Dirigo Labs to launch business incubator program in Waterville

An aerial view shows a large brick building called the Hathaway Center.

Photo / COURTESY, DIRIGO LABS Dirigo Labs is at the Hathaway Center in Waterville, seen here.

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Dirigo Labs, a business accelerator in Waterville, is launching a program designed to help early ventures navigate the complex startup landscape.

The eight-week Dirigo Launch Incubator Program begins in September, and is aimed at helping startups from the ideation to pre-seed financing stages.

“This program is designed to provide startups with the necessary resources and guidance to turn their visions into viable businesses,” said Emalee Hall, Dirigo Labs’ assistant director of innovation programming and partnerships.

Candidates for the program might include startups that are developing a minimum viable product, thinking about target customers, exploring early-stage grant and capital options, commercializing an innovation or contemplating an intellectual-property strategy.

The new program is an outgrowth of the Dirigo Labs Accelerator Program, which operates under the Central Maine Growth Council.

Each startup will receive personalized coaching and support from a mentor and an entrepreneur-in-residence to help tackle the challenges of early-stage development. The incubator will include a series of virtual workshops and homework assignments to help startups explore their markets, identify target customers and plan for fundraising. Participants will also be able to connect with a network of mentors, investors and industry experts.

Startups will receive support for federal Small Business Innovation Research/Small Business Technology Transfer grant applications. Customized technical assistance will be provided for startups and entrepreneurs in clean technology sectors.

In addition, participants will have access to workspace at Bricks Coworking & Innovation Space in downtown Waterville.

“Supporting early-stage startups is vital for the economic growth of our region,” said Susan Ruhlin, Dirigo Labs’ managing director.

Applications are open. For more information, click here.