HighByte, a fast-growing Portland industrial software startup aiming to win what one of its founders calls a war for tech talent, won the $50,000 grand prize in Gorham Savings Bank s 2021 LaunchPad competition on Tuesday. I m actually at a loss for words, for once, Torey Penrod-Cambra, HighByte s co-founder and chief marketing officer, said from the stage when her company was announced as the winner.
This year s edition, live-streamed from AV Technik studios in Scarborough, was the first virtual version of the annual pitch contest in a relaunch after last year s cancellation during the pandemic.
Besides HighByte, finalists were: Brave Foods, of Portland; Erin Flett/Studio e Flett, of Gorham, whose founder was honored as a 2020 Mainebiz Woman to Watch; Huga Heat, of Southport, a maker of battery-powered seat cushions; and Freeport-based potato-chip maker Vintage Maine Kitchen, a returning LaunchPad finalist from 2019.
Out of nearly 150 applicants for Gorham Savings Bank s relaunched LaunchPad competition in 2021, five finalists have been selected to vie for $50,000 in prize money at the June event.
The pitch competition is back this year after last year s cancellation because of the pandemic, and will take place via live stream on Tuesday, June 1, at 3:30 p.m. The finalists will compete for a $50,000 grant from Gorham Savings.
The 2021 finalists are: Brave Foods, of Portland; Erin Flett/Studio e Flett, of Gorham, whose founder was honored as a 2020 Mainebiz Woman to Watch; HighByte, of Portland; Huga Heat, of Southport; and Vintage Maine Kitchen, of Freeport, a returning finalist from 2019.