Maine Aquaculture Innovation Center

What Maine Aquaculture Innovation Center does

Maine Aquaculture Innovation Center (MAIC) is a 501c3 non-profit organization incorporated under the laws of Maine and headquartered in Walpole, Maine. Founded in 1988, MAIC operates as the central convening organization for Maine's aquaculture ecosystem, connecting research institutions, educators, industry operators, and workforce development programs. Its core mission is to advance economically and environmentally sustainable aquaculture in Maine through research, education, and industry support.

MAIC's core products are educational and programmatic rather than commercial. The Aquaculture Learning Hub (learn.maineaquaculture.org) provides free, self-guided online learning modules covering topics including Introduction to Aquaculture, Bivalve Biology, Seaweed Farming, Site Selection, Shellfish Hatcheries, Safety and Seamanship, Aquaculture and Tourism, and Community Aspects of Site Selection. The organization has developed standards-aligned K-12 curricula including the Seaweed Curriculum (developed with the World Wildlife Fund) and the Bivalve Curriculum, both delivered in collaboration with Maine Agriculture in the Classroom, Maine Cooperative Extension 4-H, and Maine Sea Grant. Beyond curriculum, MAIC provides Business Incubation services, an Innovation Navigator for funding and resource guidance, and research resources including the RD&E Climate Report, Sea Scallop Hatchery initiative, and Farm Data Monitoring program.

MAIC's business model is grant-funded and partnership-driven rather than revenue-generating from direct sales. All educational content is provided free of charge (freemium pricing), and the organization sustains operations through grants (notably from Maine Technology Institute, with cumulative disclosed funding of approximately $1.92M since 2002), donations, and partnerships. Its go-to-market approach is community-led and event-driven, anchored by the annual Maine RD&E Summit and Northeast Aquaculture Conference and Exposition (NACE), plus a recurring webinar series. Customer segments are distributed across educators and students, aquaculture farmers and SMBs, researchers and institutional partners, and workforce development seekers.

Name

Maine Aquaculture Innovation Center

Legal name

Maine Aquaculture Innovation Center

Website

https://maineaquaculture.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1988

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Maine Aquaculture Innovation Center is a 501c3 non-profit founded in 1988 that provides free aquaculture education, K-12 curriculum, and business support services to Maine's aquaculture farmers, educators, students, researchers, and workforce through its Aquaculture Learning Hub and a statewide partner ecosystem.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Aquaculture Education and Research Services

NAICS

Technical and Trade Schools (6115), Aquaculture (11251), Aquaculture (1125)

SIC

Services-Educational Services (8200)

akta.pro primary industry

Aquaculture & Fisheries Operations (EDAOAOAK)

akta.pro secondary industries

Aquaculture Farm Services & Operations Support (net cleaning, diving, grading, harvesting) (AFAEAAAM), Hatchery Equipment, Systems & Technology (RAS Hatcheries, Incubation, Grading, Transport Systems) (AFAEAKAL)

Keywords

• Aquaculture education
• Workforce development
• Marine science curriculum
• Business incubation
• Aquaculture research

Headquarters

HQ city

Walpole

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, Technology or R&D

Revenue model

1. Educational Services: MAIC operates as a 501c3 non-profit providing free educational content, curriculum, and learning modules. Revenue appears to come from grants, donations, and partnerships rather than direct product sales.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

Maine Aquaculture Innovation Center (MAIC) is a 501c3 non-profit that develops and distributes free aquaculture educational content and curriculum for K-12 classrooms, post-secondary learners, and the aquaculture workforce. It operates the Aquaculture Learning Hub (learn.maineaquaculture.org) and provides business incubation, innovation navigation, and funding opportunity services to support shellfish and seaweed farmers in Maine.

