WATERVILLE, MAINE, June 2021 — Thomas College students Jake Warn, of Winslow, Maine, and Dylan Veilleux, of Waterville, Maine, won first and second place in the finals of Greenlight Maine College Edition last night. Prize for first place winner was $10,000 and $7,500 for second place.
Greenlight Maine is a statewide collaboration of entrepreneurs and corporate leaders, designed to promote and mentor the development and growth of business in our great state.
Jake is a small business major who recently started a company called SledTrx.com, a website for snowmobile riders.
“I’m really excited about winning for a couple of different reasons. One, being a part of the Greenlight Maine program was amazing and to win was a cool experience. I think it will help my business with exposure as well,” said Jake.
Jake said he’ll be planning to use the prize money to hire more technical software staff for his product, to increase the benefit for the riders and of the product.
“The biggest thing that Thomas College does well is connecting people to each other. The resources Thomas College has have really helped me get where I am now,” also said Jake.
Dylan is a current graduate student in the accelerated MBA program. Dylan started TreeFreeHeat, a company that recycles Maine’s hemp waste into fast-lighting, long-lasting fire starters, while in school and has been scaling his business since becoming a graduate student.
“Greenlight Maine has been a rewarding experience and I am grateful to be a part of it. I’m honored to be a finalist and to share the stage with Jake Warn, a fellow Thomas student and Tortoise Lab member,” said Dylan.
Dylan said the prize money will go towards scaling their production facility to meet their increasing demand and help them obtain larger wholesale partners.
“Throughout my time at Thomas College, I have been slowly leveling up my business with the help of the folks at Thomas College’s Harold Alfond Institute of Business Innovation. The growth I have experienced over the last few years was expedited thanks to the help of GLM and HABI,” said Dylan.
“We could not be more excited for both Jake Warn and Dylan Veilleux on the success of their business startups,” said Harold Alfond® Institute for Business Innovation at Thomas College Mike Duguay. “The fact that both individuals have obtained so much success in such a short period of time is an absolute testament to each individuals commitment and dedication to solving a problem they see in the marketplace. It is also a reflection of the quality of instruction and support that is provided from Thomas College and the Harold Alfond Institute for Business Innovation (HAIBI) at Thomas College.”
Mike also said: “Thomas College has become a premiere destination for students wanting to exercise their entrepreneurial spirit and abilities. In addition to a rigorous and relevant academic experience, entrepreneurship is a core concept of a Thomas College education. In fact, the school was founded by an entrepreneur and built on entrepreneurial ideals. As a result, students are encouraged and supported in taking their ideas and seeing how to effectively offer them out into the marketplace.”
About Thomas College
Thomas College, located in beautiful Waterville, Maine, is defining what it means to be the College of the Future. With a strong commitment to innovation, career readiness, and community partnerships, Thomas College is consistently ranked by U.S. News & World Report as one of Maine’s top colleges for social mobility. Our distinctive Guaranteed Job Program™, accelerated undergraduate degrees, and flexible graduate programs empower students to advance faster in business, entrepreneurship, education, technology, applied STEM, and arts & science fields. At Thomas, belonging isn’t a buzzword; it’s a promise. We create a supportive, welcoming environment where every student is seen, valued, and prepared to thrive in a rapidly changing world.For more information visit thomas.edu or contact MacKenzie Riley Young at [email protected] or 207-859-1313. Find us on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, YouTube, LinkedIn, and TikTok.