Don't Miss Our Live Pitch Event
October 20 @ UNE’s Innovation Hall
Join us to see five Maine small businesses compete live for our $75,000 LaunchPad Grant and Emerging Business Award.
RSVP Now
MCB’s LaunchPad 2026
DATE
Tuesday, October 20, 2026
TIME
4:00pm Networking | 5:15pm Competition
LOCATION
University of New England’s Innovation Hall – Portland Campus
772 Stevens Avenue, Portland (across from The Park Danforth)
GET DIRECTIONS
There is no cost to attend LaunchPad, just RSVP to save your seat. Free parking is available on campus, in a satellite lot with shuttle pick up on Bishop Street Extension, or on Stevens Avenue.
Networking
Meet and mingle before the competition begins. Enjoy light appetizers while networking and getting to know some of Maine’s leading entrepreneurs, innovators, influencers and others connected to our entrepreneurial ecosystem.
Welcome
It’s time to celebrate the entrepreneurs, innovators, influencers and others who support Maine’s small business community. The excitement and anticipation is palpable as five finalists prepare to pitch live for our $75,000 grant.
Finalist Presentations
The 2026 LaunchPad finalists will take to the stage to make their pitches to, and field questions from, our panel of judges: what the company hopes to achieve, how they would use the grant, why they should win… It all factors into the final decision.
It’s a short window of time to make a big impression. The pressure’s on.
Judges Deliberation & Emerging Business Award Pitches
The finalists have presented and answered questions from the judges. It all factors into the final decision.
All five EBA finalists will deliver a 2-minute live pitch during the event while the judges are deliberating.
Keynote and EBA Winner Announcement
We’ll hear a brief keynote presentation from last year’s LaunchPad winner, Katie Richards CEO of Maine Laboratories, followed by the selection of this year’s Emerging Business Award winner.
$75,000 LaunchPad Winner Announced
When the dust clears, one small-but-promising Maine business will emerge victorious as the 2026 LaunchPad winner and be awarded $75,000 grant to help grow their business. Others will gain the full support of a few hundred new fans—including everyone here at Maine Community Bank.
