Vermont Business Magazine At its final seminar of 2016, LaunchVT, Vermont’s business pitch competition, announced the seven finalists for the 2016 competition. After viewing 50 applications, the LaunchVT Advisory Board Selection Committee chose six to continue as finalists in the competition. A seventh finalist enters the competition as a result of the LaunchVT Collegiate Competition, held in February. The winner of that competition received prize money as well as an automatic finalist spot in LaunchVT.
Thermouse from Champlain College won the previous LaunchVT
The finalists will now be paired with mentors from the entrepreneurial community, who will work with their teams to help them prepare for the May 5 competition. At the competition, each team will have eight minutes to present its pitch to a panel of judges. One first-place winner will receive $30,000 and over $40,000 of in-kind services. A second-place winner will receive $15,000 and over $20,000 of in-kind services.
The finalists and their coaches are:
• Andy Peters of Agewize, coached by Kelly Scannell of Reading Plus
• Greg Kelly and James Mix of Hortlabs, coached by TJ Whalen of FreshTracks Capital
• Abbott Stark, Alex Stark, and Mark Rice of Ogee, coached by James Macon of Closed Loop Capital
• Chas Smith, Charles Smith, and Nikita Salmon of Sap! Maple Water, coached by Tim Volk of KSV
• Ken Puzey of Solar Water Boiler, coached by Jeff Bernicke of NativeEnergy
• Julie Lineberger of Wheelpad, coached by Andrew Stickney of Burlington Bytes
• Matt Giles and Cullen Jemison of Thermouse, coached by Bob Bloch of Champlain College
“LaunchVT is designed to give entrepreneurs the support they need to grow their businesses here in Vermont and we’re excited to see such a high level of innovation and growth potential in this year’s finalists” said Tom Torti, President of the Lake Champlain Regional Chamber of Commerce. Matt Giles, of Thermouse, the LaunchVT Collegiate finalist commented that "I'm really excited for the opportunity to start manufacturing my product in Vermont."
LaunchVT 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, Burlington Bytes, Opportunities Credit Union, Gallagher Flynn & Company, Leonardo’s, Merritt & Merritt & Moulton, Brandthropology, Oxbow, BTV Ignite, Champlain College, University of Vermont, Vermont Economic Development Authority, North Country Angels, Redstone, Dealer.com, ArtsRiot, Courtyard Marriott, 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.
RELATED: Champlain College team wins LaunchVT Collegiate Competition