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5 Maine startups vie for $50K prize in LaunchPad business pitch-off

Toby Ahrens of Diggables File Photo / Jim Neuger Toby Ahrens of the Diggables snack brand will compete against representatives of four other small Maine businesses in the 2024 LaunchPad competition on Oct. 22 in Portland.

Five small businesses, in sectors from snack foods to health technology, will vie for a $50,000 prize in next month’s LaunchPad competition organized by Gorham Savings Bank.

This year’s final will feature three newcomers and two returning finalists, all aiming to take their business to the next level. They will square off on stage at a live pitch event on Tuesday, Oct. 22, at the University of New England's campus in Portland.  

During the judges’ deliberations, 2023 winner Anna Ford will deliver a brief keynote presentation. She's the founder of Bookclubs, an online platform that helps users start, manage or join a book club.

“We’re looking forward to showcasing this year's talented group of Maine entrepreneurs at LaunchPad," said Steve deCastro, CEO of Gorham Savings. "Their innovation and passion for their business truly inspires us, and we're honored to help support them on their journey

2024 finalists

  • Alivo (Hailey Lister and Max Meade, Portland): AI-powered sales assistant for home service businesses;
  • Bijou Build (Amanda Lacy, Camden): developer of a collapsible, expandable play system;
  • Diggables (Toby Ahrens, Yarmouth): Gluten-free buckwheat snack brand; 
  • Kinotek  (David Holomakoff and Patricia Panaia, Portland): Platform to track body-movement health; and 
  • NKENNE (Michael Odokara-Okigbo, Portland): African-language learning app.

Kinotek is a returning finalist from 2019, while Bijou Build and NKENNE were both LaunchPad finalists in 2023. Both Holomakoff and Odokara-Okigbo were also honored on the Mainebiz 40 Under 40 list in 2023. 

Emerging Business Award 

File Photo / Tim Greenway
Katie Weiler of Viable Gear

In addition to the main competition, five additional startups will present 60-second pitch videos for the Emerging Business Award. Those contenders are: 

  • Graze (Kate Hall, Northport): Certified producer of unpasteurized cold-pressed juice;
  • Maine Laboratories (Katie Richards and Chris Richards, Norridgewock): PFAS testing lab; 
  • Survue (Josh Fox, Scarborough): AI-enabled hardware designed for personal safety;
  • Tootie’s Tempeh (Sarah Speare, Biddeford); and 
  • Viable Gear (Katie Weiler, Portland): Developer of seaweed-based bioplastics for food harvesters; Weiler was honored on the inaugural Mainebiz 40 Under 40 list in 2022.

The winner of the Emerging Business Award will be announced during the live event, just before the $50,000 grant winner is crowned.

In addition to a $10,000 grant, the Emerging Business Award winner will receive $10,000 of in-kind support and marketing-related, business development and public relations services from a handful of providers.

More information

Attendance at the Oct. 22 event at UNE's Innovation Hall is free of charge; reservations can be made here.

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