Product overview

Maine Aquaculture Innovation Center operates as an educational nonprofit offering a comprehensive portfolio of products and services centered around aquaculture education and industry support. The core offerings include the Maine Aquaculture Innovation Classroom, a free online learning platform with self-guided modules covering aquaculture fundamentals, bivalve biology, seaweed farming, site selection, and business development. The organization provides K-12 curricula including the Bivalve Curriculum (shell-ebrate) and Seaweed Curriculum developed in partnership with WWF. Additional services include business incubation, innovation navigation, funding opportunities, and research resources covering farm data monitoring, climate reporting, and sea scallop hatchery operations. The organization also supports workforce development through programs like Aquaculture in Shared Waters, helping fishermen and professionals establish shellfish and seaweed businesses.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Maine Aquaculture Innovation Classroom (Aquaculture Learning Hub) A free online learning platform providing self-guided educational modules covering aquaculture topics in Maine, including shellfish biology, seaweed farming, site selection, and business development, aimed at educators, students, and aspiring farmers.
• Bivalve Curriculum (Shell-ebrate!) A K-12 educational curriculum focused on bivalve aquaculture (oysters, mussels, clams, scallops), covering biology, anatomy, hatchery processes, farming gear, ecosystem services, and business aspects, for Maine classroom teachers and students.
• Seaweed Curriculum (With a Little Kelp from Our Friends) Elementary-level educational curriculum developed in collaboration with WWF, featuring the book 'With a Little Kelp from Our Friends' and 15 topic-based sections covering seaweed biology, ecology, farming, and climate applications, distributed to Maine educators.
• Aquaculture Learning Modules Self-guided, free online learning modules covering Introduction to Aquaculture, Bivalve Biology, Seaweed Farming, Site Selection, Hatcheries, Safety & Seamanship, Aquaculture & Tourism, and Community Aspects of Site Selection.
• Business Incubation Support services for starting or expanding aquaculture businesses, including tools, funding guidance, and operational assistance for Maine shellfish and seaweed farmers.
• Innovation Navigator Resource navigator service helping farmers and aquaculture businesses find innovation-related support, tools, and funding opportunities.
• Aquaculture in Shared Waters (AQSW) Workforce training program helping fishermen, farmers, and professionals start and improve shellfish and seaweed businesses, operated since 2013 in partnership with Maine Aquaculture Association, Maine Sea Grant, and Coastal Enterprises, Inc.
• RD&E Climate Report Research, Development & Education climate report providing data and analysis on climate-related topics for Maine aquaculture stakeholders.

Quantifiable outcome

• 1000+ books distributed to Maine educators
• +1 more outcomes

Named customers8 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature3 records

Partnerships

15 partnerships are on record, tiered core, major and minor.

• Aquaculture in Shared Waters (AQSW)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2013Since 2013, AQSW has helped hundreds of fishermen, farmers, and professionals start and improve shellfish and seaweed businesses. MAIC is a core partner in this workforce development initiative providing curriculum and training resources alongside Maine Aquaculture Association, Maine Sea Grant, and Coastal Enterprises, Inc.
• Maine Aquaculture AssociationcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership in the Aquaculture Apprenticeship Program alongside GMRI and SMCC. MAA represents Maine aquaculture farmers and works with MAIC on workforce development initiatives.
• Gulf of Maine Research Institute (GMRI)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner in aquaculture apprenticeship program and creator of the Oyster Farming Simulation game used in MAIC curriculum. GMRI coordinates The Maine Aquaculturist job board.
• Southern Maine Community College (SMCC)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner in the pre-apprenticeship and apprenticeship program offering hands-on, farm-based positions at six farms across midcoast and southern Maine.
• University of MainecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerMAIC connects industry with UMaine research including the Aquaculture Research Institute, Cooperative Aquaculture, and Marine Science programs. UMaine faculty contribute to MAIC curriculum and educational modules.
• World Wildlife Fund (WWF)majorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaborated with WWF to develop the 'With a Little Kelp from Our Friends' seaweed curriculum book, distributing 1,000 copies to Maine educators. WWF provides video content on seaweed farming and climate benefits.
• Maine Sea GrantcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerKey research and education partner contributing to curriculum development. Maine Sea Grant specialists appear in educational videos and provide technical expertise for seaweed and bivalve content.
• Maine Cooperative Extension: 4-HmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerKey partner in developing and categorizing seaweed curriculum resources. Extension staff contributed activities including Kelp Forest Towers, Got Seaweed?, and Seaweed Celebrity games.
• Maine Agriculture in the ClassroommajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner in developing and distributing agricultural education resources. MAITC coordinates the Read ME Agriculture program and connects MAIC curriculum with Maine classrooms.
• Washington County Community College (WCCC)majorStrategic or Co-development PartnerWCCC offers aquaculture courses as part of MAIC's workforce development ecosystem, with flexible remote learning options covering biosecurity, applied techniques, and career exploration.
• Maine Maritime AcademymajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner in seaweed curriculum development with faculty contributor Jessie Muhlin. Offers the Mariculture Certificate program launching April 2024 for production and business skills.
• Bigelow Laboratory for Ocean SciencemajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerResearch partner featured in seaweed curriculum. Scientists like Nichole Price contribute content on seaweed and carbon cycle as well as methane reduction research.
• Maine Career CatalystminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorCoordinates the Aquaculture Pioneers Program, a certified pre-apprenticeship connecting participants ages 16+ with paid summer work experience and host employers in aquaculture.
• Northeast Aquaculture Conference & Exposition (NACE)majorStrategic or Co-development PartnerMAIC co-hosts and promotes NACE/MAS, the premier regional aquaculture conference bringing together industry, researchers, and policymakers.
• Aquaculture Innovation ClubminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerChilean aquaculture group that co-organized the 'Innovation and Sustainability for the Salmon Industry' webinar with Israeli Commercial Mission and MAIC.

