May 02, 2018 PAID POST » Tech
What do sparkling herbal tea, a microfiber-catching laundry ball and a virtual-reality surgery simulator have in common? They’re all made by startups appearing in the 2018 LaunchVT Pitch Competition, a program of the Lake Champlain Regional Chamber of Commerce.
Each year, LaunchVT selects eight Vermont companies to compete in its annual early-stage acceleration program. For eight weeks, the entrepreneurs in this “cohort” work with a coach, strategic advisers and each other to refine their business models and hone their pitches.
The grand finale is the Pitch Competition, Vermont’s version of the TV show “Shark Tank,” during which the entrepreneurs present their ideas to a panel of judges, as well as an audience of local businesspeople, investors and the general public. At stake is $100,000 in cash and in-kind services that could give these businesses a big boost.
This year’s event takes place on Thursday, May 17, from 5 to 8 p.m. at the Film House in the Main Street Landing Performing Arts Center in Burlington. Entrepreneurs from eight different cities and towns across the state will get a turn in the spotlight, and a chance to make the argument that their startup is the most likely to succeed and generate significant employment in Vermont.
Along with practiced pitches, this free event will include a DJ, food, a cash bar, and entertainment from MC and legendary serial entrepreneur Alan Newman (click here to pre-register).
Here’s a sneak peek at the eight teams vying for this year’s top prize. We asked them to share what inspires them, why they chose to start their businesses in Vermont, what they consider to be their “secret sauce” — the thing that distinguishes them and elevates them above the competition — and what they think of as their spirit animal.
The big winner, of course, is the state of Vermont, which this talented and eclectic group of entrepreneurs calls home.
What inspired you to start a business?
“The Cora Ball was born from our work with Rozalia Project,” says Miller. “We learned about the problem of microfiber pollution and knew we had to come up with a solution.”Why Vermont?
“There are few better places to be inspired by nature and to protect nature than in the mountains and along the lakes and rivers of Vermont,” she says.Secret sauce:
“We believe that to protect the water, you need to be on the water,” she says. “Our solution was born from our work on Lake Champlain and in the Gulf of Maine.” Miller points out that her team has seen up close the effects of debris on ocean life, and it motivates them to solve the problem. Their success can “make a big difference for the creatures who call our public waterways home and the people who rely on clean food and water.”Most inspiring place in Vermont:
“Mad River Glen on downhill skis,” says Miller, “Rikert on nordic; Blueberry Lake and Lake Champlain for standup paddleboard; and anywhere my mountain bike takes me.”Spirit animal:
“We’re inspired by all of the creatures we see while doing our work,” says Miller, “from the plankton who don’t want to eat microfibers to the harbor seals, common dolphin, ocean sunfish, and humpback, minke and fin whales we see while on our oceanographic research sailing vessel working off the coast of Maine.”Target audience:
Anybody who has been named as an executor or administrator of an estate.Why Vermont?
“I love, love winter,” says Batres. “I joke that I am the world’s greatest Guatemalan ice climber. Of course, I’m probably the only Guatemalan ice climber.” Also, he adds, “inspiration and ingenuity are kind of standard here, I think.”Secret sauce:
“I’ve actually been in my customers’ shoes.”What inspired him to start a business?
“I feel strongly that probate can be done for a fraction of the cost and a fraction of the time,” Batres says. He also credits Kerry for pushing him to pursue his idea. “I wouldn’t be able to do it without her,” he admits. And he notes that they have two kids, ages 12 and 15; he wants to contribute to helping young people like them stay in Vermont. Lastly, he adds that "it's especially rewarding to support clients during a difficult time by empowering them to tackle what would be a daunting task."Spirit animal:
A wolf, though he disputes the lone wolf stereotype. “They’re actually strong, social animals,” he says, adding that they prey on the old and the tired. He thinks the established probate system, a slow and expensive probate lawyer, is perfect prey.Target audience:
Electric distribution utilities and emergency managers.Why start a business?
“To use my expertise to help society be more resilient to weather,” says Shafer. “The latest scientific advancements often lag behind adoption within various industries, and Northview intends to bridge this gap.”Why Vermont?
“We live in Vermont, and our partners are based here,” he says. “Vermont has been an ideal place to develop and test our technology because of its complex terrain, occurrence of winter weather and access to the right people.”Place in Vermont that most inspires him:
Lake WilloughbySecret sauce:
“The right combination of expertise, opportunity and timing,” says Shafer, as well as “access to high-performance computing in the cloud.”Spirit animal:
“No comment,” says Shafer. “I would say our spirit cloud is nimbostratus, however.”Target audience:
Medical device companies, medical schools and students, curious consumersWhy Vermont?
