Partners Main Street Skowhegan and The Roux Institute at Northeastern University are set to host Start Summit: Natural Resources + Tech on Friday, March 15, and Saturday, March 16, in downtown Skowhegan.
This is the Roux Institute’s second idea hackathon in Skowhegan, and similar to last year, this year’s event is free and open to anyone and will offer community members the opportunity to work with a team to solve a natural resources-related challenge. Participants can experience what it’s like to work on a start-up team, race to solve a problem and pitch their ideas to a panel of judges.
The first-place team will win $2,000, and the second-place team will win $1,000. Throughout the event, teams will be supported by experts and colleagues. Food will be provided by Joe’s Flat Iron Cafe and The Miller’s Table.
“We’re thrilled to again partner with the Roux Institute at Northeastern University to host a Start Summit,” said Kristina Cannon, president & CEO of Main Street Skowhegan, in a news release from the organization. “Not only is it important to promote and celebrate innovation and entrepreneurial thinking, but it’s also exciting to highlight our natural resources, from our mighty rivers to our fertile farmland — treasures that are near and dear to the Skowhegan community and critical to the future of our region.”
The event kicks off at 5 p.m. March 15 at the Skowhegan Outdoors Basecamp, 65 Water St., with a welcome and networking event and panel discussion. The panel will be moderated by Jenny Kordick, executive director of Maine Outdoor Brands. It will feature experts and entrepreneurs from the outdoor recreation and food industries, including Amber Lambke, co-founder and CEO of Maine Grains; Jake Warn, founder of SledTRX; Josh Fox, founder of Survue; Carolann Ouellette, director of the Maine Office of Outdoor Recreation, and Rai Winslow, director of life science and medical research and professor of bioengineering at the Roux Institute at Northeastern University.
March 16 will feature a full day of workshops and business planning beginning at 9 a.m. At the end of the day, teams will pitch their ideas to the judges, including Heather Kerner, founder and CEO of The Good Crust; Patric Moore, director of entrepreneurship for Main Street Skowhegan; and Matthew Lauzon, career services and co-op advisor at the Roux Institute at Northeastern University. The public is invited to attend the pitch event starting at 5 p.m. at the Skowhegan Outdoors Basecamp.
Learn more and register at visitskowhegan.com.
Check out other upcoming area events!
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