Making Waves in Maine: Pitching Nauti Sisters at Startup Maine & Scratchpad’s Celebration of Entrepreneurship

This past week, I had the chance to step on stage and share the story behind Nauti Sisters Sea Farm and Nauti Sisters Tours & Charters at Startup Maine and the Scratchpad Accelerator’s Celebration of Entrepreneurship Luncheon—an inspiring gathering of over 150 entrepreneurs, investors, and community leaders dedicated to building Maine’s future.

Standing there, I realized just how far this journey has come. What started as a skiff, a few oyster cages, and a wild idea in 2020 has grown into two intertwined businesses rooted in the working waterfront of Yarmouth, Maine: one growing award-winning oysters, the other crafting unforgettable tour experiences.

My pitch wasn’t just about oysters—it was about connection. Our private tours began last July with 115 guests across 24 trips, and every one of them left with more than just oysters. They left with stories. We’re scaling this season with a goal to 5X our revenue, offering everything from our signature “Nauti Hour” sunset cruises to the region’s only Lobster & Oyster tour.

Through the Scratchpad Accelerator, I gained a clearer view: I’m not building one business—I’m building two. Nauti Sisters Sea Farm continues producing premium oysters, while Nauti Sisters Tours & Charters focuses on immersive, customizable experiences. We now operate three vessels out of Yarmouth—offering a calmer, more intimate alternative to Portland—and we’re growing our team to meet rising demand.

The pitch also spotlighted our powerful partnerships:

Chebeague Island Inn promotes our tours, serves our oysters, and hosts weekly shucking classes.

Visit Portland, Maine’s leading tourism organization, helps us reach a broader audience.

Lady Oyster brings national seafood lovers to our dock for guided tastings.

And the media is paying attention. We’ve been featured by NPR Morning Edition, National Geographic Traveller UK, Maine Magazine, and more. But this is just the beginning.

I closed my pitch not with a request for funding, but a call for momentum.
If you’re in tourism, media, or experiential travel—I want to connect. If you want to experience Maine’s working waterfront in a new way—come aboard.

Because Nauti Sisters isn’t just a farm anymore.
It’s a movement—for storytelling, connection, and women making waves on the water.

Photos from Cy Cyr Photography.