Cohort Kickoff Scheduled for 5:30 PM on March 6 at Bricks Coworking & Innovation Space in Downtown Waterville
Waterville, ME 2/27/2025 – Dirigo Labs announced the 12 startups selected for its fourth cohort class. The accelerator program, hosted at the Hathaway Creative Center in downtown Waterville, will feature an enhanced curriculum with emphasis on fundraising education and entrepreneurial development.
“The selection of these 12 innovative startups for our fourth cohort represents the continuing growth and diversification of Maine’s entrepreneurial ecosystem,” stated Susan Ruhlin, Managing Director of Dirigo Labs. “Each company brings unique solutions to market challenges, from sustainable consumer products to advanced manufacturing technologies. Their selection demonstrates the vibrant potential for innovation and economic growth in our region.”
Emalee Hall, Assistant Director of Innovation Programming and Partnerships, added: “This cohort showcases the incredible diversity of talent and innovation emerging from Maine’s entrepreneurial community. We’re particularly excited about the emphasis on fundraising education, which will equip these founders with critical skills to access capital and scale their businesses. The mentorship and resources these startups will receive through Dirigo Labs will be transformative for their growth trajectory.”
Startup teams were carefully selected based on development stage, founder experience, potential to scale, and industry relevance. Participating founders will be paired with a customized board of advisors drawn from Dirigo Labs’ extensive local and national mentor network. Teams will participate in comprehensive workshop sessions covering fundraising strategies, investor relations, public-private sector grants, intellectual property, and strategic growth planning.
The 2025 Dirigo Labs Fourth Cohort Companies are:
Coelle Travel (Khadija El Barkaoui) – Sustainable culturally immersive tourism experiences
BackRiver Blends (Jordene Trueh) – Authentic Jamaican jerk marinades with locally-sourced ingredients
Kili Organics (Juliana Tebbetts) – Nutrient-rich Tanzanian Baobab and Moringa superfood powders
Creativity Codex (Jeff Poulin) – A platform for teams and individuals to understand and expand their creative capabilities
Seascale (Jonathan Steuber & Charles Walsh) – Innovative Maine Scallop Pot for extended fishing seasons
Maine Laboratories (Katie Richards) – Maine’s first PFAS testing facility
Flexware Controls (Jeremy Ouellette) – FlexCube Refrigeration System reducing HFC usage by 75%
Maine Plywood (Charles Martin) – New England’s sustainable plywood production facility
Intripid (Dan Shevenell) – Seamless travel planning platform for all types of travelers
K.BeckerDesigns (Kimberly Becker) – Ethical, small-batch, circular fashion with zero waste
James Point (Kathleen Kurjanowicz) – Sophisticated, refillable stationery for stylish organization
Maine Love (Jen Millard) – Bringing breweries and Sebago Lake water into sustainable aluminum packaging
Startups who are interested in learning more about Dirigo Labs can visit www.dirigolabs.org.
About Dirigo Labs:
Dirigo Labs, a program of the Central Maine Growth Council, is a regional startup accelerator and incubator based in Waterville, Maine. The organization is dedicated to supporting innovative startups and small businesses through mentorship, access to capital, and strategic partnerships. Dirigo Labs aims to advance economic development and position Maine as a hub for entrepreneurship and technological advancement.