Dirigo Labs Fifth Annual Pitch Competition

WATERVILLE, ME - May 21, 2026– Dirigo Labs, central Maine's innovation hub created by the Central Maine Growth Council, will host its fifth annual Pitch Competition on Thursday, May 28, 2026, from 5 to 8 p,m. at Greene Block + Studios in downtown Waterville. The capstone event of the 2026 Dirigo Labs Accelerator will bring twelve Maine founders to the stage to pitch live for $25,000 in cash prizes generously donated by Skowhegan Savings Bank. The event is free and open to the public.

Since its creation, Dirigo Labs Accelerator alumni have collectively raised $35.6 million in capital, generated nearly $17.4 million in sales, and served more than 18,000 customers across 126 alumni-launched products and services. The 2026 cohort joins a list of past Pitch Competition winners that includes bluShift Aerospace, Croft, Finsulate USA, and Seascale.

The 2026 cohort of twelve companies works across artificial intelligence, the bioeconomy, advanced manufacturing, healthcare, and the blue economy. This year's founders are building everything from a portable underwater hydroelectric generator and a seafood cannery to AI platforms serving oncology and EV fleet management, and seaweed-based bioplastics designed to replace petroleum-based materials. Judges will evaluate companies on capital strategy, team strength, potential for economic and community impact, storytelling, and innovation.

2026 Dirigo Labs Cohort

• Maine Canned Fish(Joshua Scherz) - Maine's first new seafood cannery in more than 50 years, producing chef-designed tinned seafood products from Maine wild-caught and aquaculture sources.
• Savvyn (Catherine Del Vecchio Fitz, Ph.D.) - AI-powered evidence intelligence platform accelerating commercialization for oncology diagnostics and med tech innovators.
• Springtide Innovations (Trey Angera) - Aquaculture and marine data platform for aquaculture farming run by the largest USDA Organic Certified seaweed farm in the U.S.
• SobaSparkle (Steve and Karen Getz) - Buckwheat-based carbonated beverage with the long-term goal of growing, producing, and bottling every ingredient in Maine.
• Next Marine Solutions (William Peterson) - Patent protected Portable Underwater Generator that produces hydroelectric power without disrupting marine ecosystems.
• SBD Technologies (Kamal Ayad & Carolyn Fitzgerald) - EV fleet management platform automating home charging reimbursement, management, and grid integration.
• cQuenced (Noah Workman) - AI- powered video intelligence platform that finds, organizes, and surfaces meaningful insights from video content.
• Propagate(Ryan Yost) - AI-driven recovery app that helps runners overcome injuries with research backed rehabilitation guidance.
• Latis Materials (Aidan and Will Salisbury) - Bio-derived carbon fiber materials and composites offering an environmentally responsible alternative to conventional manufacturing.
• Osage Learning(Steven Hannah) - Adaptive learning platform for neurodivergent middle and high school students.
• Dooryard(Melissa McHugh) - Modular building company producing single-family homes and small apartment buildings that blend modern efficiency with New England architectural form.
• Viable Gear(Katie Weiler) - Seaweed-based bioplastic materials replacing petroleum-based products in fishing, aquaculture, and agriculture.

Cash prizes will be distributed across three categories: a $20,000 Judges' Pitch Prize, a $2,500 Founder's Choice award voted by the cohort founders themselves, and a $2,500 Audience Choice award decided by audience voting on the night of the event. No company can win in more than one category.

RSVP Today!