Waterville, ME – February 7, 2025 – Dirigo Labs, a program of the Central Maine Growth Council, announced the winners of its first 2025 Dirigo Launch Incubator Demo Day at the January 25 event, sponsored by Coldwell Bank Plourde Real Estate. After a competitive and engaging event, three standout entrepreneurs were selected based on their understanding of their market, clarity of value propositions, and potential impact on social, environmental, and economic fronts.
The winners of the 2025 Dirigo Launch Demo Day were:
1st Place: Juliana Tebbetts of Kili Organics – A company bringing nutrient-rich, organic Moringa and Baobab superfood powders sourced from Tanzania to health-conscious consumers in Maine and beyond.
2nd Place: Jeff Poulin of Creativity Codex – A platform designed to help creative professionals harness and expand their creative capabilities through learning, self-reflection, and community collaboration.
3rd Place: Andrew Schundler of CHUH – A bottled matcha latte that offers a clean, natural caffeine source for health-conscious individuals, providing antioxidant-rich energy with sustained benefits.
The Demo Day was structured to give each entrepreneur a space to display their products or marketing materials while engaging with attendees in a dynamic networking environment. A hidden judge evaluated participants based on the quality of their conversations and the stories shared, focusing on key criteria such as assessing customer insights, market fit, value proposition clarity, and the potential for social, environmental, or economic impact.
“We are incredibly proud of the hard work and passion that each of these entrepreneurs demonstrated throughout the program,” said Emalee Hall, Assistant Director of Innovation Programming and Partnerships at Dirigo Labs. “Kili Organics, Creativity Codex, and CHUH are outstanding examples of the innovation happening in Maine’s entrepreneurial ecosystem, and we are excited to see how they will continue to grow and impact their industries.”
Dirigo Labs would like to extend a special thank you to Coldwell Banker Plourde Real Estate for their generous sponsorship of the event, which helped make Demo Day a success.
Dirigo Labs recently launched a 9-part Financial Modeling Course on February 4th, designed to provide entrepreneurs with the skills to understand and manage their business finances effectively. Additionally, the Dirigo Labs Accelerator Program will kick off on March 4th, offering tailored mentorship and resources to high-potential startups poised for growth.
For more information about the Dirigo Launch Incubator Program and upcoming programs, visit https://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.
About Dirigo Launch:
The Dirigo Launch Incubator Program supports ideation to pre-seed startups with innovative ideas, offering a solid foundation for early ventures. This 8-week program provides workshops, tailored homework, and office hours to help startups explore their market, identify target customers, and plan early-stage fundraising, along with specialized SBIR/STTR grant support. Additionally, customized technical assistance will be provided for startups and entrepreneurs in clean technology sectors, ensuring these companies receive tailored guidance within one of Maine’s key growth areas.