Seascale Sweeps at Dirigo Labs Pitch Competition with Innovative Aquaculture Gear
Startup received $25,000 in cash prizes sponsored by Skowhegan Savings Bank
Waterville, ME – 6/10/2025 – Seascale, a Thomaston-based aquaculture startup, made a clean sweep at Dirigo Labs fourth annual pitch competition, winning all three prize categories and taking home $25,000 in cash awards sponsored by Skowhegan Savings Bank. The company’s core innovation, the Maine Scallop Pot™, is a modular aquaculture system designed to integrate seamlessly into the daily routines of working fishermen, offering a low-touch, low-labor way to diversify income without disrupting traditional lobstering operations.
“We are incredibly honored to be selected by the judges, our peers, and the audience,” said Charles Walsh, Co-Founder of Seascale. “These prizes will help us expand operations and empower more coastal communities to build resilience through sustainable aquaculture.”
“This win reflects the incredible momentum behind scalable, fisherman-first solutions,” said Jon Steuber, Co-Founder of Seascale. “We built the Maine Scallop Pot™ to make aquaculture a real, viable option for working fishermen—not just in Maine, but anywhere traditional fisheries are facing pressure. This support gives us the confidence and capital to keep pushing forward.”
Seascale received $20,000 as the judge’s Pitch Prize winner, $3,000 as the Founder’s Choice award, and $2,000 by audience voting. The competition took place on May 28 at Greene Block + Studios in downtown Waterville which featured ten companies from Dirigo Labs’ 2025 accelerator cohort. Startups pitched innovations spanning cleantech, manufacturing, marine technology, software, and were evaluated on capital strategy, team strength, potential for economic or community impact, storytelling, and innovation.
Over the course of the 12-week accelerator, startups in the Dirigo Labs program received mentorship from a national network of subject-matter experts and investors. Curriculum topics included customer acquisition, employment law, sales, and public-private funding opportunities, all aimed at helping founders refine their business models and scale their impact.
“The Dirigo Labs Accelerator Program continues to be a catalyst for high-potential startups like Seascale,” said Dan Tilton, President of Skowhegan Savings Bank. “We’re proud to support entrepreneurs who are bringing sustainable innovation to Maine’s working waterfront and beyond.”
“This cohort demonstrated not only creativity and resilience but also a strong commitment to solving real-world challenges,” said Susan Ruhlin, Managing Director of Dirigo Labs. “We’re excited to see Seascale and the rest of the cohort continue to grow and contribute to Maine’s innovation economy. We’re also deeply grateful to Skowhegan Savings Bank for making this support possible.”
For startups, investors, and mentors interested in learning more about Dirigo Labs, please visit dirigolabs.org.
About Dirigo Labs:
Dirigo Labs is a regional startup accelerator based in Waterville, Maine. With a mission to grow the greater Waterville area’s digital and innovation economy, Dirigo Labs supports entrepreneurs building high-growth companies through access to mentors, curriculum, and funding networks. The accelerator operates under the Central Maine Growth Council and is supported by organizations, academic institutions, and investment firms across Maine and beyond.
About Skowhegan Savings:
Skowhegan Savings Bank has been committed to strengthening Maine’s families, businesses, and communities for over 150 years. As an independent mutual savings bank headquartered in Skowhegan, the bank provides competitive banking solutions with a focus on personalized service and community investment. Learn more at skowhegan.com or by calling 800.303.9511.
About Seascale: Seascale designs and manufactures the Maine Scallop Pot™, a modular aquaculture system tailored for integration into traditional fishing operations. Built around the daily rhythms of working lobstermen, the gear enables fishermen to cultivate scallops without adding labor-intensive tasks or disrupting established routines. With a focus on simplicity, speed, and seasonal flexibility, Seascale is helping Maine’s coastal communities build more resilient, diversified livelihoods. For more information, visit seascalemaine.com
Last modified: June 11, 2025
