Startup mentor Susan Ruhlin leaving Dirigo Labs to pursue own business venture

File Photo / Fred Field After four years leading Dirigo Labs in Waterville, Susan Ruhlin plans to step down at the end of this month to pursue her own entrepreneurial venture.

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By Renee Cordes

After four years at the helm of Dirigo Labs in Waterville, Susan Ruhlin is leaving the startup accelerator to pursue an entrepreneurial venture of her own.

“Launching a startup accelerator, mentor network and suite of founder-focused programming alongside an amazing team has been one of the great highlights of my career,” she posted on LinkedIn on Monday.

“I’ve had the privilege of working with brilliant entrepreneurs, generous mentors and dedicated partners who believe, as I do, that you can build scalable companies in rural places,” she added. “Together, we’ve helped dozens of startups raise millions, create jobs and show what’s possible when talent, support, and community come together in the right way.”

Ruhlin was honored as a Mainebiz Woman to Watch in 2023.

Dirigo Labs operates under the Central Maine Growth Council. Ruhlin plans to leave the organization at the end of this month. After taking some time off, she will focus on a startup she recently launched.

Without going into details about the new venture, she said it involves the intersection of community, technology and experience design.

“I’ve been really focused on how we rebuild connection in a time when many people are feeling more isolated than ever,” she told Mainebiz. “I’ve also drawn inspiration from Robert Putnam’s work on social capital and how small, intentional interactions can strengthen the fabric of our communities.”

Promising to share more soon, she said she’s “listening closely, testing and taking a very deliberate approach.”

Central Maine Growth Council has not yet named a successor to Ruhlin as managing director of Dirigo Labs.

Ruhlin’s advice to the program’s next leader: “Keep the entrepreneur at the center of every decision. Prioritize clear feedback, stay adaptable and be prepared to adjust based on what founders actually need.”

She also suggests making the most of resources in Waterville, including Kennebec Valley Community College, Thomas College and Colby College.

"These institutions are not just neighbors," she said. "They are partners, mentors and talent pipelines."