CEI Ventures

CEI Ventures manages socially responsible venture capital funds. For more than 25 years, CEI Ventures has successfully identified and cultivated growth-oriented businesses that create good jobs for people living in rural towns and small gateway cities across the Northeast. We finance and help to grow businesses that pay a living wage, offer basic benefits, such as health care coverage, and provide a fair and engaging workplace with access to training programs, enabling workers to earn wage increases as their skills increase.

Over $60 million raised in five funds
Invested in 64 companies
Created 2,700 new jobs

CEI Venture’s track record demonstrates that a focus on good jobs drives good business strategy, strong investment performance and profitability. We manage balanced equity portfolios, diversified by geography, industry, stage of business development and social benefits. CEI Ventures has a history of finding innovative entrepreneurs in promising industries, assessing business opportunity and managing risk in light of social, economic and environmental trends, and bringing in other investors along the way.

As the COVID-19 pandemic unfolds, entrepreneurs are identifying ways to participate in and drive economic recovery, capitalizing on new trends and technologies created its wake. Access to capital and expertise will be critical to the growth and survival of these companies. Often staged through multiple financing, target equity investments in companies generally range from $250,000 to $1 million.

We identify entrepreneurs committed to good corporate citizenship and environmental stewardship, and each new portfolio company agrees to advance our broad ranging social goals by entering into a Social Agreement. With each investment, we bring our knowledge of socially responsible management practices, working together with our parent organization, CEI, to introduce workforce development specialists along with environmental, technical assistance, and consulting relationships.

CEI’s Workforce Solutions team serves as an intermediary, linking CEI’s lending and investment functions to the employment and training needs of people with low-to-moderate incomes.

Our Portfolio

Coastal Ventures V LP
$14.85 Million Venture Capital Fund
Vintage 2020

Managed by CEI Ventures Inc.
Brunswick, Maine
Coastal Ventures IV LP
$10.145 Million Venture Capital Fund
Vintage 2015

Managed by CEI Ventures Inc.
Brunswick, Maine
Coastal Ventures III LP
$10.135 Million Venture Capital Fund
Vintage 2011

Managed by CEI Ventures Inc.
Brunswick, Maine
Coastal Ventures II LLC
$20 Million Venture Capital Fund
Vintage 2001

Managed by CEI Ventures Inc.
Brunswick, Maine
Coastal Ventures Limited Partnership
$5.54 Million Venture Capital Fund
Vintage 1996

