Deck the pitch decks: Christmas tree farm wins inaugural Skowhegan business-pitch contest

Courtesy / Main Street Skowhegan The Cornville Christmas Tree Company LLC operates Quinn Tree Farm in Cornville. Owner Matt Quinn (back row, center, in overalls) won $5,000 in Main Street Skowhegan's first Business Lab Pitch Competition on Saturday.

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By Renee Cordes

Christmas came early for the Cornville Christmas Tree Co. LLC when Quinn Tree Farm owner Matt Quinn won Main Street Skowhegan's first Business Lab Pitch competition.

He won $5,000 in a pitch-off against Joseph Almand of Joe's Flat Iron Cafe; aspiring food-truck entrepreneur Sara Forbus; salon studio owner Heather Hutchins, who aims to start a second business called the Rock Bottom Cafe; and Noah Sixberry of Sixberry Solutions, a digital marketing agency. The pitch contest followed a seven-week Business Lab program, during which the entrepreneurs met three hours every Saturday to learn about starting and growing their businesses.

Every week they heard from different guest presenters on a variety of topics from finance and accounting to sales and marketing and project management.

More than 25 people watched Saturday's pitch-off, held at the Skowhegan Center for Entrepreneurship at 181 Water St.

Patric Moore, business relations manager at the Skowhegan Center for Entrepreneurship, told Mainebiz there are plans to continue the program next year.

"We do plan to hold [the] business class at least annually," he said, "but are currently planning to hold two Business Labs next year with one in the spring and one in the fall."

The $5,000 prize was sponsored by Skowhegan Savings Bank.

Kristina Cannon, executive director of Main Street Skowhegan, said her organization is excited to support aspiring entrepreneurs who may be just starting out with an idea. She also cited national data showing that 70% of local businesses were started by community residents.

"For us, this data is really important and has helped us focus on local entrepreneurs who we can hep take their business or business idea to the next level," she said.

Cannon was honored on the Mainebiz Next List in 2019.