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.
Social Agreement
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
$21.421 Million Venture Capital Fund
Vintage 2021Managed by CEI Ventures Inc.
Brunswick, Maine - Coastal Ventures IV LP
$10.145 Million Venture Capital Fund
Vintage 2015Managed by CEI Ventures Inc.
Brunswick, Maine - Coastal Ventures III LP
$10.135 Million Venture Capital Fund
Vintage 2011Managed by CEI Ventures Inc.
Brunswick, Maine - Coastal Ventures II LLC
$20 Million Venture Capital Fund
Vintage 2001Managed by CEI Ventures Inc.
Brunswick, Maine - Coastal Ventures Limited Partnership
$5.54 Million Venture Capital Fund
Vintage 1996Managed by CEI Ventures Inc.
Brunswick, Maine
Coastal Ventures V LP
88 acres
Dorchester, MA - http://www.88acres.com/88 Acres was founded by husband-and-wife team, Nicole Ledoux and Rob Dalton, in 2012. Rob, who has a severe nut allergy, ended up in the hospital during the couple’s fourth date when his food was cross contaminated with nuts. At this time, Nicole, who grew up on an 88-acre farm in Massachusetts and had an appreciation for food, saw an opportunity to create high quality, allergen free food products. The company has developed several products including snack bars, protein bars, butters, and granola using seeds as the base rather than nuts which are often used.
ExitedCoastal Ventures Limited Partnership
A&B Electronics
Berlin, NHRapper coils for pollution control industry
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.
ExitedCoastal Ventures III LP
Avia Biosystems
Norton, MA - https://www.unchainedlabs.com/Chemical denaturation techniques for large scale protein stability studies
ExitedCoastal Ventures Limited Partnership
Beacon Analytical Systems
Portland, ME - http://www.beaconkits.com/Immunodiagnostic kits for environmental & food/feed testing markets
ExitedCoastal Ventures II LLC
BlueTarp Financial
Portland, ME - http://www.bluetarp.com/Commercial credit services to the building materials industry
Coastal Ventures V LP
BlueTrace
Castine, ME - https://www.blue-trace.com/Digital Shellfish Tagging, Traceability & Compliance. BlueTrace is the only tagging, traceability, and compliance technology designed specifically for the shellfish industry. Our mobile solutions enable organizations big and small to eliminate redundant data entry, streamline operations, and comply with regulations.
ExitedCoastal Ventures Limited Partnership
BroadcastAmerica.com
Portland, MEInternet streaming for broadcast radio stations
ExitedCoastal Ventures Limited Partnership
Bush Equities dba Cuddledown
Portland, ME - http://www.cuddledown.com/Direct markets & manufactures superior quality down products & luxury bedding
ExitedCoastal Ventures III LP
Certify, Inc.
Portland, ME - http://www.certify.comDeveloper of corporate travel and expense management software
ExitedCoastal Ventures II LLC
ExitedCoastal Ventures Limited Partnership
Chemogen
Portland, ME - http://www.chemogen.com/Develops novel diagnostic tests for Tuberculosis
ExitedCoastal Ventures II LLC
Chomp
Weymouth, MAAll natural treats for dogs & cats packaged as the YipYap, Sniffers & Pit'r Pat brands
Coastal Ventures V LP
Circa
Brunswick, ME - https://www.wearecirca.com/Circa is a mobile and web-based platform that reimagines the way we pay rent, prioritizing choice, convenience, inclusion, and respect. It addresses the need for renters to have options beyond paying late under threat of eviction, which is a challenge for approximately 30% of US households that rent. Circa enables residents to easily pay rent on a flexible schedule so that they are able to pay in full and on time every month. For property owners, Circa simplifies rent collection, increases on-time rent and arrears collection, and improves resident relations.
ExitedCoastal Ventures Limited Partnership
CitySoft
Boston, MA - http://www.citysoft.com/Enterprise software for nonprofits, educational institutions & social sector organizations
ExitedCoastal Ventures Limited Partnership
Clickshare Service
Williamstown, MA - http://www.clickshare.com/Micro-payment aggregator for web-based digital content providers
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
Coastal Ventures IV LP
Constant Energy Capital
Portland, ME - http://www.constant.aiConstant 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.ExitedCoastal Ventures Limited Partnership
Cormier Textile Products
York, MEConverted industrial fabrics into protective sheeting, tarps, blankets, relief shelters
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.
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.
ExitedCoastal Ventures Limited Partnership
CV Finer Foods
Winthrop, MEWorld Harbors Marinades for cooking
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.![Definition6 [fka Synaptic Digital fka The NewsMarket]](https://www.ceimaine.org/wp-content/uploads/2015/10/definition6-e1461159504961.png)
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
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.
ExitedCoastal Ventures Limited Partnership
eCopy fka Simplify Development
(UK) Nashua, NH - http://www.ecopy.com/Develops digital document solutions for integration into business applications
ExitedCoastal Ventures III LP
Ektron Inc.
Nashua, NH - http://www.ektron.com/Software products and services, web content management, digital experience management
ExitedCoastal Ventures Limited Partnership
EnvisionNet Computer Services
Brunswick, METechnical support & customer care contact center for tech-based businesses
ExitedCoastal Ventures II LLC
Foreside Company
Gorham, MEImported home furnishings
ExitedCoastal Ventures Limited Partnership
FreeBorders fka Animated Images (Camden ME)
San Francisco, CADesign-to-delivery graphic software solution for apparel industry
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.
