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July 12, 2016

Greenlight Maine picks 26 semifinalists for Season 2

Courtesy / David Thompson, Shamrock Brian Corcoran, CEO and founder of Shamrock Sports & Entertainment and partner in Portland Media Group, which is behind the Greenlight Maine entrepreneur competition and TV show.

Greenlight Maine, an entrepreneurial pitch contest with a $200,000 purse, wasted no time in whittling down its Season 2 entrants to 26 semifinalists this past Saturday at Husson University’s Westbrook campus.

The 26 bested 43 quarterfinalists, which in turn were chosen from an initial field of 80 entrants, according to the show’s sponsors.

“Initially we thought it would be challenging to top last year's inaugural Greenlight Maine class of startups, however this year's semifinalists are proving to be in a league of their own,” Brian Corcoran, CEO and founder of Shamrock Sports & Entertainment, wrote in an email response to questions from Mainebiz. “Many Season 2 semifinalists listened to and learned from previously featured Greenlight Maine startups and mentors as many of them are clearly on a more defined path based on recent pitches and related business plans, people and processes.”

The inaugural season ended on June 24 at the conclusion of Maine Startup and Create Week when Portland-based curbside composting company Garbage to Garden bested a field of over 80 prospective startups to win the $100,000 top prize.

The Maine Department of Economic Development kicked in to help the entrepreneur at least double its purse to $200,000 in Season 2, and expand its reach in the state with the aim of also creating more jobs in Maine.

"We are in active conversations with other private and public foundations with goal of doubling the Greenlight Maine prize purse and related grants from $100,000 in Season 1 — to $200,000-plus in Season 2," Corcoran told Mainebiz earlier.

Greenlight Maine is the brainchild of Portland Media Group, a custom content and production company founded by Corcoran; Nat Thompson, former president of Maine Radio and Television Co. and former owner/producer at WCSH 6; and Con Fullam, an executive TV producer and music composer. PMG partnered with Jess Knox, founder of Maine Startup and Create Week, to lead the selection process for the companies.

Greenlight Maine’s 2016-2017 season runs statewide via WCSH6 and WLBZ2 on Saturday nights at 7:30 p.m. beginning on Sept. 24.

Semifinalists will receive mentoring from some of Maine’s best and brightest corporate, media and marketing executives as well as receive extensive promotion across television, print, social and digital media.

The 26 Greenlight Maine semifinalists are:

Amalgam Skis, founded by Amy and Philip Taisey, Freeport

American Unagi, owned by Sara Rademaker, Thomaston

Bluet Maine, partners Eric Martin and Michael Terrien, Jefferson

Buko Chips, founded by Lorraine Fagela, Falmouth

Cobbler Technologies, CEO Andrew Katon, Bangor

Dog Not Gone, founded by Bill and Julie Swain, Kingfield

eFoodGuru, founded by Leland Stillman, Portland

Eighteen Twenty Wines, founded by Amanda O’Brien and Pete Dubuc, Portland

EterNav, founded by Kasey Smith, Castine

Herbal Revolution Farm, owned by Katheryn Langelier, Camden

Izzy’s Cheesecake, President Jim Chamoff and Vice President and Executive Chef, David Izenstatt, Portland

Jellux, owned by Nicholas Laude, Wells, ME

Lobster Unlimited, with Cathy Billings and Chief Scientist Dr. Bob Bayer, Brewer

McDermott Shapes, founded by Andy and Ryan McDermott, Scarborough

Mobility Technologies, CEO Ryan Beaumont, Brunswick

Re-Fridge, founded by Mitch Newlin, Brunswick

Rwanda Bean, founded by Mike Mwenedata, Portland

Sidewalk Buttler, founded by Mike Roylos, Portland

Spring Point Solutions, CEO, Rick Hollen, Portland

Stache Bomb, founded by Jamin Badger, Dayton

Surge Hydro, founded by David B. Markley and Nicholas A. Cabral, Belfast

Switchdown, founded by Jon Hanson, Durham

Tip Whip, founded by Spencer Wood, Orono

Truck Task, President David E. Grant, Brewer

Vigilance Software, CEO Jason Roberts, South Portland

Wag Rags, founded by Chris Voynik, Readfield

Read more

'Greenlight Maine' charges into second season

DECD, Greenlight Maine partner to double prize purse, fuel jobs

Garbage to Garden wins $100K Greenlight Maine purse

Startup & Create Week hitting the road with national event series

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