Colby College / Waterville, Maine

Where liberal arts fuel entrepreneurship

The Halloran Lab for Entrepreneurship provides education, funding, mentorship, and makerspaces for Colby students building ventures that matter — whether commercial, social, or something entirely new.

$40K+
Annual Pitch Competition Prize Pool
100+
Student Entrepreneurs Engaged
30+
Mentors Across Industries
3
Innovation Spaces

From first idea to real venture

No matter where you are in the process, the Halloran Lab has a pathway. Arrive with nothing but curiosity. Leave with skills, connections, and momentum.

Ideate

Idea exploration workshops, brainstorming sessions, and the Back of the Napkin Challenge. Open to everyone — no business background required.

Start here

Build

Hands-on mentorship with industry professionals. Access makerspaces, prototyping tools, and office hours covering software, marketing, and strategy.

Develop skills

Launch

Apply for Ideate & Explore grants, compete in the annual Venture Pitch Competition, and take part in GreenLight Maine for real funding.

Get funded

Connect

Join the Colby Innovation Club, network with alumni entrepreneurs, and collaborate with partners like Dirigo Labs, KVCC, and Thomas College.

Grow your network

Invest in your ideas

The Halloran Lab puts real money behind student ventures. From early-stage grants to competitive pitch events, there are multiple ways to fund your work.

$500
Ideate & Explore Grant
Non-dilutive seed funding to test and develop your concept. Open to any student with an idea worth pursuing.
$5,000
Campagna Sennet Ideate & Expand Grant
For ventures that are past the idea stage and ready to build. Recipients qualify for the annual pitch competition.
$40,000+
Annual Venture Pitch Competition
The marquee event. Selected teams pitch to judges for shares of a $40,000+ prize pool. Open to the entire Colby community.

Where the work happens

Innovation and makerspaces on campus and in downtown Waterville — equipped for prototyping, collaborating, and turning ideas into real things.

Campus Innovation Lab

Colby College Campus

The hub. Prototyping tools, meeting space, mentor office hours, and a home base for student entrepreneurs.

Downtown Makerspace

Downtown Waterville

A community-facing workshop connecting Colby students with local entrepreneurs and the broader Waterville ecosystem.

Page Commons

Colby College Campus

Event space for workshops, panels, pitch nights, and the annual Meet the Founders Showcase.

Built with partners

The Halloran Lab connects Colby to a wider network of entrepreneurs, institutions, and organizations across Maine and beyond.

Colby Innovation Club

A student-run organization matching people who have ideas with people who have skills. Weekly meetings, keynote speakers, and peer-to-peer support.

Dirigo Labs

A Maine startup accelerator connecting entrepreneurs with experienced mentors. Partnership brings external expertise to Colby founders.

GreenLight Maine

A regional competition offering thousands in funding for Maine-based ventures. Colby students are consistently encouraged and supported to apply.

Alumni Network

Mentors, investors, and founders from the Colby alumni community — available through StartupTree and direct introductions from the Lab.

You don't need a business plan.
You need a starting point.

Whether you have a venture-ready idea or just want to explore what entrepreneurship means through a liberal arts lens, the Halloran Lab is your launchpad.

Visit Halloran Lab at Colby