How We Invest

For nearly 30 years

we have been investing in companies that generate positive social, environmental and financial returns in across the country that have been overlooked by traditional VC firms, with a focus on the Northeast.

Our experience demonstrates that great business ideas aren’t limited by location, gender or race and that investing in good jobs is a win for both the company and its employees. 

We focus our investments on dynamic, socially minded companies that exhibit a dual potential for high growth and positive community impact, particularly those that:

Create good jobs and wealth building opportunities for workers

with an emphasis on jobs targeted to people with low-to-moderate incomes, in alignment with CEI’s Good Jobs Framework.

Are located in markets with more limited access to equity capital

including rural areas and small cities.

Are led by individuals underserved

by the current equity markets, including people of color, women and veterans.

Increase the availability of environmentally sustainable products/services

that preserve natural resources, reduce waste/pollution or increase the adoption of renewable energy/clean technology.

Strong investment candidates will also exhibit:

Create good jobs and wealth building opportunities for workers

with an emphasis on jobs targeted to people with low-to-moderate incomes, in alignment with CEI’s Good Jobs Framework.

Prospects for attractive returns

with an appealing market opportunity, realistic projections, appropriate valuation, and pragmatic exit plan.

A competitive advantage

through proprietary interest in technology, intellectual property, distribution system or other unique attribute.

A deep commitment to social benefits

including quality employment opportunities and environmental stewardship. Each portfolio company is required to sign a social agreement, securing a commitment to promote CEI’s mission.

A viable exit plan

within a reasonable time frame.

Learn more about Venture Capital

Through our funds, CEI Ventures provides high-impact investments to growth businesses that otherwise lack access to venture capital investment and may not have connections to advisors who can guide them toward a financial product that is right for their company. Unlike traditional lenders, CEI Ventures provides equity investments, which differ significantly from amortizing term loans.

To assist prospective and current investees in accessing our financial products, we offer an annual in-depth workshop (in-person, remote, or hybrid) that covers:

  • The venture capital fund’s structure
  • The financial products offered
  • The utility of financial products for specific business circumstances
  • The methods of assessing investee businesses’ financial health,
  • Investment parameters
  • Investment exit strategies, and
  • The investment fund’s Good Jobs strategy, which stresses the importance of paying workers a living wage, offering basic benefits including health care coverage and paid leave, and providing a fair and engaging workplace with access to training programs that enable workers to earn wage increases and improve skills. CEI Ventures places priority on investing in businesses that incorporate these principles

To inquire about our annual workshop, please contact us via the button below.

Talk to Us About Your Project or

Reach Out About Our Annual Workshop

Our Portfolio

Coastal Ventures V LP Coastal Ventures IV LP Coastal Ventures III LP Coastal Ventures II LLC Coastal Ventures Limited Partnership

Coastal Ventures V LP

The “Good Jobs Fund”

Coastal Ventures V LP

Vintage:

2021

Fund Size:

$21.421 million

Status:

Seeking Projects for Investment

Fund Focus:

Quality Job Creation/LMI Impact/Environmentally Sustainable Enterprises

Footprint:

National, with a focus on the Northeast

Portfolio

Coastal Ventures V LP

Tanbark

Saco, Maine

Tanbark designs and manufactures non-plastic packaging solutions made from sustainably produced biomass that are compostable and recyclable.

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Coastal Ventures V LP

BlueTrace

Castine, ME

Digital Shellfish Tagging, Traceability & Compliance. BlueTrace is the only tagging, traceability, and compliance technology designed specifically for the shellfish…

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Coastal Ventures V LP

RockStep Solutions

Portland, ME

RockStep’s flagship “Climb™” software was trademarked and targeted to pharmaceutical companies to use for improving drug development processes. Climb is…

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OurPeople Logo
Coastal Ventures V LP

OurPeople

Portland, ME

OurPeople was founded in 2015 by Ross McCaw in Bristol, UK with its US headquarters in Portland, Maine.  The company…

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Coastal Ventures V LP

88 acres

Dorchester, MA

88 Acres was founded by husband-and-wife team, Nicole Ledoux and Rob Dalton, in 2012. Rob, who has a severe nut…

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Coastal Ventures V LP

Good to Go Inc.

