The Lewiston Auburn Metropolitan Chamber of Commerce awarded $300 prizes to three local businesses in the group’s inaugural “First Flight” pitch competition.
Sponsored by Androscoggin Bank and held at Craft Brew Underground in Auburn, Thursday’s event recognized winners in three categories. Following one-minute pitches, participants answered questions from a panel of judges.
Prizes went to Riyaane Hussein and Yusuf Esse, SABR Sips, a pop-up matcha café, in the small business category; Tiffany Salter of Salty Saurus Games, a provider of cooperative games that encourage teamwork and collaborative problem solving, in the startup category; and BcLoveCreations in the community impact category, for bringing FDA-approved face painting to hospital patients.
“The quality of ideas exceeded our expectations,” said Susan Ruhlin, president and CEO of the Lewiston Auburn Metropolitan Chamber of Commerce. “First Flight showed what can happen when people are given the opportunity to share an idea and take the first step. Every business begins with an idea, and our goal is to help more of those ideas take flight.”
Sasha Michaud, founder of BcLoveCreations, told Mainebiz that getting the award “means that we will be able to bring this childlike joy to more people, especially those that may need a pick-me-up.
“It warms my heart to know that others in the community see the value that BcLoveCreations can bring and that they want to see us grow, too,” she added.
Asked about what inspired her to start the business, Michaud said, “I bring my background in child development and neurodivergent affirming practices into the wearable art entertainment that we bring to parties, festivals and endless events.”
In many cases, parents share how their young ones played for hours as the animal they were painted as, Michaud noted.
First Flight lowered barriers to entrepreneurship by requiring only a one-minute cell phone video to apply, with finalists pitching live without slide decks. The chamber said the event reflects its commitment to helping new ideas become successful businesses.
“Hearing the pitches and seeing the enthusiasm in the room gave us a lot of optimism for the future of business in the Lewiston-Auburn region,” said Neil Kiely, president and CEO of Androscoggin Bank. “We’re so grateful to support an event that helps those ideas take flight.”
Contestants were judged by Genevieve Hering of Androscoggin Bank, Keith Genest of KP’s Place and Julia Harper of Healthy Homeworks.
