Greenlight Maine is ready to hear your idea and (maybe) give you $100k to make it happen

Last Friday there was a big announcement for Maine’s entrepreneurship and innovation ecosystem.  The announcement was about a new project called Greenlight Maine. This project is right in line with this idea of growing a movement in Maine of high impact entrepreneurs. (Full disclosure: I’m a part of making the project happen.  Here’s more info:

A group of entrepreneur catalysts have joined hands with corporate and media leaders to “green light” the next chapter of success for Maine startups and entrepreneurs.   Via all forms of media and LIVE events, Greenlight Maine will highlight the unique, creative, and inspirational activity that is being generated by small businesses as well as encourage investments to grow Maine’s economy…one dream at a time.

Casting calls launched on Friday, June 5 to identify entrepreneurs to participate in the 2015-2016 Greenlight Maine program.  Via initial registration on GreenlightMaine.com and subsequent casting call events, prospective companies will have the opportunity to pitch their product/service, people, plan and processes to become selected as one of twenty-six (26) companies to participate in a weekly TV show launched on WCSH6 and WLBZ2 in September.  Over the 9 month Greenlight Maine campaign that culminates in June of 2016, prospective companies will vie for the a minimum prize purse of $100,000 and much more thru crowd funding.

Now the deadline for getting your idea loaded up onto the site is June 13th at midnight – so let’s not dawdle people.

Greenlight Maine is the vision of Portland Media Group, a custom content and production company, founded by Brian Corcoran President of Shamrock Sports & Entertainment, Nat Thompson former Producer/Owner of WCSH-6 and Con Fullam an Executive TV Producer and Music Composer.  “We are pleased to join hands with leaders in both the entrepreneurial and corporate communities to leverage a shared commitment to growing business and related economic growth throughout Maine.  As small business owners ourselves, we are excited to pay it forward and pave the way for a new chapter of businesses to tap into the awareness, insights, mentoring and financial resources Greenlight Maine brings to the table”, said Portland Media Group Partner and Shamrock Sports & Entertainment Founder Brian Corcoran.

Your dream becoming a reality could be a click away.  Define your path to success by going to GreenlightMaine.com and hit the “Click Here to Participate” button!

There are lots of folks involved in making this happen, collaborating to support Maine ‘s entrepreneurs.  The initial video platform site is on the Maine Startup & Create Week website. The process of selecting the 26 finalists will happen during a big event on the morning of Saturday the 27th of Maine Startup & Create Week.  The partners of Blackstone Accelerates Growth are a part of helping us get the word out and recruiting companies and panelists.  Don Gooding from MCED and Maine Angels isn’t a judge but, with is background in t.v., Don is the MC of the show.

It’s a great addition to the ecosystem — it helps bring everyone together AND supports the effort by Maine entrepreneurs to reach for the stars.  That’s the kind of stuff that we need to really get Disruptive Growth in Maine.

Jess Knox

About Jess Knox

Born in Waterville, Jess Knox is a former high-ranking U.S. Small Business Administration official in Washington. Now living in Southern Maine, he is passionate about growing prosperity via entrepreneurship, innovation and startups in Maine. These days he helps companies pursue growth through his firm Olympico Strategies as a consultant and movement-maker. He also co-founded Maine Startup & Create Week