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Maine Startup Challenge 2022 Recap – K-8 & Open

Last month, we provided an update on the MSC High School and College tier 2022 winners, and this month we are catching up with the K-8 and Open tier winners. Read on to see where they are today, and to get inspired to submit your own business idea!  

The  Maine Startup Challenge is a business plan competition for Maine’s startup ecosystem hosted by Maine Venture Fund. Applications  open September 4th this year! Our goal is to encourage participation and entrepreneurial thinking across all ages and stimulate the next generation of innovative Maine entrepreneurs. 

K-8 Tier Winner:  iearnedapet.com, Hunter Murphy

Founded by Hunter Murphy of Waynflete School, iearnedapet.com won the K-8 Tier and was awarded a $500 prize.  Her idea is to provide kids with a set of tools, templates, and coaching services to help them demonstrate that they are ready to get the pet of their dreams.  You can view her pitch here.  

The founding of iearnedapet.com was inspired by Hunter’s own efforts to get a pet at age six.  Because of the cost and responsibility of owning a pet, Hunter’s parents wanted her to show that she was truly committed.  To convince her parents, Hunter journaled throughout the year, did research, prepared powerpoint presentations, and planned a budget.  This approach worked and she became a successful parakeet pet owner, eventually adding more pets and even a hedgehog to the family, thanks to her successful demonstrations.

By participating in the Maine Startup Challenge, Hunter learned about how to translate this novel idea into a business concept and what steps are involved to launch a startup.  She also came to appreciate the work involved to start a business, including completing business plans and preparing research.  

As a busy rising 6th grader, Hunter has continued to research how to officially launch the business between theater performances, summer camp, and recent travels. As the school year gets underway again, she plans to focus on making iearnedapet.com live by the end of the year. Her winnings will go towards the website and domain fees.

Hunter is also pleased to report her hedgehog, Camden, who made an appearance in her pitch last year, is thriving and well-loved by the whole family, including Hunter’s dogs!  

Open Tier – Maine-Lee Technology, Lee Thibodeau and Bill Kimball

Maine-Lee Technology, Lee Thibodeau and Bill Kimball – MLTG has designed a novel, bifunctional, fluid management sleeve that will solve the CDC-identified problem of fluid transfer at the surgical glove-gown interface and transform surgical gown technology. See their pitch here.

Since MSC, Lee and Bill have been working on patent and trademark approvals. They have continued to tweak their Tough Cuff Surgical Sleeve™ and also created a second type of surgical Cuff named “Tuff Cuff™.

MLTG, LLC is next working with medical-grade textile experts to guide them in creating a working sample where they can conduct early 510K testing.  

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Congratulations again, Hunter, Lee and Bill.  We wish you all the best and much success! 

If you are inspired by these stories and want to participate in the Maine Startup Challenge this fall, head to the MSC webpage for more details and a template to get started!