Vermont EPSCoR has partnered with LaunchVT to provide Vermont businesses additional funding opportunities.

The annual LaunchVT business pitch competition winner receives $30,000 in cash and more than $45,000 of in-­kind support. The new partnership enables LaunchVT to offer a 2nd place prize of $15,000 in cash and $25,000 worth of in-­kind support.
The second place prize is called the VT EPSCoR Innovate Cash Prize.

Patrick Clemens, cyber specialist for Vermont EPSCoR, said the organization saw LaunchVT as an opportunity to "invest in these new quick ­moving entrepreneurs."
"We thought of creating our own program, but it was much easier to partner with LaunchVT because of the great proposals they attract every year," Clemens said.

LaunchVT is a community initiative powered by the Lake Champlain Regional Chamber of Commerce to provide entrepreneurs with an opportunity to get exposure, education and real experience to start their business.