Kittery, ME

Good to Go Inc. is a camping food business started by award winning chef, Jennifer Scism, and her husband, David…

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Coastal Ventures V LP

Circa

Brunswick, ME

Circa is a mobile and web-based platform that reimagines the way we pay rent, prioritizing choice, convenience, inclusion, and respect.…

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Coastal Ventures V LP

Senscio Systems

Portland, ME

Senscio Systems is a virtual chronic health management company addressing the needs of individuals suffering from multiple chronic conditions.  Senscio’s…

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Coastal Ventures V LP

Defendify

Portland, ME

An all-in-one SaaS-based cybersecurity solution with 13 cybersecurity tools in 1 seamless platform backed by support and expertise.

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Coastal Ventures V LP

HighByte

Portland, ME

HighByte is an industrial software development company in Portland, Maine building solutions that address the data architecture and integration challenges…

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Coastal Ventures V LP

Aqua ViTea

Middlebury, VT

Using only premium teas and ingredients, Aqua ViTea produces authentic, non-alcoholic Kombucha – to be enjoyed by all.

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Coastal Ventures V LP

MedRhythms

Portland, ME

Creators of a digital therapy platform aimed at measuring and improving someone’s ability to walk after they have experienced a…

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Coastal Ventures V LP

Ogee Inc.

Bulington, Vermont

Ogee Inc. is a luxury, certified-organic skincare brand.  The company uses premier ingredients and the latest scientific technologies to formulate…

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Coastal Ventures IV LP

Coastal Ventures IV LP

Vintage:

2015

Fund Size:

$10.145 Million

Status:

Fully Invested, Growth Phase

Fund Focus:

Quality Job Creation/LMI Impact/Environmentally Sustainable Enterprises

Footprint:

National, with investments in Maine, Massachusetts, Vermont, Connecticut, Florida

Portfolio

Contant Logo
Coastal Ventures IV LP

Constant Energy Capital

Portland, ME

Constant is a Portland-based fintech that provides ground-breaking, automated loss mitigation solutions to lenders including banks, fintechs and independents.  Their…

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Coastal Ventures IV LP

Culture Fresh Foods Inc.

Naugatuck, CT

Culture Fresh Foods Inc. produces plant-based milks, yogurts, and creamers.

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Coastal Ventures IV LP

Dream Local Digital

Rockland, Maine

Founded in 2009, Dream Local Digital is a growing digital advertising agency with a strong focus on social media. Dream…

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Coastal Ventures IV LP

CourseStorm Inc

Orono, Maine

CourseStorm was founded in 2012, a web development firm with deep ties to educational organizations, municipalities, and non-profits.  CourseStorm is…

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Coastal Ventures IV LP

Mobile Price Card

Bangor, Maine

Mobile Price Card (MPC) is a mobile application that displays prices on the screens of smartphones and tablets already on…

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Coastal Ventures IV LP

Junora LTD

Biddeford, Maine

Junora is a new start up company involved in the manufacturing of high purity and specialty alloy sputtering targets used in…

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Coastal Ventures IV LP

Ogee Inc.

Bulington, Vermont

Ogee Inc. is a luxury, certified-organic skincare brand.  The company uses premier ingredients and the latest scientific technologies to formulate…

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Coastal Ventures IV LP

Research Enhanced Design + Development, Inc

Brunswick, Maine

R.e.d.d. develops and sells plant-based superfood energy bars.

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Coastal Ventures IV LP

NBT Solutions

Portland, ME

NBT Solutions is a Maine based Software as a Service (SaaS) provider of GIS mapping software for the internet service…

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Coastal Ventures IV LP

Genicon Inc.

Winter Park, FL

Genicon (“the company”) is a leading designer, manufacturer, and distributor of disposable medical instruments used in Laparoscopic, or minimally invasive…

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Coastal Ventures IV LP

Maine Craft Distilling

Portland, ME

Maine Craft Distilling (MCD) produces super-premium, craft spirits in the “Yeast (East) Bayside” neighborhood of Portland, Maine.

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Coastal Ventures IV LP

Pika Energy Inc.

