Watermelon Pie
MTI’s resources allowed us to develop a clear product vision, improve our marketing and financial strategy, and prepare for larger funding opportunities.
–Kachina Miller, Founder/CEO
From Kitchen Chaos to Creative Community
When Kachina Miller tried to plan meals for her busy family, she found herself juggling spreadsheets, screenshots, and text threads full of recipes. It was chaos.
“The idea for Watermelon Pie came from my continuous struggle as a home cook for a very busy family,” Miller explains. I kept trying various recipe technologies, hoping that someone would create a solution that didn’t feel like another chore.”
That frustration sparked the idea for Watermelon Pie, a platform that brings organization and community to the kitchen. Combining AI-powered tools with social recipe sharing, Watermelon Pie helps home cooks save recipes, swap inspiration, and rediscover the everyday pleasure of real food.
Building a Startup from Scratch
Before securing support from the Maine Technology Institute (MTI), Watermelon Pie faced the classic early-stage hurdles: limited capital, technical costs, and the need for strategic guidance.
Miller and her small team focused on validating their business model and crafting a clear roadmap — one that balanced innovation with usability. MTI’s mentorship and early funding gave the company the stability to build its minimum viable product (MVP) and test it with real users.
Gaining Traction and Community Support
Since launching its MVP in November 2024, Watermelon Pie has grown to 600+ early adopters, affectionately called “Pie-oneers.” Together, they’ve shared more than 800 community-contributed recipes and connected with more than 20 Maine food and beverage businesses.
User feedback has been overwhelmingly positive, highlighting the platform’s unique ability to blend technology with authenticity. “Users tell us that they love to see what other real home cooks are making,” Miller says. “The platform makes them feel inspired to cook at home more often, and share family recipes that might otherwise be lost.”
MTI
Financiación de la innovación empresarial
Mercosur
Support
600+
highly engaged early adopters (“Pie-oneers”)
800+
recipes shared
20+
Maine food & beverage business partners
MTI’s Impact and Maine’s Role
MTI’s support allowed Watermelon Pie to refine its vision and financial strategy while preparing for larger funding opportunities, including the NSF SBIR program. Miller credits MTI and Maine’s wider entrepreneurial network, from Top Gun and ScratchPad to Nexus Maine, for fostering a culture of collaboration and mentorship.
Connecting People Through Food and Technology
Beyond its digital tools, Watermelon Pie fosters a genuine sense of belonging. Users find inspiration in local, seasonal cooking while reconnecting with family traditions and Maine’s vibrant food culture. By spotlighting Maine’s “foodie” culture and partnering with local businesses, the company is strengthening connections between home cooks and the food producers around them.
A Slice of the Future
Next, Watermelon Pie plans to expand its use of AI to make meal planning even more intuitive, helping users eat healthier and adapt to dietary preferences. Miller envisions a global community of home cooks connected through hyper-personalized technology and an engaging community.
“If we are successful,” she says, “the complex task of feeding our families and ourselves will be less overwhelming, more connected, and more enjoyable.”