The Vermont Center for Emerging Technologies and Hotel Vermont announced today the InnovateHER VT Challenge, a new business pitch event in Burlington, VT.
The competition is at 5:30 p.m. Oct. 19 at the Hotel Vermont, 41 Cherry St. Vermont EPSCoR and VCET have underwritten a $10,000 cash prize to the event winner as well as a nomination to participate in the national Small Business Administration event, which has $70,000 in prizes in spring 2016.
Organizers intend this competition to increase access to capital and feedback for local entrepreneurs, to highlight the importance of women led companies, and ventures that are specifically designed to improve the lives of women and families.
InnovateHER VT is a part of a national pitch competition through the SBA celebrating and promoting women entrepreneurs and ventures that impact and empower the lives of women and families.
Hotel Vermont General Manager, Hans van Wees said, “Our community is fortunate to be home to one of the highest concentrations of talent, creativity and determination in the country. Hotel Vermont is honored to have hosted many of Vermont’s young entrepreneurs since opening in May 2013. Working with VCET in hosting entrepreneurs who develop ideas, products and services that will impact and empower the lives of women and families is especially gratifying.”
Last year, 36.8 percent of businesses in the U.S. were started by women, according to research from the Kauffman Foundation.
“Vermont’s challenge is to support entrepreneurs in order to grow its economy and women led ventures can be a greater part of the solution. InnovateHER VT is one of the many events and programs advancing women as entrepreneurs,” said Catherine Collins, Vice President of Entrepreneur Development at VCET. “Hotel Vermont is a forward leaning brand that supports Vermont entrepreneurs in many ways including things such as placing Vermont Soap in each room and showcasing Budnitz Bicycles in the lobby.”
The judging panel consists of local entrepreneurs and investors including Kelly Scannell from Reading Plus, co-founder of Dealer.com Rick Gibbs and others.
The event beings at 5:30 p.m., is free and open to the public. Individuals are encouraged to participate in the competition or to join as a networking opportunity within Vermont’s venture community. Information about entering the challenge as an entrepreneur can be found at innovatehervt.com/rsvp. Applications to pitch are due by noon Oct. 15.
InnovateHER VT
Oct.19, 2015 5:30 – 7:30 p.m. Juniper Hall at Hotel Vermont Burlington, Vt.
Please Register to attend the Event at:
https://www.eventbrite.com/e/innovateher-tickets-18955792285
Applicants to make a pitch apply here:
http://www.innovatehervt.com/rsvp/
About Hotel Vermont:
Locally developed, designed and owned/operated, the rustic and modern Hotel Vermont is the first independent hotel to join the quaint town of Burlington. The 125-room, LEED-certified hotel features an array of Vermont-made amenities from local partners.
About Vermont Center for Emerging Technologies:
Since 2008, VCET has worked with over 1,300 start-ups and entrepreneurs, now operates 3 coworking facilities, curates an expert mentor network and makes direct investments from a $5 million revolving seed capital fund. VCET was co-founded by US Senator Patrick Leahy, the University of Vermont’s Dr. John Evans and the Vermont Technology Council. In 2013, VCET was named #11 globally and #5 in the US by the UBI Index.Visit at www.VermontTechnologies.com and follow @VCET.
