$10k Pitch Event Announced - InnovateHER VT Challenge - October 19th at Hotel Vermont


$10,000 Winner-Takes-All Business Pitch Event in Burlington

October 9, 2015 (Burlington, VT): The Vermont Center for Emerging Technologies (VCET) and Hotel Vermont announced today the InnovateHER VT Challenge, a new business pitch event in Burlington, VT.

InnovateHER VT is a part of a national pitch competition that celebrates and promotes women entrepreneurs and ventures that impact and empower the lives of women and families.

The competition will be held at Hotel Vermont on October 19, 2015. 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 SBA 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.

Hotel Vermont General Manager, Hans van Wees states, 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 Vermonts 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% of businesses in the US were started by women (according to research from the Kauffman Foundation). Vermonts 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, VP 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 which includes Kelly Scannell from Reading Plus, co-founder of Dealer.com Rick Gibbs and others.

The event beings at 5:30pm, is free and open to the public. Individuals are encouraged to participate in the competition or to join as a networking opportunity within Vermonts venture community.

InnovateHER VT

October 19th, 20155:30 - 7:30 pmJuniper Hall at Hotel VermontBurlington, VT

Please Register to attend the Event at: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/innovateher-tickets-18955792285

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. www.hotelvt.com.

About Vermont Center for Emerging Technologies (VCET):

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 $5M revolving seed capital fund. VCET was co-founded by US Senator Patrick Leahy, the University of Vermonts 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 VermontTechnologies.com and follow @VCET