Susan Ruhlin

Contestants in the June 21 event include bluShift Aerospace, whose founder Sascha Deri was honored on the Mainebiz Next List in 2021.

The collaboration between Maine Venture Fund and Dirigo Labs aims to boost capital investments in central Maine startups.

The Good Crust, bluShift Aerospace and the GenoTyping Center are among the startups named to the inaugural cohort of the Dirigo Labs accelerator program, which is set to launch in Waterville.

Susan Ruhlin, managing director of Dirigo Labs, says the organization's accelerator program slated to begin in March will have a "very robust curriculum."