Managed by CEI Ventures Inc.
Brunswick, Maine

Filter Portfolio

ExitedCoastal Ventures Limited Partnership
A&B Electronics
Berlin, NH
Rapper coils for pollution control industry
Green & Environmental | Rural & Low Income Job Creation, Environmental
Coastal Ventures V LP
Aqua ViTea
Middlebury, VT - https://www.aquavitea.com/
Using only premium teas and ingredients, Aqua ViTea produces authentic, non-alcoholic Kombucha – to be enjoyed by all.
Consumer Products & Services, Green & Environmental, Natural & Organic Foods | Rural & Low Income Job Creation, Environmental, Natural Foods, Natural Products
ExitedCoastal Ventures III LP
Avia Biosystems
Norton, MA - https://www.unchainedlabs.com/
Chemical denaturation techniques for large scale protein stability studies
Biotechnology, Electronics & Instrumentation | Healthcare, Job Creation
ExitedCoastal Ventures Limited Partnership
Beacon Analytical Systems
Portland, ME - http://www.beaconkits.com/
Immunodiagnostic kits for environmental & food/feed testing markets
Biotechnology | Job Creation
ExitedCoastal Ventures II LLC
BlueTarp Financial
Portland, ME - http://www.bluetarp.com/
Commercial credit services to the building materials industry
Financial Services | Job Creation
ExitedCoastal Ventures Limited Partnership
BroadcastAmerica.com
Portland, ME
Internet streaming for broadcast radio stations
Media | Job Creation
ExitedCoastal Ventures Limited Partnership
Bush Equities dba Cuddledown
Portland, ME - http://www.cuddledown.com/
Direct markets & manufactures superior quality down products & luxury bedding
Consumer Products & Services | Rural & Low Income Job Creation
ExitedCoastal Ventures III LP
Certify, Inc.
Portland, ME - http://www.certify.com
Developer of corporate travel and expense management software
Software | Job Creation
ExitedCoastal Ventures II LLC
ExitedCoastal Ventures Limited Partnership
Chemogen
Portland, ME - http://www.chemogen.com/
Develops novel diagnostic tests for Tuberculosis
Biotechnology | Healthcare
ExitedCoastal Ventures II LLC
Chomp
Weymouth, MA
All natural treats for dogs & cats packaged as the YipYap, Sniffers & Pit'r Pat brands
Consumer Products & Services | Job Creation, Woman Owned Business, Natural Pet Care
ExitedCoastal Ventures Limited Partnership
CitySoft
Boston, MA - http://www.citysoft.com/
Enterprise software for nonprofits, educational institutions & social sector organizations
IT Services | Education
ExitedCoastal Ventures Limited Partnership
Clickshare Service
Williamstown, MA - http://www.clickshare.com/
Micro-payment aggregator for web-based digital content providers
IT Services | Job Creation
ExitedCoastal Ventures Limited Partnership
Coast of Maine Organic Products
(Marion Township ME) Portland, ME - http://www.coastofmaine.com/
Produces organically certified soils, composts, barks, mulches & fertilizers
Consumer Products & Services | Rural & Low Income Job Creation
Coastal Ventures IV LP
Constant Energy Capital
Portland, ME - http://www.constant.ai
Constant is a Portland-based fintech that provides ground-breaking, automated loss mitigation solutions to lenders including banks, fintechs and independents. Their Constant+ platform helps financial organizations reduce delinquency and loss on consumer debt by providing a self-service option for borrowers to lower their monthly debt payments or opt for alternative workout solutions. Constant received an AITech Award for Best in Consumer AI Technology in and named to the 2020 Benzinga Global Fintech Listmakers.
Green & Environmental, Financial Services | Job Creation, Woman Owned Business
ExitedCoastal Ventures Limited Partnership
Cormier Textile Products
York, ME
Converted industrial fabrics into protective sheeting, tarps, blankets, relief shelters
Consumer Products & Services | Rural & Low Income Job Creation
Coastal Ventures IV LP
CourseStorm Inc
Orono, Maine - https://www.coursestorm.com/
CourseStorm was founded in 2012, a web development firm with deep ties to educational organizations, municipalities, and non-profits. CourseStorm is a software-as-a-service (SaaS) platform for local education providers, helping them take registrations, process payments, and market classes online. CourseStorm charges small fees to both the provider and student when a registration is placed online.
