What Scratchpad Accelerator does

Scratchpad Accelerator is a private, non-profit seed accelerator founded in 2015 and headquartered in Bangor, Maine. The organization runs a cohort-based program for early-to-mid-stage, growth-oriented companies across Maine and Northern New England, curating each cohort of companies at similar stages of development and delivering a custom-designed curriculum, mentor matchmaking, investor office hours (Weeks 7 and 13 of the cohort), and high-impact networking events centered on regional "centers of influence." Cohort alumni to date span Classes of 2015, 2017, 2019, 2024, and 2025, and have collectively raised more than $5M in outside capital, added thousands of customers, and created more than 25 jobs.

The product surface is service-based rather than software-based: Accelerator Program, Cohort-based Acceleration, a Mentorship Network of over 200 U.S.-based mentors with executive or entrepreneurial backgrounds, Investor Introductions & Pitch Opportunities, Networking Events, and Customer & Partner Introductions. There is no proprietary platform technology disclosed; tech stack is recorded as "Not disclosed." Delivery combines on-site cohort elements, remote check-ins, and ecosystem events.

The business model is professional services oriented. Specific program fees, equity arrangements, and participant pricing are not publicly disclosed. Revenue is most plausibly supported by a mix of corporate sponsorship (Bangor Savings Bank is the Founding Corporate Sponsor), public grants (Maine Technology Institute contributed $85K in 2019 and $120K in 2020), and any unstated programmatic fees or equity participation. Marketing and distribution channels include a direct application funnel via the website, cohort showcases, and statewide ecosystem referrals through organizations such as UpStart Maine. The organization operates as a mission-driven entity rather than a venture-backed commercial enterprise.

Name

Scratchpad Accelerator

Legal name

Scratchpad Accelerator

Website

https://scratchpadaccelerator.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2015

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Scratchpad Accelerator is a Bangor, Maine-based non-profit seed accelerator running curated cohort programs for growth-oriented companies across Northern New England, providing mentorship, investor introductions, and networking support.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Startup Accelerator Services

NAICS

Professional and Management Development Training (611430), Professional and Management Development Training (61143)

SIC

Services-Management Consulting Services (8742)

akta.pro primary industry

Accelerators & Incubators (Investor-Operated) (FSANAAAM)

akta.pro secondary industry

Entrepreneurship, Startup Incubation & Pitch Programs (EDAMAKAK)

Keywords

• Seed accelerator services
• Startup mentoring programs
• Cohort-based acceleration
• Entrepreneurial networking events
• Growth-stage company coaching

Headquarters

HQ city

Bangor

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales

Revenue model

1. Accelerator Program Services: Scratchpad Accelerator provides coaching, mentorship, networking, and educational services to growth-oriented companies through a structured cohort program. Revenue generation is not explicitly detailed in available sources.

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels2 records

Marketing channels3 records

Core offering

Scratchpad Accelerator is Maine's seed accelerator, providing cohort-based coaching, mentorship, networking, and educational services to growth-oriented companies across Maine and Northern New England. The program features a custom-designed curriculum, access to a network of over 200 mentors with executive/entrepreneurial experience, investor pitch office hours during Weeks 7 and 13, and curated introductions to customers, partners, suppliers, and advisory boards.