Says Berlin: “Quality of life and an abundance of talented individuals are a great foundation for building new ventures.”Where do you go in Vermont to get inspired?
“Skiing at Stowe Mountain Resort,” says Berlin. And, he adds, “anywhere with fresh air. Being outside helps clear my mind and organize my thoughts.”Secret sauce:
Says Berlin: “Expertise, perspective, technology and the experience of having done this for more than 20 years.”Team’s spirit animal:
“The butterfly,” says Berlin. “It represents metamorphosis and personal transformation."Target audience:
“The average boot camper is around 30 years old and has a few years of work experience but has never had a job as a programmer,” says Boas. “We’re looking for people who want to level up their current coding skills, or learn an entirely new set of skills, without having to go back to college.”Why Vermont?
“We want to provide Vermonters with the opportunity to learn skills that employers need and provide companies with talent they need to grow,” says Boas.Most inspiring place in Vermont:
“Vermont Center for Emerging Technologies,” says Boas; the BCA founders work out of VCET’s downtown Burlington coworking space. “So many talented and ambitious people come through those doors every day, and we feel energized by the community.”Secret sauce:
“Burlington Code Academy sets students up for success by blending soft skills, such as communication and teamwork, with technical instruction, such as coding and product development,” Boas explains. “We also have a network of more than 15 hiring partners, including some of Burlington’s largest tech companies.”Spirit animal:
Alex Chaffee’s dog, Abby. Says Boas, “She’s our class mascot.”Target audience:
“Everyone!” Gewissler exclaims. “Our unique and refreshing drinks pair well with many foods and activities, are loved by kids, and are a wonderful, guilt-free base for cocktails.”Why Vermont?
“I have lived here for nine years with my family,” says Gewissler, “and am continually inspired by the natural beauty that surrounds us, and the food-as-medicine ethos that has been fostered here.”Where in Vermont do you go to get inspired?
“Out for a walk on my land,” he says. “It keeps me focused on what is real and tangible. I tend to set lofty goals quickly when I am cooped up inside.”Secret sauce:
“My training as an herbalist provides me with an arsenal of flavors and constitutional remedies that are unknown to practically the entire beverage world,” says the entrepreneur. “Pairing together great unique tastes and functional categories is the key. My drinks aren’t just different flavors of a base product like a kombucha. Instead, the herbs from which each tea is made are completely different. Just like choosing a warm herbal tea, you look at the ingredients to determine what needs you would like to meet.”Spirit animal:
Bear.Target audience:
“Sugarmakers in Vermont and throughout the ‘maple belt’ of the United States and Canada,” says Beauparlant.Why Vermont?
“Because we’re both students based at Vermont Technical College,” says Beauparlant. “It’s a great location to produce tools for the maple industry, as our great state has such a rich tradition for maple production!”Where do you go in Vermont to get inspired?
Says Beauparlant: "We go to the sugar woods to get inspired, so we can be inspired to create new tools for the maple tubing installation process."Spirit animal:
“The red squirrel," says Beauparlant, "because they're always chewing our maple tubing!”Target audience:
Communications manager Jennifer Silver says Home Outside clients appreciate having access to the studio’s quality, excellence and creativity — at a price they can afford. She adds that many of them also prefer working remotely with designers. “Many are busy millennials who enjoy the convenience of digital communication around their schedule,” she says. “Some live in places that are too remote or expensive for designers to travel to, and others say that they haven’t been able to find local designers with the level of expertise they’re seeking.”Why Vermont?
Says Messervy: “The five members of my team and I all live in southern Vermont, and we wanted to find new ways to bring design projects to us.” She adds that she’s grateful for the mentoring and advice from Vermont business leaders that she’s received as a member of the 2018 LaunchVT cohort.Where do you go in Vermont to get inspired?
Says Messervy: “I get inspiration from working on our gardens, swimming in our pond, hiking the trails around our property and driving around this beautiful state.”Secret sauce:
“We set a high standard for ourselves — we design exquisite, one-of-a-kind landscapes of beauty and meaning for our clients,” says Messervy. “With our Home Outside program, we can now bring expert design to more people, thanks to our digital tools and partnerships.”Spirit animal:
“Our property overlooks a beaver pond,” says Messervy. “I’m constantly amazed by their hard work and collaborative efforts, not to mention the beautiful lines of their dams and waterways.”Comments are closed.
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