MVF Hosts Annual Portfolio Recognition Gathering
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MVF Hosts Annual Portfolio Recognition Gathering
MVF hosted its annual Portfolio Recognition event on November 13, 2023.
We were honored to have Melissa Smith, CEO of WEX, join us to share the WEX’s coming of age story. She touched on themes that resonated with all of us - the grit, resilience, and hard work it takes to grow a company in Maine, and the importance of defining the values that will lead you through tough times.
It was also inspiring to hear our board chair, Dr. Brien Walton, talk about MVF’s mission and progress in the last few years. If you haven’t already, check out our Impact Report to get the latest update.
We also presented our three annual portfolio company awards to recognize outstanding performances by a few companies. Read about each below, and congratulations to all of the winners!
Grit Award - Emily Dickinson and Mousam Valley Mushroom team
The Grit Award recognizes perseverance in the face of adversity. MVM has shown great resilience in the past year, and they have stayed focused on their mission - supplying great mushrooms to Maine and beyond.
Acceleration Award - Pat Panaia, David Halomakoff, and Kinotek team
The Acceleration Award recognizes a team that has delivered strong sales growth in the past year. Kinotek has done just this
We are excited to watch them continue to build on this momentum.
John F Burns Integrity Award - Chip Terry and Blue Trace team
The Integrity Award is presented each year in honor of MVF’s founding Managing Director John Burns, and it recognizes excellence in governance and management. This is core to MVF's philosophy because teams and Boards that are able to operate with clear and transparent communication, through both the upswings and the challenges, tend to outperform over the long haul. Chip and his team at Blue Trace demonstrate this philosophy every day.
About Maine Venture Fund
Maine Venture Fund invests in Maine businesses that have the highest potential for growth and impact. For more information, visit maineventurefund.com.
Inquiries:
Terri Wark
Maine Venture Fund
(207) 305-0006
terri@maineventurefund.com
