Greenlight Maine is gearing up for its second season and has selected 26 companies to compete on the weekly television show for a chance to win $200,000, twice the amount awarded to the winner of season one.
The 26 semifinalists were selected from an initial field of 80 entrepreneurs who applied to appear on the show. Those applicants were culled down to 43 quarterfinalists who pitched their businesses before a panel of judges earlier this month. The judges scored the quarterfinalists on scalability, viability, feasibility, innovation and presentation.
“All of these innovative and bold Greenlight Maine entrepreneurs have validated that our state is on the fast track to growing our next economy. Thru the new private-public collaboration with Maine Department of Community and Economic Development as well as our corporate partners, we are pleased to provide necessary intellectual and financial capital necessary to be successful. We are Mainers helping Mainers,” Corcoran said in a statement.
The 26 semifinalists who emerged will now work with mentors to perfect their pitches. The first episode will air at 7:30 p.m. on Sat., Sept. 24, on WCSH 6 in Portland and WLBZ 2 in Bangor.
Garbage to Garden last month won the first season the TV show, along with its $100,000 purse.
The Greenlight Maine semifinalists are:
Amalgam Skis, founded by Amy and Philip Taisey, Freeport
American Unagi, owned by Sara Rademaker, Thomaston
Bluet Maine, partners Eric Martin and Michael Terrien, Jefferson
Buko Chips, founded by Lorraine Fagela, Falmouth
Cobbler Technologies, CEO Andrew Katon, Bangor
Dog Not Gone, founded by Bill and Julie Swain, Kingfield
eFoodGuru, founded by Leland Stillman, Portland
Eighteen Twenty Wines, founded by Amanda O’Brien and Pete Dubuc, Portland
EterNav, founded by Kasey Smith, Castine
Herbal Revolution Farm, owned by Katheryn Langelier, Camden
Izzy’s Cheesecake, President Jim Chamoff and Vice President and Executive Chef, David Izenstatt, Portland
Jellux, owned by Nicholas Laude, Wells
Lobster Unlimited, with Cathy Billings and Chief Scientist Dr. Bob Bayer, Brewer
McDermott Shapes, founded by Andy and Ryan McDermott, Scarborough
Mobility Technologies, CEO Ryan Beaumont, Brunswick
Re-Fridge, founded by Mitch Newlin, Brunswick
Rwanda Bean, founded by Mike Mwenedata, Portland
Sidewalk Buttler, founded by Mike Roylos, Portland
Spring Point Solutions, CEO, Rick Hollen, Portland
Stache Bomb, founded by Jamin Badger, Dayton
Surge Hydro, founded by David B. Markley and Nicholas A. Cabral, Belfast
Switchdown, founded by Jon Hanson, Durham
Tip Whip, founded by Spencer Wood, Orono
Truck Task, President David E. Grant, Brewer
Vigilance Software, CEO Jason Roberts, South Portland
Wag Rags, founded by Chris Voynik, Readfield
