Main Street Skowhegan seeks Entrepreneurs for Spring 2024 Business Lab & Pitch Competition
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
January 30, 2024
Skowhegan, Maine—Main Street Skowhegan is now accepting applications for its Spring 2024 Business Lab & Pitch Competition.
Business Lab is a free, fast-paced, interactive program that features eight classes held over eight weeks, culminating with a pitch contest in which participants compete for $5,000 to start or grow their business. The program is designed for both aspiring entrepreneurs and current business owners, with weekly classes covering essentials of business strategy, finance and profitability, marketing and sales, business planning, and project implementation. At the end of the program, entrepreneurs will submit a business plan and pitch their ideas to a team of judges for a chance to win the $5,000 grand prize or $1,000 runner up award.
“I couldn’t be more excited to be launching our fourth Business Lab cohort,” said Patric Moore, Main Street Skowhegan’s Director of Entrepreneurship. “With each cohort we continue to refine our process and adjust our curriculum to meet the needs of both current and aspiring entrepreneurs in Maine. Witnessing the growth and success of our past cohorts has been inspiring, and I can’t wait to work with the next group of individuals looking to start or grow their business!”
Main Street Skowhegan has hosted three Business Lab & Pitch Competitions since the program’s inception. The Fall 2023 cohort, sponsored by Maine Technology Institute featured five entrepreneurs, with Lyn Govoni’s nonprofit Lights Up Productions walking away with the $5,000 grand prize, and Bytesum Technologies taking home $1,000 as the runner-up. Nine entrepreneurs from the Spring 2023 Business Lab cohort, sponsored by Skowhegan Savings Bank, competed for $5,000, with Morgan Camp Care winning the prize. Matt Quinn of Quinn’s Tree Farm won the inaugural competition in the Fall of 2022 and went on to compete in Maine Center for Entrepreneurship’s Top Gun Program in Waterville.
Applications will be accepted through Friday, March 8, and can be found at SkowheganEntrepreneurship.com. The Spring 2024 Business Lab Cohort will meet weekly on Wednesday from 5:30 to 8:30 p.m., starting on April 10, with the pitch competition scheduled for June 5.
In addition to the spring 2024 Business Lab & Pitch Competition, Main Street Skowhegan will add a youth entrepreneur challenge that will coincide with the June pitch, and a weekend bootcamp this fall.
For more information, please contact Patric Moore, Director of Entrepreneurship at patric@mainstreetskowhegan.org or 717-348-8449.
About Main Street Skowhegan
Main Street Skowhegan is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit focused on the ongoing revitalization of historic Skowhegan, Maine. Founded in 2005 by a group of citizens, Main Street is now driven by three full-time staff members, a passionate and engaged board of directors, and more than a hundred volunteers. Our mission is to celebrate Skowhegan’s rich heritage while achieving our brightest future as a thriving economic, cultural, and recreational community where residents enjoy a high quality of life.
