2026 Launch 603
Accelerate Your Business
Accelerate your business to the next level at this informative half-day event. Gain priceless information and gather vital resources through panel discussions, breakout sessions, a keynote speaker and networking, all focused on helping businesses launch to the next level.
Online registration is closed. Walk-ins welcome.
2026 Launch 603 Sponsors
Platinum Sponsors:
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Keynote Speaker Sponsor:
Presented by:
Where
70 Constitution Ave
Concord, NH 03301
Schedule of Events:
8 a.m. - 8:30 a.m.
Registration and networking
8:30 a.m. to 9 a.m.
Opening presentation from Emily Penaskovic of Sheehan Phinney’s Boost for Startups division
9 a.m. to 10 a.m.
Main Panel: Surviving to Thriving - Strategies for Scaling
- Mark Aquilino, president, Outdoor Pride
- Andrea Chatfield, attorney, Sheehan Phinney
- Nadja Fromm, founder and clarity coach, Fromm Coaching
- Jeremy Hitchcock, co-founder and general partner, New North VC
- Lucy Lange, commissioner, NH Dept. of Business and Economic Affairs
- Diane Sturgeon, NH & Maine district director, Small Business Administration
- Chris Walkley, senior vice president and senior commercial banking manager, Bank of NH
10 a.m. - 10:20 a.m.
Break and networking
10:20 a.m. -11 a.m.
Breakout Sessions (attendees will choose one to attend):
Financing Your Next Steps
- Jacy Amenkowicz, vice president and commercial banker, Bank of NH
- James Key-Wallace, executive director, Business Finance Authority
- Rick Dassatti, mentor and chair of the Banking Industry Group, SCORE
- Daniel Gray, president, REDC
Startup Strategies
- Diane Sturgeon, NH & Maine district director, Small Business Administration
- Kristin Mendoza, founder and business attorney, Abridge Law
- Tricia Santamaria Utley, co-founder and managing partner, Collective Agency
Building and Retaining Your Workforce
- Karen Brieger, founder and chief people officer, Pinnacle Connections HR
- Vanessa Druskat, associate professor of organizational behavior, University of NH
- Kristine Dudley, director of workforce development, Community College System of NH
- James McKim, managing partner, Organizational Ignition
11 a.m. - 11:20 a.m.
Break and networking
11:20 a.m. - 12 p.m.
Breakout Sessions (attendees will choose one to attend):
Building Sales
- Alison Lamothe, director of sales and marketing, Sandler
- James McIlroy, director of the Sales Center, Peter T. Paul College of Business and Economics, University of NH
- Mike Teixeira, president and founder, DECK
Marketing and Media Training
- Chris Duhaime, president and creative director, Pivot Creative Management
- Tiffany Eddy, CEO and strategist, Tiffany Eddy Media
- Scott Spradling, president, The Spradling Group
- Ami D'Amelio, president and CEO, Just Flow Events & Marketing
Using AI to Grow Your Business
- Derek Barka, chief innovation officer, SilverTech
- Phil Magnuszewski, chief innovation officer, Infused Innovations
- Cameron G. Shilling, chair of cybersecurity and privacy, McLane Middleton
- Paige Yeater, COO and chief information security officer, Mainstay Technologies
12 p.m. - 1 p.m.
Lunch and Awards Ceremony honoring the Startup Stars featured in the Business NH Magazine July Issue Startup Guide
1 p.m. - 1:30 p.m.
Keynote Speaker: John St. Pierre, a North Hampton-based entrepreneur and Chairman of Rhombus Group, a private holding company with over $100M in enterprise value will be giving a talk about the “Seven Principals of Entrepreneurial Success” from his book, "The 100 Million Dollar Journey: Your Guide to Growing the Business of Your Dreams without Going off the Cliff," as well as his recent TEDxPortsmouth talk "I built a $55M company. Then I lost it all."