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Direct peers

• Gulf of Maine Research Institute: Non-profit marine research and education organization based in Portland, Maine, focused on Gulf of Maine ecosystems. Direct peer in scope and region: co-develops aquaculture apprenticeship programs with MAIC, built the Oyster Farming Simulation used in MAIC's curriculum, and shares the same educator/farmer/researcher audience.
• Bigelow Laboratory for Ocean Science: Independent non-profit ocean research institute in East Boothbay, Maine, with active aquaculture and seaweed research programs. Comparable as a Maine-based marine research/education non-profit whose scientists (e.g., Nichole Price) contribute content to MAIC's seaweed curriculum.
• Maine Sea Grant College Program: University of Maine-based federal-state extension program supporting coastal and marine research, education, and outreach. Direct peer as a publicly-funded marine education and research entity serving the same Maine aquaculture community; partner in curriculum development and co-organizer of the Aquaculture in Shared Waters program.

Regional players

• Coastal Enterprises, Inc. Maine-based community development financial institution that supports fisheries and aquaculture businesses. Comparable as a partner in the Aquaculture in Shared Waters program; supports the same small aquaculture businesses in Maine with capital and technical assistance.
• Atlantic Sea Farms: Maine-based commercial seaweed farming company and one of the largest kelp aquaculture operations in the U.S. Comparable as a Maine-focused aquaculture entity that provides imagery and case content for MAIC educational materials; operates in the same sector MAIC supports.
• Maine Aquaculture Association: Maine-based industry trade association representing aquaculture farmers. Closely related organization serving the same Maine aquaculture community; works jointly with MAIC on workforce development, apprenticeship programs, and the NACE/MAS conference.
• Mook Sea Farm: Maine-based family-owned oyster and clam farm. Regional peer as a Maine aquaculture operator featured in MAIC's educational materials; comparable only at the operating level, but representative of the type of farm that benefits from MAIC's business incubation services.

Broad incumbents

• Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution: Largest private non-profit ocean research, engineering, and education organization in the U.S. Comparable as a non-profit marine research/education entity, but operating at substantially larger scale with a broader geographic and disciplinary mandate.
• New England Aquarium: Major non-profit aquarium and marine education institution based in Boston. Broad incumbent in marine science education and outreach; comparable in mission (public marine education) and non-profit model, though focused on consumer-facing exhibits rather than industry workforce development.
• NOAA Sea Grant (National): National network of 34 university-based programs supporting coastal and marine research, extension, and education. Direct peer in the aquaculture extension and education mission, with each state Sea Grant program operating similarly to MAIC's educator/farmer support role at the state level.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks7 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/@maineaquacultureinnovation9389
• Facebookfacebook.com/maineaqua
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/maine-aquaculture-innovation-center
• Instagraminstagram.com/aquaculture_innovation_center/?hl=en

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles9 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds7 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 Maine Aquaculture Innovation Center