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DIRGO Labs accelerator in Waterville describes cohorts, SBA FAST designation and services for R&D founders
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Summary
Susan of the Central Maine Growth Council described DIRGO Labs' accelerator, three completed cohorts, a virtual incubator and a nine‑part financial modeling program, and said the organization was designated by SBA as Maine’s FAST organization to help R&D founders pursue SBIR/STTR funding.
Susan (Central Maine Growth Council) presented DIRGO Labs, an accelerator and commercialization program based in Waterville operated by the Central Maine Growth Council.
"I am with the Central Maine Growth Council, which is a 5 0 1 c 6 economic development organization serving Central Maine," Susan said, noting that DIRGO Labs was created under a U.S. Economic Development Administration build‑to‑scale grant awarded in 2020. She said DIRGO has completed three accelerator cohorts and recently launched its fourth.
Susan described core services: matching cohort companies with a temporary board of advisors drawn from a mentor network (about 30 mentors so far); free co‑working space and equipment; a virtual incubator for pre‑ideation and pre‑seed founders; and a nine‑part financial modeling series that attracted more than 30 participants.
She said DIRGO Labs was designated by the U.S. Small Business Administration as Maine’s FAST organization (Federal and State Technology) and that the group is working closely with MTI’s TAP team to support commercialization and proposal readiness. Susan identified two staff members who will be points of contact: Muftedal Ali (metrics/dashboard work) and Erica Haskins, funded through an Economic Development Administration‑funded fellowship serving as a full‑time fellow to model an investment arm. She also said Dr. Randy Jones has joined as entrepreneur in residence to advise on SBIR activity.
Susan referenced a Camoin Associates economic impact review through December 2024 that the Growth Council commissioned as a phase‑1 EDA recompete effort and said more impact details are available through that study.
Why it matters: DIRGO Labs provides commercialization and mentorship resources targeted at R&D and high‑growth founders in a region that has lost manufacturing jobs but is redeveloping mixed‑use assets. The SBA FAST designation positions DIRGO to directly assist founders pursuing federal R&D grants.
Next steps: Susan said DIRGO Labs will continue programming, accept cohort applications and noted interested founders should contact DIRGO staff for eligibility and application details.
