life sciences, and data visualization.
Partner Benefits: Enjoy access to over $300,000 in credits and discounts from our partners at AWS, Google, HubSpot, and more.
Algas Organics
Next-generation materials to reduce deforestation without the green premium
Brief
Brief helps businesses understand contracts fast.
Dirigo Sea Farm
Dirigo Sea Farm is a material manufacturing company creating bioplastic from Maine-grown kelp.
Drip Labs
For coffee shops and cafes, Drip Labs offers a digital loyalty program that builds customer loyalty by strengthening relationships with regulars through tools that enhance hospitality between your staff and customers, not just rewards.
Integrated Reality Labs
Integrated Reality Labs is building a technology platform that powers multiplayer games in physical spaces for young people everywhere who are looking for better ways to play and connect in real life.
Kind Mind
Kind Mind helps elementary schools address challenging behaviors and bullying with a program that teaches students to self-regulate, be kind, and feel ready to learn.
MyOrbit
For people who want to stay better connected with those who matter most, My Orbit is an app that helps nurture real, lasting relationships through personal and meaningful interactions.
Pulse
Helping last-minute planners “rally friends” to join them.
Quill & Pigeon
Greeting cards from local Maine artists delivered right to your door. Never miss a birthday, anniversary, or holiday again.
WellSort
Helping overwhelmed students and employees sort out and prioritize their wellbeing needs and connect with the resources they need to thrive.
Nina Scheepers
Maine Venture Fund
Shaun Meredith
Founder & CEO, Omnic Data
Torey Penrod Cambra
Chief Communications Officer, HighByte
Colleen McCracken
Founder & CEO, CLMC, Strategic Business Advisors
Burak Sezen
Co-Founder and Partner, The 6ixth Event Capital
Julia Trotman Brady
Partner, Valo Ventures
Michael Johnson
SVP & Chief Human Resources Officer, IDEXX
The Founder Residency program is supported by mentors, including:
Deb Mills-Scofield
Mentor in Residence, Finding Blue Lobsters & Brown...
David Engle
Formerly Founder & CEO (exited), Formerly Upright Labs
Keri Lyle
Professional Certified Coach | Leadership & Career, Birch...
Sam Dargan
Operations Director, OX Global, Ltd
Bhaskar Mukhopadhyay
Founder and CEO, 108dlt, Inc.
Stephen Lindsay
Wholesale Lobster Sales | Marketing and Growth Leader,...
Karen Gordon
Founder, CEO, Chief Innovation Facilitator, WE DESIGN THINK
Wrede Petersmeyer
Investor and Advisor; Formerly @ Airbnb, Bain, US...
The Founder Residency program features workshops from experts such as:
Ali Goldstein Norup
Head of VC & Startup Ecosystem, Americas, Google...
Giuseppe Stuto
Managing Partner, Co-Founder, 186 Ventures, User Acquisition and...
Lauren Ramirez
Tilson Infrastructure, General Counsel, Negotiations and Contracts
Laura Huang
Professor, Entrepreneur, Author of Edge: Turning Adversity into...
Rebecca Emery
Founder, Seacoast AI, Digital Marketing and Lead Generation
Lisa Frusztajer
Consultant, Coach, Educator, Get Unstuck, Executive Coaching
Conor Mack
Chief of Staff, Curate Capital, Investor AMA
Yes. The Founder Residency is for founders with ideas or technology that have at least a basic level of market and/or technical validation. The ideal candidate has a an early product out to market. Our goal is to support you as you work full-time on your venture and give you the tools you need to accelerate growth.
No. We source applicants from across the globe through a competitive process. However, the Residency is located in Maine, and we expect founders in the program to work out of the Roux Institute’s Innovation Hub in Portland, ME during the program. We believe Maine is the best place in the world to start and run a business.
We support founders with the desire and idea or technology to create a scalable technology-based business that could have a meaningful impact for millions. We prefer ventures that utilize technology aligned with the Roux Institute’s core focus areas — climate and sustainability, artificial intelligence, computer and data sciences, digital engineering, advanced life sciences, medicine, and national security.
Yes. We support for-profit ventures, non-profit ventures, and every venture in between. As long as your idea uses technology and has potential to drive significant change as outlined above, we’ll consider it.
Yes. The application considers your startup as a whole and we hope to have all your founders participate in the program.
No. You do not need to be a student or have any affiliation with Northeastern to be eligible.
Applications are closed for the Founder Residency. We will open applications for the fall 2026 cohort in spring 2026.
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