Vermont Business Magazine Vermont Innovation Commons (The Commons) announces a new partnership with Microsoft for Startups (MFS), specifically designed to benefit Vermont entrepreneurs. The Commons is committed to increasing entrepreneurship and growth-stage companies in Vermont through knowledge, capital, and mentorship making this partnership a natural fit.
This program will support Business to Business (B2B) companies, accelerating their growth through access to free Microsoft technology and mentorship.
To kick things off, The Commons and MFS will partner with Center for Women and Enterprise (CWE) on their newest offering, Trust.IT.
This 8-week short course helps tech-based women entrepreneurs implement their business model through a foundation of trust: in themselves, their team, partners, tech, data, and Vermont to support them as they grow their businesses.
As part of the Trust Your Tech session, Microsoft for Startup staff will deliver programming and offer one-on-one mentoring sessions for entrepreneurs in the cohort with a focus of strengthening their CTO skills and increasing their market reach.
“The Trust.IT program finds its relevance and strength in the rich partners engaging with the participants. Having The Commons as a key partner on this program is exciting, and their ability to bring their strategic partnership with Microsoft for Startups adds deep value to our clients and the profile of startups in Vermont!” says Gwen Pokalo, Director of Vermont Center for Women & Enterprise
The Commons is looking forward to continuing to build their relationship with MFS as their company grows. In accordance with their mission, they will evolve their partnership to bring resources to increase skill development, global market reach, and mentorship to Vermont companies.
“We are thrilled to bring Microsoft for Startups to Vermont and to partner with CWE to implement our first program. Trust is paramount to everyone’s work in Vermont and particularly with data, so it was a natural fit for the three organizations. It's the perfect jumping-off point for what we hope is a long partnership with Microsoft for Startups,” explains Mark Naud, CEO of Vermont Innovation Commons.
The Trust.IT program begins on September 3rd, 2019 and runs for eight weeks in Burlington, VT at rotating venues. For more information about Trust.IT please see the CWE website or reach out to Gwen Pokalo [email protected]
About Vermont Innovation Commons
The Vermont Innovation Commons is a launching pad for entrepreneurs and innovators, a nurturing partner for startup and growth firms with the ultimate goal of creating living-wage jobs and retaining youth and innovation in the state.
With a statewide focus, we spearhead projects that capture the benefits of the sharing economy, the state’s entrepreneurial DNA, and Vermonters' signature work hard, play hard lifestyle. Working in tandem with the business community here and beyond, we are working to create a future that maintains Vermont’s cultural roots while building a thriving future full of opportunities for everyone.
For more information about Vermont Innovation Commons please visit www.vtinnovationcommons.com.
Source: BURLINGTON, VT - September 4, 2019 - Vermont Innovation Commons