The Maine Summer Accelerator is dedicated to empowering student entrepreneurs. Students will have the opportunity to attend this one-of-a-kind program and live in one of two apartment complexes in downtown Portland with their cohort.
This program is powered by:

Member(s): Jennifer Long
School: Wellesley College
Mellomates is a little friend for big feelings. Our technology is used in “Berry the Bear” to send stress signals to a mobile app for parental awareness and give a child comfort while to help cope with their big feelings.
Member(s): Miran Yildirim and Joshua Varghese
School: Colby College
Dollhouse is an online furniture marketplace powered by 3D technology. Our platform “pinterestifies” the furniture shopping experience for design-oriented shoppers.
Member(s): Marjan Monfarednasab, Gyo Nakatani
School: Northeastern University
LeafGuardian is a smart thermal monitoring system powered by AI, designed to detect early signs of pressure injuries before they reach the skin’s surface. Our technology enables proactive intervention to prevent costly, life-threatening wounds, supporting caregivers, improving patient outcomes, and reducing institutional care costs.
Member(s): Ogochukwu Gold Abaneme, Vicentia Eshun, Ayodele Ogunlade, Daniel Abaneme
School: Northeastern University’s Roux Institute and other
The Maine Islands Resiliency Project is designed to help coastal communities in preparing for and responding to the growing challenges of climate change, including floods and severe storms. Through the Maine Resiliency Mobile App, we aim to provide real-time storm/flood alerts, emergency resources, and community-driven support to enhance preparedness and recovery. By merging technology with local expertise, we hope to build a more resilient, connected, and stronger Maine.
Member(s): Sanjay Krshna Rameshumar, Arhum Nadeem, and Azambek Shermatov
School: Colby College
Menyou is an AI-driven application that helps dining services predict demand and utilise feedback to improve efficiency and customer satisfaction.
Member(s): Rashaad Mirza and Abdul Haseeb Khan
School: The Roux Institute at Northeastern University and Northeastern University Oakland
We at Neurlook strive to enhance the quality of life for individuals affected by dementia. We adopt an innovative and privacy-focused approach to leverage AI to understand each person’s unique condition and offer personalized assistance.
Member(s): Breanna Ouellette
School: University of Maine Fort Kent
Peaceful Paws Cremation Services aims to ease the complex process of losing a beloved pet while becoming a trusted community partner. Our vision at Peaceful Paws is to establish ourselves as the region’s leading provider of animal cremation services, known for our prioritization of empathy and excellence.
Member(s): Emma Iordache
School: Wellesley College
Research Pathways helps high school students gain hands-on research experience and publish their work in international journals. The program focuses on key global issues related to the UN SDGs and teaches essential research and writing skills. Students receive guidance to develop their ideas, whether through policy briefs, scientific research, or other projects, turning knowledge into real-world impact.
Member(s): Han Ouyang and Peizhi Yen
School: Northeastern University’s Roux Institute
We are developing an advanced AI-powered assistant that integrates multiple agents to enhance breast cancer detection and provide personalized treatment recommendations. By leveraging cutting-edge technology, this tool aims to assist clinicians in making more accurate and timely diagnoses, ultimately improving patient outcomes and survival rates.
Member(s): Rama Krishna Chavali, Aishwarya Ravichandran, and Omkar Sanjay Sonar
School: Northeastern University’s Roux Institute
We’re building a tool that helps mute individuals communicate with anyone — without needing a translator. Using a camera and computer vision, our system can recognize hand gestures or signs and instantly convert them into words, either as text or speech.
It’s a simple idea with a big impact: giving people the ability to express themselves freely, on their own terms.
Whether it’s having a conversation with a friend, ordering at a restaurant, or asking for help — this tool turns gestures into a voice. Our goal is to make communication easier, more natural, and more inclusive for everyone.
Member(s): Arhaam Huq, Devansh Taliyan, Tawfiqul Wahid, Omar Zamir, Sithabiso Hlanze, Ashvin Afroz, Jeehan Zaman
Schools: Colby College, Boston College Pomona College, Brac University, University of Oklahoma, North South University (BD), IUB (BD)
SirKoi is South Asia’s first peer-reviewed tutor discovery platform, built to make finding the right tutor simple, transparent, and student-driven. From detailed reviews to personalized filters, we help students connect with tutors who truly fit their learning style and goals.
Member(s): Carter Friese and Dave Boku
School: Colby College
Sporos is a search engine that makes government information easy to find and understand. Whether you’re researching a law, looking for public funding, or just trying to figure out local rules, Sporos gives you clear, accurate answers—fast. No more digging through dozens of websites or reading biased reports—just one place, one search, real results.
Member(s): Magdalena Branchi
School: Bates College
Lunava offers parents a safer, more natural alternative to feeding their baby though an innovative cloth nipple design.
Member(s): Ethan Miner
School: Northeastern University
Our solution is VeriText: an assignment manager and writing platform that places students into a single-task editor, tracks detailed version history, and uses sentiment and behavior analysis to flag when a student might be using AI-generated content.
Participants will work on-site for the month of July in Portland’s up and coming entrepreneurial community at The Roux Institute providing the perfect environment for hands-on learning and innovation. The Maine Summer Accelerator will help students take their startups to the next level while enjoying one of the most scenic cities in the U.S.
Participants: Undergraduate and graduate students with startup ideas or actively building ventures. Perfect for aspiring entrepreneurs, founders, and innovators ready to take their concepts to the next level.
Applications open: November 1, 2025 – Apply here!
Information Session: November 18, 2025 – sign up here
Application deadline: February 13, 2026
Screenings (in-person or virtual): February 16 – 27, 2026
Selection Announced: March 2026
Maine Summer Accelerator dates: July 2026
Program Cost: $5,000
