Statewide television series seeks local entrepreneurs for business pitch competition - By Elizabeth Richards

Greenlight Maine, a unique television show created by Windham resident Con Fullam, is currently accepting applications for its second season. 
 

Greenlight Maine is a statewide business pitch competition designed to promote Maine entrepreneurs and provide an opportunity to win a $100,000 cash prize. The series airs state-wide on Saturday nights at 7:30 p.m. on WCSH and WLBZ.  

During the first season, which is currently airing, companies discovered through the series have already secured $1,250,000 in angel investments, according to a recent press release. 

“That, in addition to many invaluable connections, priceless advice and state-wide television exposure has created a very exciting opportunity for Maine’s entrepreneurs to introduce their companies to an audience eager to see and hear what they have to offer and to angel investors anxious to invest in the next big thing,” the press release stated.  

Entrepreneurs are invited to submit a pitch video between March 29^th and April 30, 2016.  On June 1^st, up to 52 quarter finalists will be announced based on video submissions.  Quarterfinalists will then present an in-person pitch at an event on Saturday, June 25^th in Portland as part of Maine Startup & Create Week.  

Fullam, an award winning music, film, and television producer and the showrunner for Greenlight Maine, said that the 26 selected contestants will travel in mid-July to NESCOM at Husson University in Bangor for filming.  Each of these filmed episodes will feature two contestants who will participate in a pitch-off to a panel of judges, who listen, discuss and decide who will move on to the mentoring round.  These episodes will air in the Fall of 2016.

The mentoring round, which will be filmed in January of 2017, is designed to give the winning 13 presenters an opportunity to put their product or service back in front of thousands of interested parties, said Fullam.  

“The purpose of this round is to help the presenter address a significant challenge that they are currently facing, and hopefully walk away with new tools in their tool box,” he said.  This round will also be aired state-wide. 

Fullam said the show is looking for companies already operating that demonstrate a potential for growth and sustainability; individuals who are ready to take a “great widget” they have invented to the marketplace; individuals or companies who have created services products; and/or the next great idea that has a clear path to early development.

Interested contestants should follow the submission process outlined on both the website www.greenlightmaine.com and the Greenlight Facebook page (https://www.facebook.com/greenlightmaine/).