Software | Rural & Low Income Job Creation, Job Creation, Education
Coastal Ventures IV LP
Culture Fresh Foods Inc.
Naugatuck, CT - http://www.culturefreshfoods.com/
Culture Fresh Foods Inc. produces plant-based milks, yogurts, and creamers.
Consumer Products & Services, Natural & Organic Foods | Rural & Low Income Job Creation, Job Creation, Natural Foods, Natural Products
ExitedCoastal Ventures Limited Partnership
CV Finer Foods
Winthrop, ME
World Harbors Marinades for cooking
Natural & Organic Foods | Rural & Low Income Job Creation, Natural Foods
Coastal Ventures V LP
Defendify
Portland, ME - https://www.defendify.com/
An all-in-one SaaS-based cybersecurity solution with 13 cybersecurity tools in 1 seamless platform backed by support and expertise.
IT Services | Job Creation
ExitedCoastal Ventures II LLC
Definition6 [fka Synaptic Digital fka The NewsMarket]
(China, India, UK) New York, NY - http://www.definition6.com/
Global multimedia communications production services & distribution platform
IT Services | Job Creation, Woman Owned Business
Coastal Ventures IV LP
Dream Local Digital
Rockland, Maine - https://dreamlocal.com/
Founded in 2009, Dream Local Digital is a growing digital advertising agency with a strong focus on social media. Dream Local delivers innovative social marketing at scale to small and medium sized businesses (SMBs) and has successfully served thousands of businesses throughout North America with online marketing campaigns focused on social media. The business is built to scale through its ResultsBuilder™ platform that combines process and technology to cost-effectively bring best of breed solutions at affordable prices.
Media | Rural & Low Income Job Creation, Job Creation, Woman Owned Business
ExitedCoastal Ventures Limited Partnership
eCopy fka Simplify Development
(UK) Nashua, NH - http://www.ecopy.com/
Develops digital document solutions for integration into business applications
Software | Job Creation
ExitedCoastal Ventures III LP
Ektron Inc.
Nashua, NH - http://www.ektron.com/
Software products and services, web content management, digital experience management
Software | Job Creation, Job Retention
ExitedCoastal Ventures Limited Partnership
EnvisionNet Computer Services
Brunswick, ME
Technical support & customer care contact center for tech-based businesses
Business Services | Rural & Low Income Job Creation
ExitedCoastal Ventures II LLC
Foreside Company
Gorham, ME
Imported home furnishings
Consumer Products & Services | Rural & Low Income Job Creation
ExitedCoastal Ventures Limited Partnership
FreeBorders fka Animated Images (Camden ME)
San Francisco, CA
Design-to-delivery graphic software solution for apparel industry
Software | Job Creation
Coastal Ventures IV LP
Genicon Inc.
Winter Park, FL - http://geniconendo.com/
Genicon (“the company”) is a leading designer, manufacturer, and distributor of disposable medical instruments used in Laparoscopic, or minimally invasive surgical (MIS) procedures.
Healthcare | Healthcare, Job Creation
ExitedCoastal Ventures II LLC
ExitedCoastal Ventures Limited Partnership
HCI Systems
Kennebunk, ME
Building Blocks facilities asset management software
Software | Rural & Low Income Job Creation
Coastal Ventures V LP
HighByte
Portland, ME - https://www.highbyte.com/
HighByte is an industrial software development company in Portland, Maine building solutions that address the data architecture and integration challenges created by Industry 4.0. We’ve developed the first DataOps solution purpose-built to meet the unique requirements of industrial assets, products, processes & systems at the Edge.
IT Services, Software | Job Creation
ExitedCoastal Ventures II LLC
HomeBistro Foods
Plattsburg, NY - http://www.dinewise.com/
Gourmet chef prepared meals for home delivery
Natural & Organic Foods | Rural & Low Income Job Creation
Coastal Ventures III LP
Hyperlite Mountain Gear
Biddeford, ME - https://www.hyperlitemountaingear.com/
Designs, manufactures and sells backpacks, tents, and accessories
Consumer Products & Services | Rural & Low Income Job Creation
ExitedCoastal Ventures II LLC
Innov-X Systems
(Australia, China, The Netherlands, Kingston NH) Woburn, MA
High performance x-ray fluorescence analyzers
Electronics & Instrumentation | Job Creation
ExitedCoastal Ventures Limited Partnership
