PORTLAND, Maine — The software startup CourseStorm and lobster byproduct research firm Lobsters Unlimited based in Orono will take part in a high-profile business pitch contest hosted by AOL founder Steve Case on Oct. 2.
Case, who went on to start the venture capital firm Revolution LLC, announced earlier this year that his investment firm’s Rise of the Rest tour would count Portland as a stop, opening a chance for one of eight Maine businesses to win $100,000.
The event will include a panel discussion with U.S. Sen. Angus King, former Massachusetts Gov. Deval Patrick and other Maine officials discussing startup businesses in Portland and tours of the Portland businesses Certify, Think Tank and Cape Seafood.
The group announced the contestants for the pitch contest and the schedule of local business tours Tuesday. The contestants are:
— CourseStorm, which develops software for class registration.
— Lobster Unlimited, a company borne out of research by a University of Maine undergraduate into alternative uses for lobster processing waste products.
— DreamLocal Digital, a Rockland-based digital marketing agency for small businesses.
— Rapport, a Portland-based developer of software to assess sustainability at small and mid-sized businesses.
— Spring Point Solutions, a Portland-based software developer for electric motor repair shops.
— iKNO Intranet, a Portland-based developer of internal corporate communications software.
— Introspective Systems, a Portland company specializing in big data analysis.
— Likeable Local, a social automation software provider with offices in Portland and New York City.
The business pitch contest will be judged by Case and two colleagues at Revolution, Patrick and others, according to a news release.