From Working Waterfronts to AI Platforms, Maine Founders Are Building What Comes Next
Waterville, Maine – March 10, 2026: Dirigo Labs, the innovation and entrepreneurship arm of the Central Maine Growth Council, has announced the 12 startups selected for its 2026 Dirigo Labs Accelerator. Now in its fifth year, the accelerator is a 16-week, founder-focused program designed for companies with early traction and growth potential. Dirigo Labs marked this milestone with its Cohort 5 Kickoff event on Thursday, March 5th, at the Bricks Coworking & Innovation Space in downtown Waterville.
The 2026 cohort reflects the range of innovation emerging across Maine and the growing momentum drawing founders to the central region. This competitively selected group spans Maine’s bioeconomy, artificial intelligence, food manufacturing, and the blue economy – including marine data systems, portable hydropower generation, and seaweed-based textiles and plastics.
At the forefront of applied artificial intelligence, founders are leveraging technical experience to develop platforms serving healthcare, energy security, electric vehicle fleet management, video intelligence, and education. From advancing energy-efficient modular housing to expanding Maine-made grain and seafood products into global markets, these companies are building scalable, market-ready solutions rooted in central Maine.
“When Dirigo Labs was founded five years ago, the idea of a cohort spanning hydroelectric generation, AI platforms, bio-based materials, and modular housing might have felt aspirational. Today, it’s simply the state of innovation in Maine,” said Dirigo Labs Program Manager, Jeff Frank. “In this cohort, we are seeing a level of technical maturity that is highly encouraging. Many of these founders have decades of expertise in their respective fields, and they’re choosing to invest that experience right here in central Maine.”
Dirigo Labs kicks off its newest accelerator cohort on the heels of four years of strong results – $21.2 million raised, nearly $16.8 million in sales, and 18,000 customers served across 12 alumni-launched products. This year’s program consists of three phases:
“What makes this year exceptional is the sheer breadth of our community, with 33 companies engaging with Dirigo Labs this quarter alone. We are now supporting our largest and most diverse portfolio of founders to date—a group that is not only attracting significant capital and growing new jobs across Maine but also deploying new exports to be sold and traded in the global economy. By providing targeted support—whether scaling tech startups in our flagship accelerator or empowering Main Street businesses to build rigorous financial foundations—we are actively securing the economic future of our region and state,” said CMGC President & CEO Garvan Donegan.
Maine Canned FishFounder: Joshua ScherzMaine Canned Fish is the first new seafood cannery in Maine in more than 50 years. The company sources exclusively from Maine’s wild‑caught and aquaculture communities and produces chef‑designed tinned seafood products. Read more at mainecannedfish.com.
Savvyn AiFounder: Catherine Del Vecchio Fitz, Ph.D.Savvyn is an AI-powered evidence intelligence platform that structures scientific, clinical, and payer policy data to accelerate commercialization and real-world clinical impact for oncology diagnostics and med‑tech innovators. Read more at savvy.ai.
Springtide InnovationsFounder: Trey AngeraSpringtide Innovations is a fully integrated, woman- and minority‑owned organic aquaculture leader operating the largest USDA Organic Certified seaweed farm in the U.S. Their “seed-to-shelf” technology powers food, nutraceutical, agricultural ingredients, and consulting services. Read more at springtideinnovations.com.
Sparklebuck TeaFounders: Steve & Karen GetzSparklebuck Tea produces a buckwheat‑based carbonated beverage with the long‑term goal of cultivating, producing, and bottling all ingredients in Maine. Read more at sparklebucktea.com.
Next Marine SolutionsFounder: William PetersonNext Marine Solutions develops a patent‑protected, non‑permanent Portable Underwater Generator that safely generates hydroelectric power without disrupting marine ecosystems. Their systems range from single‑operator mobile units to utility‑scale platforms. Read more at NxMar.com.
SBD TechnologiesFounder: Kamal AyadSBD Technologies offers the first EV fleet management platform to fully automate home charging reimbursement, management, and grid integration. Their software transforms idle EVs into revenue‑generating assets while reducing operational costs. Read more at sbdtechs.com.
cQuencedFounder: Noah WorkmancQuenced delivers AI‑powered video intelligence that finds, organizes, and surfaces meaningful insights, enabling businesses to extract value from video content quickly and efficiently. Read more at cquenced.com.
Propagate Form
Founder: Ryan Yost
Propagate is a recovery app designed to help runners overcome injuries. Propagate leverages AI models trained on the latest clinical research to identify the root cause of injury while giving rehabilitation guidance and progress monitoring. Read more at PropagateForm.com.
Latis MaterialsFounders: Aidan & Will SalisburyLatis Materials develops bio‑derived carbon fiber materials and composites that offer environmentally friendly alternatives to conventional manufacturing. The team is actively pursuing commercialization and strategic partnerships. Read more at LatisMaterials.com.
Osage LearningFounder: Steven HannahOsage Learning is a platform designed for neurodivergent middle and high school students. The system adapts assignments to individual learning needs, improving accessibility and educational outcomes. Read more at OsageLearning.com.
DooryardFounder: Melissa McHughDooryard is redefining modular building in Maine with single‑family homes and 2–10 unit apartment buildings that blend modern efficiency with traditional New England architectural form. Read more at Dooryard.us.
Viable GearFounder: Katie WeilerViable Gear produces seaweed‑based bioplastic materials aimed at replacing petroleum‑based products in the fishing, aquaculture, and agricultural sectors, supporting a more sustainable materials future. Read more at ViableGear.com.
The 2026 Dirigo Labs cohort companies embody not only the deep technical capability of their expertise but also a stewardship of place, people and the resources of our state. Collectively, these founders are translating Maine’s legacy industries and emerging research into scalable businesses, whether modernizing the working waterfront, advancing clean energy and materials, improving access to healthcare and education, or building the roofs over the heads of our neighbors. If you would like to sponsor or support the Dirigo Labs Accelerator programming, reach out to Jeff Frank, Program Manager: jeff@centralmaine.org
Dirigo Model and Local Impact
Central Maine businesses were welcomed to join the first phase of the Dirigo Labs Accelerator, called the Dirigo Model. This 3-week financial modeling course offers the tools and techniques for mastering small business finances. Dirigo Labs is proud to announce that this year’s Dirigo Model was attended by a record-breaking number of central Maine small businesses. The 21 businesses below left the Dirigo Model program with greater confidence in their day-to-day financial management and, with ongoing access to Model resources, are better positioned for success. These companies were: