The Roux Institute, in partnership with the University of Southern Maine, invites you to join us for our upcoming Start Summit -- the opportunity for Portland-area community members to transform ideas into prototypes.

At this fun and interactive event, you’ll experience what it’s like to build a startup team and race to develop a concept—all with the support of experts and colleagues and fueled by good food!

At this Start Summit, Hannaford Supermarkets will present participants with three waste products. Teams will choose a waste product to examine and test, and will be tasked with developing a value-added product or prototype with the waste material.

As a participant, you can expect to take part in a Design Thinking workshop, work with a team to develop a new value-added product, and pitch to a panel of judges for your chance at a cash prize.

The first place team will win $3,000 and the second place team will win $2,000.