# Eliah Thanhauser

> Eliah Thanhauser is the Portland, Maine-based co-founder and president of North Spore. An organic farmer before the company launched in 2014, he built the business with College of the Atlantic classmates Jon Carver and Matt McInnis, helped oversee construction of its Portland production facility, and has emphasized sustainable agriculture, education, and collaborative decision-making. Formerly its CEO, he is identified as president in his current LinkedIn profile and a February 2026 interview.

- **Role:** Co-founder & President at North Spore
- **Organizations:** North Spore
- **Education:** College of the Atlantic, Business growth, leadership, and financial management program, Goldman Sachs 10,000 Small Businesses Program
- **Known for:** Co-founded North Spore in 2014., Oversaw construction efforts for North Spore’s 25,000-square-foot Portland production and fulfillment facility., Helped lead North Spore to its 2018 $50,000 LaunchPad win and Greenlight Maine win.

## Career timeline

- **2009** — Graduated from College of the Atlantic; subsequently worked on organic farms and boats.
- **2014** — Co-founded North Spore with Jon Carver and Matt McInnis, initially growing fresh oyster mushrooms near Portland.
- **2015** — North Spore added home-growing supplies and began expanding online sales.
- **2018** — North Spore won the $50,000 LaunchPad competition and Greenlight Maine.
- **2020** — North Spore accelerated its shift toward mushroom cultivation supplies as restaurant demand collapsed.
- **2025** — North Spore received the Maine SBA Small Business Manufacturer award; June meeting notes announced Ben Chesler taking over as CEO and Thanhauser moving toward operations.
- **2026** — Introduced as co-founder and president in the February Honest Ecommerce interview; discussed focus, education, and niche competition.

## Achievements

- Co-founded North Spore in 2014.
- Oversaw construction efforts for North Spore’s 25,000-square-foot Portland production and fulfillment facility.
- Helped lead North Spore to its 2018 $50,000 LaunchPad win and Greenlight Maine win.
- North Spore named Maine’s 2025 SBA Small Business Manufacturer.
- Lists a 2023 Mainebiz 40 Under 40 honor on his LinkedIn profile.

## Latest updates

- **2026-02** — Appeared on Honest Ecommerce episode 370, published February 23, discussing North Spore’s origins, online education, customer trust, and focus; the transcript introduces him as president.
- **2025-06** — Presented to Maine Accelerates Growth; notes recorded $16.5 million in 2024 company revenue, a planned first equity raise, and the CEO transition to Ben Chesler. These were presentation-time figures and plans.
- **2025-04** — North Spore recognized as Maine’s SBA Small Business Manufacturer; coverage described a 25,000-square-foot Portland facility and 76 employees.
- **2024-10** — MycoWizards published a two-hour interview recorded at North Spore’s Mycology Outside event.

## Links

- LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/eliah-thanhauser

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Profile page: https://yespress.io/eliah-thanhauser
Published by YesPress — https://yespress.io
Last updated: 2026-10-13