Alivo (ah-LEE-vo), an AI-powered sales assistant for home service providers, was named the 2024 winner of Gorham Savings Bank’s LaunchPad small business competition, earning a $50,000 grant from the bank. Selected from five finalists, Alivo impressed judges with its innovative lead management solution during the event at UNE’s Portland Campus.

Hailey Lister, Alivo’s co-founder, delivered a notable and concise pitch that clearly highlighted the company’s unique value proposition and customer experience strategy. She also effectively outlined Alivo’s plans for scaling and competing in the market, leaving a strong impression on the judges. The other four finalists, all of whom delivered inspiring and well-received pitches, were Bijou Build, Diggables, KinoTek, and NKENNE.

Alivo is an AI-powered platform designed to help home service providers capture, convert, and manage leads more efficiently. It offers features like answering phone calls, responding to leads instantly, booking appointments, and sending automated follow-ups. It integrates with over 600 systems and helps businesses increase conversions through personalized outreach, text message campaigns, and AI-driven lead nurturing. Its goal is to streamline customer interactions and improve service delivery, ultimately helping businesses grow and retain clients.

“Winning this grant is a game-changer as we scale Alivo to meet the surging demand,” said co-founder Hailey Lister. “We’re working on raising our first funding round, and the exposure from LaunchPad could be the final push we need to reach our goal!”

Gorham Savings Bank also honored a local entrepreneur in the Emerging Business Award category. From a group of an additional five finalists selected from LaunchPad applicants, Norridgewock-based Maine Laboratories earned the distinction, along with a $10,000 cash grant from GSB and $10,000 worth of in-kind marketing, business development, and public relations services from Creative Imaging Group, Grove Marketing, iBec Creative, Nu-Yar, and Philbrook PR. The other four Emerging finalists, who showcased pre-recorded video pitches, were Graze, Survue, Tootie’s Tempeh, and Viable Gear. Jay and Jennifer Yilmaz, owners of the Applewood Inn in Freeport, generously contributed an additional $1,000 to the Emerging Business Award, raising the total cash prize to $11,000.

“The quality of the pitches this year was truly outstanding, and it was a privilege to witness,” said Steve deCastro, president and CEO of Gorham Savings Bank. “Seeing the innovative spirit continue to thrive in Maine is incredibly encouraging, and I have no doubt that all the finalists will experience continued success. LaunchPad reinforces our purpose as an organization—to support our Maine communities and customers. That starts with a vibrant entrepreneurial ecosystem. The incredible presentations and connections made through LaunchPad remind us why we continue to invest in this program. We hope it inspires others to support Maine’s small businesses community and help play a role in their success.”

All LaunchPad finalists will receive access to four curated, invite-only events, offering opportunities to network and build connections with investors, founders, and key players in Maine’s startup ecosystem from the Roux Institute at Northeastern.

This year’s event judges were John Burns, former head of Maine Venture Fund, Katie Fullam Harris, Chief Government Affairs Officer at MaineHealth, and Kristine Delano, a strategic business advisor and host of the WE Talk Careers podcast.

Learn more about LaunchPad.