Maine Startup Challenge Moves to Spring 2026
News
For the last three years, Maine Venture Fund has hosted the Maine Startup Challenge in the fall. It has been exciting to watch the traction and enthusiasm grow as Mainers of all ages prepared their business plans and pitched their best ideas. Over the past three years, MSC grew from shy of 50 applications to over 150. Perhaps more impressively, in 2024, student applications from the K-8 and High School tiers made up over two-thirds of the applicants!
So to continue to support student entrepreneurship, a big change is coming this year! Based on feedback from educators and students, we are moving MSC to the spring to better align with how and when entrepreneurship is taught in schools. We are hopeful this will allow us to continue to expand our traction in schools and provide more opportunity for the next generation of entrepreneurs to practice innovation.
MSC will continue to have four tiers, K-8, High School, College, and Open, to support entrepreneurs of all ages. We will announce dates and update materials for the new timeline in the fall this year.
In the meantime, if you need inspiration to get your creative juices flowing - read and watch a quick video about the finalists at MSC 2024!
If you are an educator interested in bringing MSC to your class, fill out this form and we will be in touch.
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About Maine Venture Fund
Maine Venture Fund invests in Maine businesses that have the highest potential for growth and impact. For more information, visit maineventurefund.com.
Inquiries:
Terri Wark
Maine Venture Fund
(207) 305-0006
terri@maineventurefund.com
