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Sponsored by: Dirigo Labs
Updated: March 6, 2023 2023 Startup Hub

Dirigo Labs

Launch well and grow in Waterville

Conveniently located off I-95, with the only active Foreign Trade Zone in the state, and over 200 million dollars recently invested in the downtown, Waterville’s infrastructure and innovation hub make the central Maine region an ideal place to do business.

Together, the Thomas College-Harold Alfond Institute for Business Innovation, the Central Maine Growth Council, and the Dirigo Labs accelerator formed the Waterville Area Ventures ecosystem (WAVE) to serve entrepreneurs at every stage of business development. This unique ecosystem leverages resources from academic institutions, municipalities, a national mentor pool, a coworking space, and over 25 strategic partner organizations across the state.

For early-stage entrepreneurs, the Thomas College-Harold Alfond Institute for Business Innovation provides free assistance to early-stage entrepreneurs from the ideation to incubation stages of their entrepreneurial journey with services such as market identification, customer discovery, monetization framework, and refining their business model to find paying customers. The goal is to provide the resources and guidance needed for individuals or businesses to turn their ideas into a working prototype or minimum viable product. Look for announcements about new entrepreneurship programming for summer 2023 coming soon.

The Dirigo Labs accelerator helps later-stage startups gain the traction they need to grow and succeed. Throughout the 12-week cohort cycles, founders receive intensive mentorship and hands-on guidance from experienced industry leaders with access to a network of investors, advisors, and a robust, topically relevant curriculum. With dedicated office space in the Hathaway Creative Center, startup teams get help navigating the fundraising process, applying for grants, and leveraging state and municipal incentives. The inaugural cohort created 25 jobs, raised $1.5 million in equity, and secured nearly $2 million of grant funding! Dirigo Labs also hosts the Better Maine Conference, an annual diversity, equity, and inclusion event aimed at attracting and sustaining a diverse workforce.

Since 2002, the Central Maine Growth Council (CMGC) has been the entry point for businesses looking to launch or expand into our region and remains a strong advocate throughout the business cycle. Funded by municipalities and companies, CMGC serves as the economic development and planning department for Fairfield, Oakland, Waterville, and Winslow and offers a range of services to businesses looking to launch or expand in the area. These services include site selection assistance, customized data collection and analysis, business plan and financial model analysis, access to incentive programs, and assistance with permits and public policy. CMGC also provides access to the local talent pipeline and promotes economic growth through downtown revitalization efforts and the cultivation of a technology knowledge hub. Recent successful grants have added over $12 million to project funding. The Growth Council’s efforts aim to create a strong economy and a high quality of life in the region.

The WAVE ecosystem partners are ready to help your company succeed, from ideation to scaling up or growing your existing business.

— Mike Duguay, Executive Director of The Harold Alfond Institute for Business Innovation

— Susan Ruhlin, Managing Director of Dirigo Labs

— Garvan Donegan, Director of Planning Innovation and Economic Development of the Central Maine Growth Council