Issue link: https://nebusinessmedia.uberflip.com/i/1511999
W W W. M A I N E B I Z . B I Z 31 N OV E M B E R 2 7 , 2 0 2 3 F O C U S B A N K I N G / F I N A N C E / I N S U R A N C E e money allowed HighByte to offer com- petitive salaries for new employees and parity for existing employees, thus attracting and retaining high-quality talent needed to ensure the software wouldn't fail in highly regulated environments. Without that? "We would have developed products more slowly," she says. "e big risk in tech is, if we don't move fast, we get overtaken by the competition." LaunchPad also offered greater brand awareness. "e volume of people applying for jobs at HighByte increased significantly," she says. Designer hire, in-house prototyping Tanbark Molded Fiber Products in Portland designs and manufactures molded fiber packaging solutions. e 2022 LaunchPad winner spent the $50,000 on hiring a designer, which wasn't other- wise in the budget. "at was a big deal," says CEO and co-founder Melissa LaCasse. "We needed someone who could design packages and products for customers." Tanbark knew it needed a designer. "But we didn't realize how quickly," she contin- ues. "e money went directly toward hiring them sooner than we would have." Now Tanbark has full- and half-time designer positions. e role is key to introducing customers to package and product options, translating their requirements into specifications, developing proto- types, then designing the tooling. LET'S BUILD A BRIGHTER FUTURE TOGETHER TOWARD A MORE EQUITABLE ECONOMY From business loans and advice, to credit building and policy advocacy, CEI is here to help Maine and small businesses thrive. 207.504.5900 www.ceimaine.org MEMBER FDIC EQUAL HOUSING LENDER Justin Jamison! Congrats, SVP, Commercial Services Officer BANGOR KatahdinTrust.com Melissa LaCasse of Tanbark Molded Fiber Products said the LaunchPad's $50,000 prize fast- tracked the hiring of a designer and a "Greenlight Maine" $25,000 win went toward tooling costs to bring prototyping in-house. C O N T I N U E D O N F O L L OW I N G PA G E ยป F I L E P H O T O / J I M N E U G E R