LEWISTON — The Maine Center for Entrepreneurs and its partners, the Lewiston Auburn Metropolitan Chamber of Commerce and the Harold Alfond Institute for Business Innovation at Thomas College, recently announced the businesses selected for the Top Gun 2023 Class.

Beginning with 12 companies in 2009, over the years the Top Gun program has worked with over 300 Maine entrepreneurs to launch, grow and scale their companies. The entrepreneurs selected went through a rigorous and competitive selection process that included pitching their business and one-on-one interviews.

Before the program begins in early February, participating entrepreneurs will be matched with a mentor. Over the course of the 15-week program, staff and mentors will guide them through hands-on training and group learning exercises taught by subject matter experts in finance, business.

This year’s group of Top Gun entrepreneurs from Lewiston and Auburn are:

A & I indoor facility, Ibrahim Mohamed and Abdikadir Hassan

Activate Funding, Kathryn Dutile

Botanical Kitchen, Karina Hines

FKL Cleaning Service and Sells, Filipe Lema

Handitech, Narcisse Zo’o Evina

OneDot Solutions, Katie Streeter

Shred Electric, Nick Planson

The Sleep NP, Carrissa Hankins

Unbreakable Health and Fitness, Aaron Gould

US Oceans, Wayne Oxton

Top Gun is sponsored and supported by the Maine Technology Institute, Maine Department of Economic and Community Development, partner economic development organizations, and by local businesses, corporate and nonprofit sponsors and dozens of volunteer advisers and mentors around the state. Additionally, the Maine Technology Institute will provide a $25,000 cash prize to be awarded at a final statewide showcase pitch-off in May 2023.