Brock Cassidy ’15 wants to show newcomers the wonders of Maine like only a local can. He has founded a company called Day With A Local, which “offers unique tours and local experiences to tourists and people new to the area, through local guides who are experts on that activity,” Cassidy explains, “for example, one could take an art walk with a local artist.” The guides have expertise in a number of  areas, such as architectural history and outdoor adventures. So far, the company is on the web and on social media, and Cassidy aims to add a mobile application into the mix.

Day With A Local was the winner of the Startup Weekend competition in Portland, one of several Startup Weekend entrepreneurial competitions in cities nation wide. Cassidy’s idea was among 50 pitched to the group, and was then selected as one of the top 15. From there, he had to compete for support over other ideas from his fellow entrepreneurs.

Together with a team of about eight other participants, “we built a website, talked to customers, talked to hotels about being partners,” Cassidy says. Then, after a final pitch event in front of the judges, Cassidy’s idea was selected as one of three winning companies.