At the first stop on the 2015-2016 Big Gig Tour last Wednesday in Orono an energetic crowd of 70 people showed up at the University Credit Union headquarters to network, nosh, and listen to some great pitches.

Philip Frost made a compelling pitch for his Plan it Local platform that connects travelers with local tour guides, and Andrea Beaulieu attracted considerable attention and support for her One Fifth non-profit effort to build a bridge in Maine between wasted food and people in need. But after everyone in the audience had voted for their favorite pitch, Cathy Billings won for LobsteRx anti-viral skin cream developed from a by-product of the lobster-processing industry. Cathy, along with her colleagues at Lobster Unlimited, LLC, are shown in the attached photo* accepting the $250 check provided by Big Gig’s Prize Sponsor, University Credit Union. Cathy now also has the opportunity to compete for UCU’s $1,500 grand prize at the Big Gig Finale on April 13

There was one other pitch at this event: the first in the new Big Rig series. Dr. Todd O’Brien presented and discussed an example of an elevator pitch that he previously found to be successful for one of the several products he has patented and marketed through O’Brien Medical, LLC. It was a fascinating start for this new Big Gig feature, and we’re looking forward to future Big Rig presentations.

With the first stop in its 2015-16 Tour completed, Big Gig has again rolled up its tent and is headed for the next show, which will be at Yamas Bar & Grill in the center of Old Town on Wednesday, December 9, from 5:30 – 7:00 p.m.

As always, admission and the fresh array of appetizers at the Old Town gathering will be free – thanks to Eaton Peabody, Blackstone Accelerates Growth, and Orono Economic Development Corporation, the event sponsors.

Announcements about the Old Town event – such as names of the Big Wigs, the Big Rig, the pitch-off participants, etc. – will be forthcoming on the Big Gig website’s News Page at http://www.biggig.org/.