Product overview

Scratchpad Accelerator is Maine's seed accelerator offering a single unified accelerator program that provides growth-oriented companies with a custom-designed curriculum, access to over 200 mentors, networking opportunities with corporate partners, investor pitch sessions, and connections to customers, partners, and suppliers across Northern New England. The program runs cohorts of intentionally curated companies at similar development stages, providing regular remote check-ins and high-impact networking events. Alumni have raised more than $5M in outside capital, added thousands of customers, and created more than 25 jobs.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Accelerator Program Maine's seed accelerator program that coaches and supports growth-oriented companies across Maine and Northern New England through a custom-designed curriculum, mentorship network of over 200 mentors, networking opportunities, and investor introductions.
• Cohort-based Acceleration Intentionally curated cohorts of scalable companies at similar stages of development, providing regular remote check-ins, on-site cohort sessions, and high-impact networking events centered on centers of influence.
• Mentorship Network Access to a curated network of over 200 mentors with executive or entrepreneurial experience, providing startup mentorship and commercialization assistance to cohort companies.
• Investor Office Hours & Pitch Opportunities Scratchpad-sponsored office hours with investors during Weeks 7 and 13 of each cohort, enabling companies to practice pitches and receive feedback from people actively investing in growth-oriented companies.
• Customer & Partner Introductions Leverages a statewide approach to connect participating companies with potential suppliers, first customers, advisory boards, and other players from Maine's entrepreneurial ecosystem in advance of and during the cohort.

Quantifiable outcome

• Alumni have raised more than $5M in outside capital
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers20 records

Segments1 record

Ideal customer profiles1 record

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Two partnerships are on record, tiered minor.

• UpStart MaineminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerListed as a Proud Coalition Member, indicating Scratchpad is part of a broader coalition supporting Maine's entrepreneurial ecosystem and startup community.
• MaineminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerListed as a Proud Coalition Member, indicating participation in Maine's statewide coalition supporting entrepreneurship and startup growth.

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Broad incumbents

• Techstars: Techstars is one of the world's largest accelerator networks running cohort-based programs for early-stage startups with mentor networks and investor office hours. Scratchpad is structurally similar but operates at a much smaller, regional scale in Maine.
• Y Combinator: Y Combinator is the largest global seed accelerator, providing cohort-based programming, mentorship, and investor introductions to early-stage startups. Scratchpad mirrors this model at a smaller, regional scale focused on Maine founders.
• MassChallenge: MassChallenge is a large global accelerator running cohort-based programs with extensive mentor networks and corporate partnerships. It is comparable to Scratchpad in providing structured cohort programming and curated mentorship, though at significantly larger scale.
• Idealab: Idealab is a long-standing technology incubator that creates and funds early-stage companies with structured support. It is comparable to Scratchpad as a longer-tenured organization providing structured company-building support, though at much greater scale.

Direct peers

• gener8tor: gener8tor runs regional, cohort-based accelerator programs across multiple U.S. cities with mentor networks and investor connections. As a regionally-focused seed accelerator with structured cohorts and corporate partnerships, it is the closest scale-and-model comparable to Scratchpad.
• Maine Center for Entrepreneurs (MCE): MCE is a Maine-based startup support organization offering programs such as the Top Gun program for growth-oriented companies. It is the most direct regional peer to Scratchpad in terms of geography and target founder segment.
• Village Capital: Village Capital runs cohort-based, peer-selected accelerator programs focused on impact-oriented startups. It is comparable to Scratchpad as a cohort-based accelerator leveraging curated peer networks and structured programming, though operating at national and global scale.

Regional players

• Launch Maine: Launch Maine is a state-level initiative supporting Maine-based entrepreneurs through programming, mentorship, and community-building. It overlaps with Scratchpad's mission of growing Maine's startup ecosystem and likely shares some founder pipeline.
• Coastal Enterprises Inc. (CEI): CEI is a Maine-based community development financial institution providing capital, mentoring, and business assistance to Maine entrepreneurs. It overlaps with Scratchpad's mission of supporting growth-oriented Maine companies, though it focuses more on capital deployment than accelerator-style cohort programming.
• Greenlight Maine: Greenlight Maine is a Maine-based business pitch competition and entrepreneurship showcase. It is comparable to Scratchpad in supporting Maine founders through structured programming and visibility-building, though focused more on pitch competitions than full cohort acceleration.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/scratchpadmaine
• Facebookfacebook.com/ScratchpadAccelerator
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/scratchpad-accelerator

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Funding overview

Funding rounds2 records

Investors1 record

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Scratchpad Accelerator