Westbrook, Maine

Build revolutionary products to capture and manage clean power

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Coastal Ventures IV LP

Tilson Technology Management

Portland, ME

Tilson’s network deployment group designs and builds fiber and wireless networks for wireless and wireline carriers, utilities, and government agencies.…

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Coastal Ventures III LP

Coastal Ventures III LP

Vintage:

2011

Fund Size:

$10.135 million

Status:

Fully Invested, Exit Phase

Fund Focus:

Quality Job Creation/LMI Impact/Environmentally Sustainable Enterprises

Footprint:

National, with investments in Maine, New Hampshire, Massachusetts, Vermont, Utah

Portfolio

Coastal Ventures III LP

Avia Biosystems

Norton, MA

Chemical denaturation techniques for large scale protein stability studies

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Coastal Ventures III LP

Hyperlite Mountain Gear

Biddeford, ME

Designs, manufactures and sells backpacks, tents, and accessories

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Coastal Ventures III LP

Mingle Analytics

South Paris, ME

Software product helps healthcare practitioners comply with complex and rapidly evolving Medicare quality reporting requirements

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Coastal Ventures III LP

Ektron Inc.

Nashua, NH

Software products and services, web content management, digital experience management

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Coastal Ventures III LP

PenBay Solutions

Brunswick, ME

GIS mapping solutions for facility management and public safety

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Coastal Ventures III LP

Native Energy

Burlington, VT

Developer of green energy projects and vendor of carbon offset credits

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Coastal Ventures III LP

Certify, Inc.

Portland, ME

Developer of corporate travel and expense management software

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Coastal Ventures III LP

Tilson Technology Management

Portland, ME

Tilson’s network deployment group designs and builds fiber and wireless networks for wireless and wireline carriers, utilities, and government agencies.…

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Coastal Ventures III LP

SciAps Inc

Worburn, MA

Portable analytical instrumentation company dedicated to inventing, engineering, providing, and servicing portable instruments to measure any compound, mineral, or element

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Coastal Ventures III LP

The Gelato Fiasco

Brunswick, ME

Producer of artisan Gelato using only Maine milk and all natural ingredients

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Coastal Ventures III LP

Rustic Crust

Merrimack, NH

Producer of Rustic Crust and American Flatbread brand all-natural and organic frozen pizza products

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Coastal Ventures III LP

Wentworth Technology Inc.

Saco, NH

Producer of noise cancelling head-set systems for restaurant drive thrus

Coastal Ventures II LLC

Coastal Ventures II LLC

Vintage:

2001

Fund Size:

$20 million

Status:

Fully Exited/Fund Closed

Fund Focus:

Quality Job Creation/LMI Impact/Environmentally Sustainable Enterprises

Footprint:

National, with investments in Maine, New Hampshire, Massachusetts, Vermont, Connecticut, New York, Pennsylvania

Portfolio

Coastal Ventures II LLC

SmartPak Equine

Plymouth, MA

Custom packaged equine supplements, canine food, supplies

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Coastal Ventures II LLC

RedZone Wireless

Rockland, ME

Wireless broadband Internet service in underserved Maine communities

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Coastal Ventures II LLC

Stillwater Scientific Instruments

Orono, ME

Axial-time-of-flight electron mass spectrometers

Coastal Ventures II LLC

Sun & Earth

All natural non-toxic cleaning products for home & offices

Coastal Ventures II LLC

RecruiterNet

Portland, ME

Projectix applicant tracking & staffing workflow software

Coastal Ventures II LLC

Metrobility Optical Systems

Merrimack, NH

Optical solutions for network infrastructure

Coastal Ventures II LLC

Look’s Gourmet Food

Whiting, ME

Bar Harbor & Atlantic seafoods, meats, chowders & specialty products

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Coastal Ventures II LLC

Juno Rising

Burlington, VT

Technical outdoor apparel for women under the brand name Isis

Coastal Ventures II LLC

Innov-X Systems

(Australia, China, The Netherlands, Kingston NH) Woburn, MA

High performance x-ray fluorescence analyzers

Coastal Ventures II LLC

HomeBistro Foods

Plattsburg, NY

Gourmet chef prepared meals for home delivery

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Coastal Ventures II LLC

Foreside Company

Gorham, ME

Imported home furnishings

Coastal Ventures II LLC

Chomp

Weymouth, MA

All natural treats for dogs & cats packaged as the YipYap, Sniffers & Pit’r Pat brands

