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2nd annual Maine Startup Challenges draws record number of applicants

The Maine Startup Challenge celebrated entrepreneurial thinking across all ages on Wednesday, October 18 at The Roux Institute. Applicants submitted business plans articulating how their business idea would work and a panel of judges reviewed the concepts to identify the best and most innovative ideas. 

With over 100 applicants across four age tiers, the competition grew substantially in its second year. The K-8 and High School student tiers saw especially strong growth with over 50 applications from 17 schools and 5 homeschooled students. 

Across all four tiers, the business plans demonstrated creativity and strong problem solving skills, and MVF was excited to support these budding entrepreneurs with cash awards. Below we share the finalists and winners along with a video where they explain their concept. 

K-8 Tier

• Winner, $1,000 prize: Dynamite June Art, Alice Harrington, Damariscotta Montessori School. Watch their video here. 
• Runner-up, $500 prize: Happy Hotline, Ellen Gagne’s 4th Grade Class, North Yarmouth Academy. Watch their video here.
• Finalist: Globally Green, June Sahlman, North Yarmouth Academy ** Winner of $500 Audience Choice Award. Watch their video here.

High School Tier

• Winner, $2,000 prize: Starboard, Seabren Reeves IV, Brunswick High School. Watch their video here.
• Runner-up, $1,000 prize: SewSpark, Ella Hanson. Watch their video here.
• Finalist: Student Success Squad, Michael Hardy, Falmouth High School. Watch their video here.

College Tier

• Winner, $3,000 prize: ScholarSheets, Miz Insigne, Desmond Frimpong, and Peggy Jones, Colby College. Watch their video here.
• Runner-up, $1,000 prize: Speak AI, James Strong and Brett Stanton, Dartmouth College. Watch their video here.
• Finalist: Neolithic Farms, Logan Nimick, University of Southern Maine. Watch their video here.

Open Tier

• Winner, $8,000 prize: awen Recovery, Brinn Flagg. Watch their video here.
• Runner-up, $2,500 prize: The Good School, Jayci Eaton. Watch their video here.
• Finalist: Third Phase, Sharon Reishus. Watch their video here.

A big thank you to all the sponsors who made the Maine Startup Challenge possible! All of these organizations are important pillars in Maine’s startup ecosystem, and their funding allowed MVF to provide cash awards to the winners. Thank you to all these organizations for supporting this inspiring cohort of entrepreneurs!