51СƳalum advances to next round of 'Greenlight Maine' Collegiate Challenge
Patrick Schena ’21 (Business) has advanced to the next round of the “Greenlight Maine” Collegiate Challenge.
Schena won unanimous support from judges Garvan Donegan, Melissa Marcaurelle, and Amy Lesure on the televised pitch competition on Thursday, April 7, besting competitor Mallard Enterprises with his product Goalivation.
Goalivation is a hockey goaltending training accessory that combines artificial intelligence with video replay to analyze body movements and visual attachment for ice hockey goaltenders and their coaches with the idea of making game-changing adjustments.
The win puts Schena — a current master’s student at Boston University — one step closer to the $15,000 grand prize in startup funding.
During the deliberation round, Marcaurelle — senior vice president of consumer banking operations at Bangor Savings Bank — said Schena’s lifetime experience as a hockey goaltender gives him a unique perspective as a product creator.
“Pat’s personal experience is definitely in his favor here,” she remarked. “Clearly, he knows the ins and outs of the industry really well, and I think his product could fill the gap for a resource need and ensure that sports coaching is available in any part of the state or country.”
Lesure, a senior investment officer at the Maine Technology Institute, said Schena’s passion for hockey will allow him to quickly expand Goalivation’s use.
“The depth of Pat’s experience really speaks to his passion, and I think with the passion and where he’s going with this, he’ll be able to take it where he needs to take it,” she said.
Schena said he was fortunate for the opportunity to pitch his product and continue to grow his business.
“I really appreciate the opportunity to grow both the sport and Goalivation,” Schena remarked. “Mallard Enterprises had a really impressive pitch, and I’m happy with the success I’ve had so far and the feedback I’ve been getting.”
Schena will go on to compete against the other Collegiate Challenge winners this summer.
51СƳwill make its next appearance on “Greenlight Maine” on Thursday, April 21, as Colin Casamento (Business, ’22) pits his mobile app, LiveBar, against Move Free, a mission-driven lifestyle brand for outdoor enthusiasts. The episode will air at 8 p.m. on Maine Public.