Coastal Ventures V LP
Good to Go Inc.
Kittery, ME - https://goodto-go.com/Good to Go Inc. is a camping food business started by award winning chef, Jennifer Scism, and her husband, David Koorits in 2014. The company is based in Kittery, Maine and operates out of a converted house on Route One. Jennifer is a gourmet chef who founded and ran a Michelin-starred restaurant in NYC. She also won TV show, Iron Chef, with the first-all female team in 2005, beating celebrity chef, Mario Batali.
ExitedCoastal Ventures II LLC
ExitedCoastal Ventures Limited Partnership
HCI Systems
Kennebunk, MEBuilding Blocks facilities asset management software
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.
ExitedCoastal Ventures II LLC
HomeBistro Foods
Plattsburg, NY - http://www.dinewise.com/Gourmet chef prepared meals for home delivery
Coastal Ventures III LP
Hyperlite Mountain Gear
Biddeford, ME - https://www.hyperlitemountaingear.com/Designs, manufactures and sells backpacks, tents, and accessories
ExitedCoastal Ventures II LLC
Innov-X Systems
(Australia, China, The Netherlands, Kingston NH) Woburn, MAHigh performance x-ray fluorescence analyzers
ExitedCoastal Ventures Limited Partnership
Intellicare America
South Portland, MEMedical contact centers network
ExitedCoastal Ventures II LLC
Juno Rising
Burlington, VTTechnical outdoor apparel for women under the brand name Isis
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.
ExitedCoastal Ventures II LLC
Look’s Gourmet Food
Whiting, ME - http://www.barharborfoods.com/Bar Harbor & Atlantic seafoods, meats, chowders & specialty products
Coastal Ventures IV LP
Maine Craft Distilling
Portland, ME - http://www.mainecraftdistilling.com/
ExitedCoastal Ventures Limited Partnership
Maine Trailer
(Auburn ME) Bangor, ME - http://www.mainetrailer.com/Sells, leases, repairs and services storage & over-the-road trailers
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.
ExitedCoastal Ventures II LLC
Metrobility Optical Systems
Merrimack, NHOptical solutions for network infrastructure
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
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.
Coastal Ventures III LP
Native Energy
Burlington, VT - http://www.nativeenergy.com/Developer of green energy projects and vendor of carbon offset credits
ExitedCoastal Ventures Limited Partnership
Navigator Publishing
Portland, ME - http://www.navigatorpublishing.com/Publishes Professional Mariner & Ocean Navigator magazines, and Smart HomeOwner web-only
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.
ExitedCoastal Ventures Limited Partnership
New England 800 dba Taction
Waldoboro, ME - http://www.taction.com/Provides inbound & outbound customer contact center services
ExitedCoastal Ventures Limited Partnership
New England Audio Resource
Lewiston, MEHigh quality indoor & outdoor audio speakers
ExitedCoastal Ventures II LLC
NextMark
(Edmund OK) Hanover, NH - http://www.nextmark.com/Mailing list reseach systems for the direct marketing industry
Coastal Ventures V LP
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.
Coastal Ventures V LP
OurPeople
Portland, ME - https://www.ourpeople.com/en-us/OurPeople was founded in 2015 by Ross McCaw in Bristol, UK with its US headquarters in Portland, Maine. The company provides software communications systems for hourly workers via phone, email, and text. Businesses have a hard time communicating with hourly workers about timely information such as schedules, company news, and surveys. OurPeople allows managers to make quick mass texts to select groups of employees or the whole company.
ExitedCoastal Ventures III LP
PenBay Solutions
Brunswick, ME - http://penbaysolutions.com/GIS mapping solutions for facility management and 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
ExitedCoastal Ventures II LLC
RecruiterNet
Portland, MEProjectix applicant tracking & staffing workflow software
ExitedCoastal Ventures II LLC
RedZone Wireless
Rockland, ME - http://www.redzonewireless.com/Wireless broadband Internet service in underserved Maine communities
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
Coastal Ventures V LP
RockStep Solutions
Portland, ME - https://www.rockstepsolutions.com/RockStep’s flagship “Climb™” software was trademarked and targeted to pharmaceutical companies to use for improving drug development processes. Climb is a cloud-based collaboration LIMS for in vivo study operations and data management. Its ease of use and configurability makes it ideal for in vivo study management for Biotechs, Pharma, Contract Research Organizations, and Academia. Our comprehensive Climb 2.0 software solution manages, tracks, and logs all aspects of in vivo research, aggregating and harmonizing data for on-demand access.
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
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
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.
ExitedCoastal Ventures II LLC
SmartPak Equine
Plymouth, MA - http://www.smartpakequine.com/Custom packaged equine supplements, canine food, supplies
ExitedCoastal Ventures Limited Partnership
Soleras
Biddeford, ME - http://www.soleras.com/Sputter targets & other consumables for vacuum coating industry
ExitedCoastal Ventures II LLC
Stillwater Scientific Instruments
Orono, MEAxial-time-of-flight electron mass spectrometers
ExitedCoastal Ventures II LLC
Sun & Earth
http://www.sunandearth.com/All natural non-toxic cleaning products for home & offices
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
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.
ExitedCoastal Ventures III LP
Wentworth Technology Inc.
Saco, NHProducer of noise cancelling head-set systems for restaurant drive thrus