Coastal Ventures II LLC

Definition6 [fka Synaptic Digital fka The NewsMarket]

(China, India, UK) New York, NY

Global multimedia communications production services & distribution platform

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Coastal Ventures II LLC

NextMark

(Edmund OK) Hanover, NH

Mailing list research systems for the direct marketing industry

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Coastal Ventures II LLC

BlueTarp Financial

Portland, ME

Commercial credit services to the building materials industry

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Coastal Ventures II LLC

HCI Systems

Kennebunk, ME

Building Blocks facilities asset management software

Coastal Ventures II LLC

Chemogen

Portland, ME

Develops novel diagnostic tests for Tuberculosis

Coastal Ventures Limited Partnership

Coastal Ventures Limited Partnership

Vintage:

1996

Fund Size:

$5.54 million

Status:

Fully Exited/Fund Closed

Fund Focus:

Quality Job Creation/LMI Impact/Environmentally Sustainable Enterprises

Footprint:

National, with investments in Maine, New Hampshire, Massachusetts, New York, California

Portfolio

Coastal Ventures Limited Partnership

New England 800 dba Taction

Waldoboro, ME

Provides inbound & outbound customer contact center services

Coastal Ventures Limited Partnership

Bush Equities dba Cuddledown

Portland, ME

Direct markets & manufactures superior quality down products & luxury bedding

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Coastal Ventures Limited Partnership

Soleras

Biddeford, ME

Sputter targets & other consumables for vacuum coating industry

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Coastal Ventures Limited Partnership

New England Audio Resource

Lewiston, ME

High quality indoor & outdoor audio speakers

Coastal Ventures Limited Partnership

Intellicare America

South Portland, ME

Medical contact centers network

Coastal Ventures Limited Partnership

HCI Systems

Kennebunk, ME

Building Blocks facilities asset management software

Coastal Ventures Limited Partnership

FreeBorders fka Animated Images (Camden ME)

San Francisco, CA

Design-to-delivery graphic software solution for apparel industry

Coastal Ventures Limited Partnership

EnvisionNet Computer Services

Brunswick, ME

Technical support & customer care contact center for tech-based businesses

Coastal Ventures Limited Partnership

eCopy fka Simplify Development

Nashua, NH

Digital document solutions for integration into business applications. Acquired by Nuance Communications as part of its Document Imaging Division. Kofax…

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Coastal Ventures Limited Partnership

CV Finer Foods

Winthrop, ME

World Harbors makes marinades, sauces and drink mixers that are distributed nationwide. Originally founded in Winthrop in 1990 as C.V.…

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Coastal Ventures Limited Partnership

Cormier Textile Products

York, ME

Converted industrial fabrics into protective sheeting, tarps, blankets, relief shelters. Assets purchased by Custom Banner of Rochester, NH in 2001.

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Coastal Ventures Limited Partnership

Clickshare Service

Williamstown, MA

Micro-payment aggregator for web-based digital content providers

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Coastal Ventures Limited Partnership

CitySoft

Boston, MA

Enterprise software for nonprofits, educational institutions & social sector organizations

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Coastal Ventures Limited Partnership

BroadcastAmerica.com

Portland, ME

Internet streaming for broadcast radio stations

Coastal Ventures Limited Partnership

Beacon Analytical Systems

Saco, ME

Since 1996, Beacon Analytical, the USA’s #1 ELISA kits manufacturer, has specialized in the production of immunodiagnostic test kits for…

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Coastal Ventures Limited Partnership

A&B Electronics

Berlin, NH

Rapper coils for pollution control industry

Coastal Ventures Limited Partnership

Navigator Publishing

Portland, ME

Professional Mariner magazine has been a valuable resource for the owners and operators of commercial maritime vessels of all types…

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Coastal Ventures Limited Partnership

Maine Trailer

(Auburn ME) Bangor, ME

Sells, leases, repairs and services storage & over-the-road trailers

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Coastal Ventures Limited Partnership

Coast of Maine Organic Products

(Marion Township ME) Portland, ME

Produces organically certified soils, composts, barks, mulches & fertilizers

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Coastal Ventures Limited Partnership

Chemogen

Portland, ME

Develops novel diagnostic tests for Tuberculosis