With So Much Ahead of You,
Wouldn't It Be Nice
To Have a Little Something Extra Behind You?

Founded in 2013, Gorham Savings Bank’s LaunchPad celebrates and supports Maine ingenuity, creativity and entrepreneurial spirit. The process is simple and straightforward, and the benefits of participating are many.

HOW LAUNCHPAD WORKS
Deadline to Enter
Entering LaunchPad takes only an hour or two. No formal documentation is required, and you can start your application, then stop and save it to complete later. If you applied in 2019, you can even access your application to update it rather than starting from scratch. Applications must be completed and submitted by 5:00pm on April 1.
Finalists Selected & Notified
A team of independent, experienced, successful entrepreneurs and business leaders will review every completed application against the judging criteria including viability, scalability, uniqueness, management and impact. Those selected to advance will be notified on or before Friday, May 7, 2021.
Virtual Finalist Orientation
The $50,000 LaunchPad finalists will participate in a virtual orientation with the LaunchPad team to prepare you for the live event. This includes an overview of the agenda and a review of requirements and best practices for your live pitch. Finalists will also arrive early on event day to walk-through the venue and know what to expect.
Livestream Event
The $50,000 LaunchPad finalists will deliver a pitch to, and then field questions from, a panel of three independent, experienced, successful business leaders live in-studio, which will be livestreamed to an online audience. The $50,000 LaunchPad grant and Emerging Business Award winners will both be announced at the conclusion of the event.
Evaluation Criteria
The judges will score the presentations on the following criteria
- Viability
- Scalability
- Uniqueness
- Management
- Impact
- Presentation