Intellicare America
South Portland, ME
Medical contact centers network
Healthcare | Healthcare, Job Creation
ExitedCoastal Ventures II LLC
Juno Rising
Burlington, VT
Technical outdoor apparel for women under the brand name Isis
Consumer Products & Services | Woman Owned Business
Coastal Ventures IV LP
Junora LTD
Biddeford, Maine - http://www.junoraltd.com/
Junora is a new start up company involved in the manufacturing of high purity and specialty alloy sputtering targets used in various markets that utilize thin film coatings applied via vacuum deposition.
Consumer Products & Services | Rural & Low Income Job Creation, Job Creation
ExitedCoastal Ventures II LLC
Look’s Gourmet Food
Whiting, ME - http://www.barharborfoods.com/
Bar Harbor & Atlantic seafoods, meats, chowders & specialty products
Natural & Organic Foods | Rural & Low Income Job Creation
Coastal Ventures IV LP
Maine Craft Distilling
Portland, ME - http://www.mainecraftdistilling.com/
Maine Craft Distilling (MCD) produces super-premium, craft spirits in the “Yeast (East) Bayside” neighborhood of Portland, Maine.
Consumer Products & Services | Job Creation
ExitedCoastal Ventures Limited Partnership
Maine Trailer
(Auburn ME) Bangor, ME - http://www.mainetrailer.com/
Sells, leases, repairs and services storage & over-the-road trailers
Business Services | Rural & Low Income Job Creation
Coastal Ventures V LP
MedRhythms
Portland, ME - https://www.medrhythms.com/
Creators of a digital therapy platform aimed at measuring and improving someone’s ability to walk after they have experienced a neurologic injury or disease.
Healthcare | Healthcare, Job Creation
ExitedCoastal Ventures II LLC
Metrobility Optical Systems
Merrimack, NH
Optical solutions for network infrastructure
Business Services | Job Retention
Coastal Ventures III LP
Mingle Analytics
South Paris, ME - http://mingleanalytics.com/
Software product helps healthcare practitioners comply with complex and rapidly evolving Medicare quality reporting requirements
Software, Healthcare | Healthcare, Rural & Low Income Job Creation, Job Creation
Coastal Ventures IV LP
Mobile Price Card
Bangor, Maine - http://www.mobilepricecard.com/
Mobile Price Card (MPC) is a mobile application that displays prices on the screens of smartphones and tablets already on display in wireless retail stores. This alone solves many operational problems, such as eliminating the waste and inaccuracies of traditional paper price cards. The company earns revenue through essentially a SAAS model, which can be advertising supported.
Software, Electronics & Instrumentation | Rural & Low Income Job Creation, Job Creation, Environmental
Coastal Ventures III LP
Native Energy
Burlington, VT - http://www.nativeenergy.com/
Developer of green energy projects and vendor of carbon offset credits
Green & Environmental | Environmental
ExitedCoastal Ventures Limited Partnership
Navigator Publishing
Portland, ME - http://www.navigatorpublishing.com/
Publishes Professional Mariner & Ocean Navigator magazines, and Smart HomeOwner web-only
Media | Job Creation
Coastal Ventures IV LP
NBT Solutions
Portland, ME - https://www.vetrofibermap.com/
NBT Solutions is a Maine based Software as a Service (SaaS) provider of GIS mapping software for the internet service provider (ISP) marketplace. The company’s premier product, VETRO FiberMap™, is a comprehensive network mapping and fiber management solution for small and midsized ISP’s.
Software | Job Creation
ExitedCoastal Ventures Limited Partnership
New England 800 dba Taction
Waldoboro, ME - http://www.taction.com/
Provides inbound & outbound customer contact center services
Consumer Products & Services | Rural & Low Income Job Creation
ExitedCoastal Ventures Limited Partnership
New England Audio Resource
Lewiston, ME
High quality indoor & outdoor audio speakers
Consumer Products & Services | Rural & Low Income Job Creation
ExitedCoastal Ventures II LLC
NextMark
(Edmund OK) Hanover, NH - http://www.nextmark.com/
Mailing list reseach systems for the direct marketing industry
Software | Rural & Low Income Job Creation
Coastal Ventures IV LP
Ogee Inc.
Bulington, Vermont - https://ogee.com/
Ogee Inc. is a luxury, certified-organic skincare brand. The company uses premier ingredients and the latest scientific technologies to formulate organic products which appeal to the health-conscious consumer.
