New Ventures Maine (NVME) is partnering with the Small Business Administration to host the InnovateHER Business Plan Competition in Maine to ‘unearth innovative products and services that help impact and empower the lives of women and girls.’
The contest winner will have the chance to win cash prizes of $40,000 for first place, $20,000 for second and $10,000 for third at the final challenge, to be held in Washington D.C. in March 2016.
Applications at the state and national level will be judged on how well their business proposal meets the contest criteria: The business provides a product or service that has a measurable impact on the lives of women and families (30 percent), has the potential for commercialization (40 percent) and fills a need in the marketplace (30 percent).
Interested businesses should submit a one-page letter outlining how the business meets the criteria and addresses the competition’s goal of improving the lives of women and girls along with a business plan of no more than 20 pages to: InnovateHER, New Ventures Maine, 46 University Drive, Augusta, ME 04330-9410, Attn.: Eloise Vitelli. Electronic submissions are welcome: evitelli@maine.edu.
All submissions must be received by the end of the business day Nov. 9. Winners will be announced Nov. 17.
New Ventures Maine’s local office is located at 181 Main Street at the University of Maine at Presque Isle.
