Maine Summer Accelerator

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:

2025 MSA Cohort

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.

Program Overview

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.

Program Details

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

The inaugural cohort worked with 30 industry experts who either facilitated workshops, were guest speakers, or mentored one of the 14 teams.

Key Program Features

  • Expert Mentorship: Be paired with a mentor for 1:1 advice and guidance throughout the eight weeks. 
  • Workshops: Participate in carefully curated sessions on topics like scaling strategies, product development, and go-to-market execution. 
  • Office Hours: Meet 1:1 with workshop facilitators and speakers to learn from their experiences. 
  • Maine Outings: Discover Portland from the footsteps of the Roux Institute! Kayak to Fort Gorges, take a boat out for some sailing, explore Peaks Island, wander the Eastern Prom and stop to play pickle ball then pick your favorite food truck!
  • Upon completion, you will receive a Northeastern Digital Badge, Level 3 to add to their LinkedIn and resumes

Key Participant Benefits

  • Cohort-Based Learning: Be part of a dynamic community of driven founders, sharing knowledge and experiences. 
  • Customized Mentorship: Gain strategic insights from mentors with a diverse range of industry expertise.
  • Access to Roux Institute’s Network:  Leverage our extensive resources, world-class facilities, and the thriving Maine entrepreneurial community in our collaborative workspaces.
  • Accommodations: Live within walking distance to your cohort and downtown Portland.

Interested?

Fill out the interest form below (Apps open in November)