Don't Miss Our

Live Pitch Event

October 22 @ UNE's Innovation Hall

Join us to see five Maine small businesses compete live for our $50,000 LaunchPad Grant and Emerging Business Award.

See Finalists

GSB's LAUNCHPAD 2024

DATE
Tuesday, October 22, 2024

TIME
4:30pm Social Hour | 5:30pm Competition

LOCATION
University of New England’s Innovation Hall – Portland Campus
772 Stevens Avenue, Portland (across from The Park Danforth) – GET DIRECTIONS

There is no cost to attend LaunchPad, just RSVP to save your seat. Free parking is available on campus, in a satellite lot with shuttle pick up on Bishop Street Extension, or on Stevens Avenue.

THE EVENt AGENDA

4:30pm

Social Hour

Meet and mingle before the competition begins. Enjoy light appetizers while networking and getting to know some of Maine’s leading entrepreneurs, innovators, influencers and others connected to our entrepreneurial ecosystem.

5:30pm

Welcome

It’s time to celebrate the entrepreneurs, innovators, influencers and others who support Maine’s small business community. The excitement and anticipation is palpable as five finalists—Alivo, Bijou Build, Diggables, Kinotek, and NKENNE—prepare to pitch live for our $50,000 grant.

We’ll also be giving out door prizes of local goodies!

5:40pm

Finalist Presentations

The 2024 LaunchPad finalists will take to the stage to make their pitches to, and field questions from, our panel of judges: what the company hopes to achieve, how they would use the grant, why they should win… It all factors into the final decision.

It’s a short window of time to make a big impression. The pressure’s on.

6:30pm

Judges Deliberation & Keynote

The finalists have presented and answered questions from the judges. It all factors into the final decision. While the judges deliberate, tell us what you think. We want to know the audience’s opinion. Cast your vote for the $50,000 winner and you’ll be entered to win a door prize!

We’ll also hear a brief keynote presentation from last year’s LaunchPad winner: Anna Ford of Bookclubs (2023).

6:45pm

Emerging Business Award Winner Announced

Drum roll, please! We’ll see video pitches from the Emerging Business Award finalists: Graze, Maine Laboratories, Survue, Tootie’s Tempeh, and Viable Gear. The winner will receive a $10,000 grant plus $10,000 of in-kind business and marketing-related services from our partners: Creative Imaging Group, Grove Marketing, iBec Creative, Nu-Yar, and Philbrook PR.

7:00pm

$50,000 LaunchPad Winner Announced

When the dust clears, one small-but-promising Maine business will emerge victorious as the 2024 LaunchPad winner and be awarded $50,000 grant to help grow their business. Others will gain the full support of a few hundred new fans—including everyone here at Gorham Savings Bank.