Vermont Entrepreneurs Invited to Free Workshops on
Bringing New Technologies to the Marketplace
This fall, the Vermont Small Business Development Center (VtSBDC) is
presenting a series of free workshops for entrepreneurs and businesses around
the state. The sessions are geared toward those who are developing new
technologies and would like the know-how to bring their ideas to the
marketplace.
Scott Holson, VtSBDC’s technology commercialization advisor, will host
several two-hour sessions in Springfield, St. Johnsbury, Middlebury and
Winooski. He will cover topics including how to commercialize an idea, how to
protect intellectual property, and how to find out if your idea is
“fundable” through a variety of grant programs.
Following the workshops, attendees can take advantage of free one-on-one
advising in making grant submissions and looking for funding options for
research and development.
“One of the really valuable things Scott does is to hold a
commercialization lens up to a research funding proposal,” says Stephen
Farrington, chief scientist at Transcend Engineering and a VtSBDC client.
“He helps you define and validate your market and your product, and he
makes you answer why it matters.”
Transcend has been working with the VtSBDC on a variety of grant proposals,
and in the past two years has received Phase I and Phase II grants from the
Small Business Innovation Research program. “As a scientist or engineer,
it’s easy to let the technological dimension of something capture all your
focus,” Farrington says, “but Scott brings it back to the bottom line.”
“He also provides excellent coaching on how to succinctly present your
business case,” he says.
The VtSBDC workshops are available thanks to a $95,000 grant from the Small
Business Administration’s Federal and State Technology (FAST) partnership
program. The grant was made possible through the support of Senator Patrick
Leahy, Congressmen Peter Welch, Senator Bernie Sanders, Vermont Center for
Emerging Technology, the Department of Economic Development and the Vermont
Tech Council.
Quote from the Vermont Congressional delegation (Offices of U.S. Senator
Patrick Leahy, U.S. Representative Peter Welch and U.S. Senator Bernie
Sanders):
“The Vermont Small Business Development Center is providing outstanding
assistance to entrepreneurs in Vermont who are striving to bring exciting new
technologies to the marketplace. The FAST Program is an effective
federal-state partnership to create jobs and advance our economy. We
encourage all interested entrepreneurs to take advantage of the great
resources available at the FAST workshops.”
VtSBDC workshops:
Thursday, Nov. 13
10 a.m. to noon
How to Protect Your Intellectual Property
Howard Dean Education Center, Room E-207
Springfield
Tuesday, Nov. 18
9 to 11 a.m.
How to Fund Your Innovation
Community College of Vermont, Room 104
Winooski
Thursday, Nov. 20
9 to 11 a.m.
How to Protect Your Intellectual Property
Northeastern Vermont Development Association (NVDA)
36 Eastern Avenue, St. Johnsbury
Tuesday, Dec. 9
10 a.m. to noon
How to Commercialize Your Idea
Addison County Economic Development Corp.
1590 Route 7 South, Middlebury
Thursday, Dec. 11
10 a.m. to noon
How to Commercialize Your Idea
Community College of Vermont, Room 104
Winooski
Tuesday, Jan. 6, 2015
10 a.m. to noon
How to Protect Your Intellectual Property
Community College of Vermont, Room 104
Winooski
United States