Consumer Products & Services | Job Creation, Natural Products
ExitedCoastal Ventures III LP
PenBay Solutions
Brunswick, ME - http://penbaysolutions.com/
GIS mapping solutions for facility management and public safety
Software | Job Creation, Public Safety
ExitedCoastal Ventures IV LP
Pika Energy Inc.
Westbrook, Maine - http://www.pika-energy.com/
Build revolutionary products to capture and manage clean power
Green & Environmental, Electronics & Instrumentation | Rural & Low Income Job Creation, Job Creation, Environmental
ExitedCoastal Ventures II LLC
RecruiterNet
Portland, ME
Projectix applicant tracking & staffing workflow software
Software | Job Creation
ExitedCoastal Ventures II LLC
RedZone Wireless
Rockland, ME - http://www.redzonewireless.com/
Wireless broadband Internet service in underserved Maine communities
Telecomuntications | Rural & Low Income Job Creation, Job Creation
Coastal Ventures IV LP
Research Enhanced Design + Development, Inc
Brunswick, Maine - https://www.reddbar.com/
R.e.d.d. develops and sells plant-based superfood energy bars
Natural & Organic Foods | Rural & Low Income Job Creation, Job Creation, Natural Foods
Coastal Ventures III LP
Rustic Crust
Merrimack, NH - http://www.rusticcrust.com/
Producer of Rustic Crust and American Flatbread brand all-natural and organic frozen pizza products
Natural & Organic Foods | Rural & Low Income Job Creation, Natural Foods
Coastal Ventures III LP
SciAps Inc
Worburn, MA - http://www.sciaps.com/
Portable analytical instrumentation company dedicated to inventing, engineering, providing, and servicing portable instruments to measure any compound, mineral, or element
Electronics & Instrumentation | Job Creation
Coastal Ventures V LP
Senscio Systems
Portland, ME - https://www.sensciosystems.com/
Senscio Systems is a virtual chronic health management company addressing the needs of individuals suffering from multiple chronic conditions. Senscio’s Ibis™ program leverages proprietary technology to provide in-home self-management combined with remote coaching for seniors and others with complex healthcare needs. Currently, 6 in 10 adults in the US have a chronic condition and 4 in 10 adults have 2 or more.
Healthcare | Healthcare, Job Creation, Woman Owned Business
ExitedCoastal Ventures II LLC
SmartPak Equine
Plymouth, MA - http://www.smartpakequine.com/
Custom packaged equine supplements, canine food, supplies
Consumer Products & Services | Rural & Low Income Job Creation
ExitedCoastal Ventures Limited Partnership
Soleras
Biddeford, ME - http://www.soleras.com/
Sputter targets & other consumables for vacuum coating industry
Consumer Products & Services | Rural & Low Income Job Creation
ExitedCoastal Ventures II LLC
Stillwater Scientific Instruments
Orono, ME
Axial-time-of-flight electron mass spectrometers
Electronics & Instrumentation | Rural & Low Income Job Creation
ExitedCoastal Ventures II LLC
Sun & Earth
http://www.sunandearth.com/
All natural non-toxic cleaning products for home & offices
Consumer Products & Services, Green & Environmental | Job Creation, Natural Products
Coastal Ventures III LP
The Gelato Fiasco
Brunswick, ME - http://www.gelatofiasco.com/
Producer of artisan Gelato using only Maine milk and all natural ingredients
Natural & Organic Foods | Rural & Low Income Job Creation, Natural Foods
Coastal Ventures IV LP
Coastal Ventures III LP
Tilson Technology Management
Portland, ME - https://tilsontech.com/
Tilson’s network deployment group designs and builds fiber and wireless networks for wireless and wireline carriers, utilities, and government agencies. Tilson specializes in ultra-dense networks like 5G small cells, with a unique capability to design, permit and build both front haul fiber and small cells on utility poles in the right of way. The company also builds and maintains tower infrastructure and leverages its technical expertise to provide due diligence and public policy consulting to investors and state and local governments.
Business Services, IT Services, Telecomuntications | Job Creation, Environmental
ExitedCoastal Ventures III LP
Wentworth Technology Inc.
Saco, NH
Producer of noise cancelling head-set systems for restaurant drive thrus
Business Services, IT Services | Rural & Low Income Job Creation