PFAS testing lab takes top prize in LaunchPad $50,000 business-pitch contest

Katie Richards of Maine Laboratories with Launchpad prize

Photo / Tim Greenway Katie Richards of Maine Laboratories won the 2025 LaunchPad pitch competition.

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By Sloane M. Perron

A lab in rural Maine that does testing for the presence of PFAS, or so-called forever chemicals, won the top prize in Maine Community Bank's LaunchPad pitch competition.

Katie Richards, CEO of Maine Laboratories, was awarded the $50,000 grand prize.

Judges cited Richards’ detailed business plan and projected growth, with revenues expected to reach $3 million to $5 million by 2030.

Richards said she was “shocked, surprised, and super excited” by the prize, which was awarded Tuesday night at Innovation Hall at the University of New England.

She spoke about her mission to make PFAS testing more affordable and accessible, noting the health risks tied to long-term exposure to the chemicals found in many household products.

The $50,000 prize will fund automated equipment, freeing the team to focus on research, white papers and advanced testing methods. Maine Laboratories is based in the Somerset County town of Norridgewock.

Richards was recently honored as a 2025 Mainebiz Outstanding Woman in Business.

The Emerging Business Award went to Dirigo Sea Farm, led by founder Alexa Coulombe McGovern, a 2025 Mainebiz 40 Under 40 honoree. Dirigo Sea Farm is a Freeport company producing kelp-based bioplastics.

LaunchPad

Now in its 12th year and sponsored by Maine Community Bank, LaunchPad is a "Shark Tank" style event where finalists have three minutes to pitch their business plans and answer questions from a panel of judges.

Since its inception in 2013, the program has awarded more than $600,000 to Maine entrepreneurs.

This year’s finalists were:

Maine Laboratories (winner)
CarHop, a zero-commission food and beverage delivery service pitched by CEO Thomas Brems
Dunstan Smokehouse, a ready-to-eat seafood producer focused on underutilized fish, pitched by owner Jim Hartley
Mainelove, a canned water producer eliminating single-use plastics, led by CEO and co-founder Jen Millard
UniteGPS, a transportation management system designed to streamline bus routes and reduce municipal costs, developed by CEO Christopher Bunnell.

Judges praised all finalists and, in a surprise twist, awarded each $1,000.

Judges

The 2025 judges were John Burns, director of corporate engagement at the University of Maine; Kristine Delano, business expert and author; and Kate McAleer, Bixby Chocolate founder and former LaunchPad recipient. Students from North Yarmouth Academy also participated, asking questions and engaging with the finalists.

Emerging Business Award

Five companies also competed for the Emerging Business Award, which included a $10,000 cash prize and $10,000 in equivalent in-kind marketing and business services.

Maine Community Bank awarded each finalist $500 to recognize their work and encourage continued innovation.

This year's finalists were:

Dirigo Sea Farm (winner)
CIVA, a Portland platform for government funding opportunities
Hoopsy, a Portland developer of plastic-free pregnancy and ovulation tests
Industry, a Portland creator of a digital card to help small hospitality businesses recruit and retain workers
Memory Lane TV, a South Portland streaming platform for dementia care.

Perseverance pays off

Perseverance emerged as the theme of the evening, with finalists reflecting on the challenges they had overcome. UniteGPS, for example, previously competed in 2016 and returned this year seeking funds to advance its patent-pending routing technology.

Richards exemplified that persistence. Last year, she won the Emerging Business Award.

This year, she returned to take a shot at the top prize.

“Keep trying, you just never know,” is her advice for future contestants.

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