Along the banks and falls of the Kennebec River, Waterville is an energetic, multicultural city of just under 16,000 residents. With three colleges within striking distance, a world-class art museum and opera house, and a downtown full of locally-sourced and international eateries, our city thrives on creativity. When you stroll along the downtown RiverWalk, it’s easy to see why established tech firms and emerging startups blossom in our city.
It’s also easy to get to Waterville. Located on two exits off of Interstate 95, Waterville is 15 minutes from the capital of Augusta, about an hour from Portland, ME and Bangor, ME, and three hours from Boston, MA by road (or, you can fly into our municipal airport). Major state routes take you to the mountains or the ocean in an hour, and to the Canadian border in two.
In the center of this activity sits the Hathaway Creative Center, a redeveloped Lockwood mill transformed into a hub for healthcare, arts & culture, a craft brewery, and Bricks Coworking & Innovation Space, the home of Dirigo Labs. Here, you’ll find the inspiration and infrastructure to build a thriving startup.
Few small cities have this much higher education so close together. Colby College, Thomas College, and Kennebec Valley Community College are each about ten minutes from our office, bringing students, researchers, and a steady pipeline of talent to startups in the region.
Founded in 1813 and one of the oldest liberal arts colleges in the country. Home to the Davis Institute for Artificial Intelligence, the first at a liberal arts college, and the Halloran Lab for Entrepreneurship, which funds student ventures and runs makerspaces on campus and in downtown Waterville.
Founded in 1894 on the banks of the Kennebec River in Waterville. Career-focused undergraduate, graduate, and online programs that prepare the region’s future employees, entrepreneurs, and leaders.
Part of the Maine Community College System, with a 70-acre campus in Fairfield and the 600-acre Harold Alfond Campus in Hinckley. More than 30 degree and certificate programs in allied health, nursing, trades, and technical fields.
Students from all three colleges take part in Dirigo Labs programs. The 2025 Back of the Napkin Challenge drew teams from every campus: the Grand Prize went to EmberWoods from Thomas College, the Viability Prize to FLOCK from Colby, and the Relevance to Maine Prize to a team from Kennebec Valley Community College.
Students also join our cohorts as founders, intern with cohort companies, and meet mentors at the Dirigo Speaker Series. See them on the Network Map.
Dirigo Labs is at the Hathaway Creative Center, 10 Water Street, in downtown Waterville. Tap a pin for the address and a link to each website.