2024 Maine Space Conference - Pitch Competition

Pitch Competition

The Maine Space Grant Consortium, the Maine Space Corporation and the Maine Center for Entrepreneurs are pleased to announce a Pitch Competition at the 2024 Maine Space Conference which is scheduled for October 23-25, 2024 at the Holiday Inn by the Bay in Portland, Maine.

PURPOSE OF COMPETITION:

The purpose of the competition is to support the development of talent and innovation in Maine’s space economy. We are looking for innovations, ideas, space startups or small companies to grow that align with the new space value chain embodied in the Maine Space Complex. Innovations could lead to products and services that help solve problems in Maine and elsewhere and improve our lives.

ELIGIBILITY:

Eligible applicants are undergraduate and graduate students, faculty, and researchers from institutions of higher education and non-profit institutions, businesses, startups, and budding entrepreneurs. Applicants are restricted to the New England States. Applicants must demonstrate how their innovations will support Maine’s space economy. Applicants do not have to own a business or be involved in the space industry.

APPLICATION DEADLINE AND NOTIFICATION OF FINALISTS:

The deadline for submitting the video application is close of business on Friday, August 9, 2024.

Six finalists will be notified by Friday, August 16, 2024 and will be invited to make their pitch to a panel of judges at the Maine Space Conference on Thursday, October 24, 2024, from 2:00 pm to 4:30 pm at the Holiday Inn by the Bay in Portland, Maine.

The three winners will be announced at the networking event on October 24, 2-24 at Halo by the Point.

LEVELS OF AWARDS:

Three level of awards will be made at the end of the competition.

$10,000 will be awarded to the top finalist.
$5,000 will be awarded to the 1st runner-up (sponsored by the Maine Technology Institute)
$2,500 will be awarded to the 2nd runner-up.

For more information on the competition and application process, please click on the button below.

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Maine Space 2030 is a new public campaign designed to raise awareness of Maine’s research, education, and commercial assets in the NewSpace economy and realize its considerable economic potential for the people and the future of Maine. Founding partners of Maine Space 2030 include but not limited to the Maine Space Grant Consortium, the Maine Composites Alliance, the University of Maine, the University of Southern Maine, the Maine Community College System, the Roux Institute at Northeastern University, Educate Maine, the Manufacturers Association of Maine, the Maine International Trade Center, the Maine Department of Economic and Community Development, the Maine Department of Transportation, SHL Enterprise Solutions, and DesignLab LLC. Please visit the campaign's website at www.mainespace2030.org for more information on what is happening in Maine's NewSpace economy.