Vermont Business MagazineAt the first-ever LaunchVT Collegiate Competition, teams from Champlain College and Middlebury College were awarded cash prizes to help launch their businesses. First prize winner, Thermouse from Champlain College will also have the opportunity to compete as a finalist in the LaunchVT competition on May 5in Burlington.Tom Torti, President of the Lake Champlain Chamber which helped organize the competition, was impressed by the quality of the pitches “It warms the heart to see the talent and creativity the teams brought to their business ideas and presentations today. I hope these students walk away knowing that if they do start a business in Vermont, there is a great network of people to support them.”
First prize winners Matthew Giles and Cullen Jemison said after winning that “We consider this a really vital step in moving toward our goal of manufacturing this product in Vermont.
Eight teams from Castleton University, Champlain College, Johnson State College, Lyndon State College, Middlebury College, Norwich College, St. Michael’s College, the University of Vermont, and Vermont Technical College competed in today’s competition. Vermont Technical College President, Dan Smith, commented that “Entrepreneurship is in Vermont’s DNA. This event is an excellent opportunity for students and the state to showcase our creativity and enterprising spirit. We are thrilled to field a team and be a part of it."
Two cash prizes were awarded:
First place: $7500 Awarded to: Thermouse Matthew Giles from New Haven, Vermont and Cullen Jemison from Starksboro, Vermont attend Champlain College Thermouse: Your hand is unique and your mouse should be too. Thermouse designs ergonomical, 100% customizable mice geared toward gamers.
Second place: $2500 Awarded to: Joyryde Terry Goguen from Massachusetts attends Middlebury College. Joyryde: An app that uses incentives to keep drivers from being distracted by their mobile devices.
LaunchVT Collegiate is sponsored by: VtSBDC, Lake Champlain Regional Chamber of Commerce, BTV Ignite, Castleton University, Champlain College, Johnson State College, Lyndon State College, Middlebury College, Norwich College, St. Michael’s College, the University of Vermont, and Vermont Technical College.
Applications for LaunchVT, which will award more than $80,000 in cash and prizes in May, are now underway. Visitwww.launchvt.comfor more information. The application deadline for LaunchVT isMarch 13, 2016.
LaunchVT is Vermont’s statewide business competition and is made possible thanks to our sponsors, including: the Lake Champlain Regional Chamber of Commerce, Vermont Department of Economic Development, Vermont EPSCoR, Free Press Media, People’s United Bank, New England Federal Credit Union, ReconciledIt, Paul Frank & Collins, Dinse Knapp & McAndrew, FreshTracks Capital, Designbook, Reading Plus, Agilion, Vermont Center for Emerging Technologies, Dale Carnegie Training, Opportunities Credit Union, Gallagher Flynn & Company, Leonardo’s, Merritt & Merritt & Moulton, Brandthropology, BTV Ignite, Champlain College, University of Vermont, Vermont Economic Development Authority, North Country Angels, Redstone, Dealer.com, ArtsRiot, and Main Street Landing.
LaunchVT is powered by the Lake Champlain Regional Chamber of Commerce. LCRCC is the largest business advocacy organization in the state. The Chamber puts everything into place to help our members grow their businesses: providing innovative member services and programs, promoting our region and making it an even better place to do business. To learn more about the Chamber, visit www.vermont.org/chamber