About Top Gun

In February 2009, The Maine Center for Enterprise Development (MCED) sought funding for its Applied Entrepreneurship Program aka ‘Top Gun’, to offer an innovative approach to providing training, resources and mentoring to innovation-focused entrepreneurs. The program was born from the idea that companies were unprepared for the rigors of a start-up, many lacking managerial talent to execute their plan, and were unprepared when presenting their business model to potential sources of capital. The program was designed to address two of the top reasons for early-stage failure:

• Management inexperience

• Lack in entrepreneurial culture

As an entrepreneur-centric resource for creating the connections that build businesses, we focus on the entrepreneur, not the idea. Our method of creating connections directly addresses the issue of entrepreneurial culture; and developing the entrepreneur addresses the issue of management inexperience.

In August 2009, Top Gun accepted 12 entrepreneurs who were seeking mentoring and assistance to transform their high-potential ideas into high-growth businesses. During the early days of Top Gun, certain realities quickly became apparent:

1. There is a significant interest within the region for people to connect and network around a community of common entrepreneurial interest. All they need is a reason to connect and a group to provide context for connecting.

2. The need for early-stage business and entrepreneurial development assistance is great and highly supported by both the private and public sectors.

By the conclusion of Top Gun’s first class, it was clear that the region would benefit from a resource that could expedite connectivity between these diverse groups, while simultaneously elevating the level of activity and visibility of the participants. Top Gun showcased some of Maine’s best and brightest with their innovative business ventures. Although they were mostly at different stages of development, each participant shared one common denominator – an interest in establishing and growing their venture here in Maine. All 12 participants indicated that the program was of significant value, that they would do it again and would recommend it to a close friend or relative. The program encouraged them to focus, stay proactive and forced some out of their comfort zone. Of the most value to the participants were the connections that were made at this accelerated pace and the relationships that were developed.

The programs overall success was based on its ability to attract high potential entrepreneurs, experienced mentors and private sector support. The program included 35 mentor volunteers; 19 services providers offering free legal, accounting, and market research; 38 presenters, 13 hosts for each of the 16 learning sessions, for a total of over 80 individuals and organizations. The benefits of participation were many. Participants may have come into the program as idea generators, but left better prepared to execute their now more fully-developed business strategy.

Top Gun teaches emerging entrepreneurs what they really need to know to manage and grow a successful growth-oriented business. At the outset of the program each entrepreneur is paired with a knowledgeable mentor. Throughout the program, they participate in weekly two hour evening business-building sessions led by respected professionals and successful entrepreneurs from Maine. The formal program runs for four months but we expect that the mentoring relationships will extend well beyond the confines of the program.

This is not an academic exercise. We expect participants will accomplish more in these four months than in a year on their own. The access entrepreneurs will get from our network of mentors and service providers offers immeasurable value above and beyond anything else available to them at this stage in their development.

Our 2010 session will begin in August and run through November. The schedule is as follows:

• Applications Open: May 1st

• Application Deadline: June 25th

• Offers will be made to select individuals/companies: July 6th – 16th

• Class of 2010 orientation: July 29th

• Top Gun Reception: August 5th

• Program begins: August 11th

• Program ends: November 10th

• Showcase Celebration: November 18th

2010 APPLICATIONS OPEN MAY 1 

The advisory board made up of private
sector professionals and leading entrepreneurs will carefully
consider each application looking to identify a pool of six
to twelve of the state’s “best of the best” emerging
entrepreneurs to participate in the 15-week program
that will begin on August 11.

The program will officially come to a close on November 18
when we host our "Showcase Celebration".

While the focus is primarily on innovative individuals,
there are no rigid limitations on the type
of individuals/companies that may apply.

Thanks to the generous support of our sponsors,
we are able to offer this highly successful program
at an affordable cost of $500.

CONTACT: