Five leading organizations in central Maine — Central Maine Growth Council’s Dirigo Labs, Main Street Skowhegan, Colby College, Thomas College, and Kennebec Valley Community College — proudly unveil the winners of their collaborative pitch contest series. These trailblazing entrepreneurs have been celebrated for their exceptional ideas and will receive crucial feedback, funding, and support to propel their success and drive regional innovation.
The Halloran Lab $40K Venture Showcase provided an exciting platform for innovators to compete for substantial funding. Mawjam Energy Analytics secured the first-place prize of $25,000, Pachyceph earned the second-place prize of $12,500, and Good Balance received the Audience Choice award of $2,500. In total, $40,000 in funding was awarded to support these promising ventures.
“We are thrilled with the passion, effort, energy, and preparation our students displayed at our inaugural Halloran Lab $40K Venture Showcase,” stated Jeremy Barron, director of the Halloran Lab for Entrepreneurship at Colby College. “We are proud of our students’ accomplishments and exceptional progress in such a short period of time, and we look forward to seeing how this support, along with continued mentorship, curricular, and co-curricular programming, will advance their entrepreneurial efforts within the broader ecosystem.”
Following Colby’s showcase, the “Top Gun Regional Pitch” for Waterville took place on May 8th at Thomas College. Among the standout participants, Scrapdogs Compost and Watermelon Pie emerged as winners. Both companies went on to participate in the Maine Center for Entrepreneurs statewide showcase in Portland, further highlighting their innovative solutions and entrepreneurial spirit.
“We are particularly proud of the innovative solutions and entrepreneurial spirit showcased at the Maine Center for Entrepreneurs Top Gun regional showcase in Waterville,” said Kerry Smart, program coordinator for the Harold Alfond Institute for Business Innovation and the Office of Professional and Career Development at Thomas College. “They exemplify our commitment to nurturing a thriving entrepreneurial ecosystem in our region.”
Dirigo Labs hosted its pitch competition on May 22 at Greene Block + Studios, featuring 12 startups with innovations in cleantech, medtech, AI, and manufacturing. At the accelerator’s third pitch competition in Waterville, Finsulate emerged as the winner, securing the $25,000 prize. Finsulate creates sustainably responsible foul release wrap to replace anti-fouling paint on boats, docks, buoys, and other objects in the ocean. Additionally, all of the graduating Dirigo Labs companies were provided with an award package, which included a 2-year membership of office facilities in downtown Waterville’s Brick Coworking & Innovation Space and a 1-year membership to the Mid-Maine Chamber of Commerce.
“Finsulate’s innovative approach to sustainable marine technology stood out among our talented cohort of startups,” remarked Dirigo Labs’ Assistant Director of Innovation Programming and Partnerships Emalee Hall. “Their commitment to environmental responsibility and practical solutions for marine fouling underscores the transformative potential of innovation in our coastal communities.”
On May 29 Kennebec Valley Community College hosted its Entrepreneurship Pitch Night at King Hall, providing a platform for local Maine businesses to fine-tune their pitches and showcase months of work on their business ideas. Among the winners were Vacationland Vans, offering adventure travel van rentals to enjoy the Maine outdoors with an exciting, low-cost outdoor experience, and Eat Neon, specializing in premium desserts and baked goods for events and special occasions.
“We are excited to support the development of these local businesses and to connect them with their next steps towards growth,” stated Joe Musumeci, KVCC’s director of workforce training and professional development. “This was our first pitch event, and we were extremely impressed with the professionalism and polish of all our businesses that presented.”
The series culminated with Main Street Skowhegan’s Business Lab Pitch Contest and Youth Entrepreneurship Challenge on June 5. 207 CPR, LLC won the Business Lab Pitch Contest prize of $5,000 with its lifesaving training services, featuring professional CPR, AED, and First Aid instruction. The high school winners included Natalie Cooke of Cooke’s Corner Jewelry, Lola Caruso of Honeybelle Crafts, and Noah McConnell of NM Car Detailing, showcasing their entrepreneurial creativity and ambition while also taking home individual cash prizes.
“It was an absolute blast facilitating Main Street Skowhegan’s 4th Business Lab & Pitch Contest and collaborating with Aspire Riverhawks and MSAD 54 to pilot the ‘Youth Entrepreneur Challenge,” stated Skowhegan Center for Entrepreneurship’s Director of Entrepreneurship Patric Moore. “These programs demonstrate the vibrant entrepreneurial spirit within Somerset County and across central Maine, proving that it’s never too early or too late to start or grow a business.”
Through these collaborative efforts, Dirigo Labs, Main Street Skowhegan, Colby College, Thomas College, and Kennebec Valley Community College demonstrated their commitment to fostering a supportive environment for business and innovation. By offering entrepreneurs and founders access to resources, mentorship, and funding opportunities, they aimed to cultivate a thriving ecosystem of innovation that drives economic growth and prosperity in Central Maine.
For more information about each program, please contact:
– Dirigo Labs: Susan Ruhlin, Managing Director – [email protected]
– Main Street Skowhegan: Patric Moore, Director of Entrepreneurship – [email protected]
– Colby College: Jeremy Barron, Director of Halloran Lab for Entrepreneurship – [email protected]
– Thomas College: Kerry Smart, Program Coordinator for Harold Alfond Institute for Business – [email protected]
– Kennebec Valley Community College: Joseph Musumeci, Director of Workforce Training & Professional Development – [email protected]
The Halloran Lab for Entrepreneurship offers entrepreneurship training and practical opportunities aimed at preparing Colby students to be effective innovators and entrepreneurs—whether they are creating dynamic new business ventures or improving existing organizations or programs. The lab provides funding for students to start commercial and social enterprises, mentorship, as well as innovation and maker spaces on campus and in downtown Waterville. The lab heads the development of an entrepreneurship ecosystem involving alumni, faculty, staff, and Colby community members as well as companies, organizations, and institutions.
Named for Maine’s premiere entrepreneur and innovator, the Harold Alfond® Institute for Business Innovation has been established to spur economic vitality in Central Maine by nurturing the very talent that will assist in the creation of both jobs and wealth for the area.
Dirigo Labs is a regional startup accelerator based in Waterville, Maine. With a mission to grow mid-Maine’s digital economy by supporting entrepreneurs who are building innovation-based companies, the Dirigo Labs ecosystem brings together people, resources, and organizations to ensure the successful launch of new startups. Dirigo Labs operates under Central Maine Growth Council and is supported by several organizations, academic institutions, and investment firms. For more information, please visit www.dirigolabs.org.
Main Street Skowhegan is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit focused on the ongoing revitalization of historic Skowhegan, Maine. Our mission is to celebrate Skowhegan’s rich heritage while achieving our brightest future as a thriving economic, cultural, and recreational community where residents enjoy a high quality of life.
Kennebec Valley Community College is a 2-year comprehensive community college in mid-Maine serving students from Somerset, Kennebec, and Knox counties and well beyond. KVCC has two campuses in the heart of Central Maine – our 70-acre Fairfield Campus which is readily accessible by I-95 and our 600-acre Harold Alfond Campus just seven miles north. KVCCs Workforce Training and Professional Development office provides a wealth of short-term training that are targeted toward business and industry and professional development. KVCC is a collegial environment emphasizing student success and respect for a diverse population of employees, students, and community members.
