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Message from the Board
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Useful Links
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Dear vtTA Members & Supporters,
We enjoyed the opportunity to meet so many people at the 8th annual Tech Jam last month to discuss tech jobs, tech businesses, and the vtTA. Approximately 2,000 came through the doors - not to mention about 500 school kids - and nearly all of the 60+ exhibitors were hiring. We also were pleased to present the third annual Tech Jam awards, sponsored by Merchant's Bank. Congratulations to the winners: Greensea Systems for the Innovation Award, and Bradley Holt and Jason Pelletier of Found Line for the Ambassador Award.
Tech and other businesses face constant threats from security breaches, which can cost businesses cash, customers and public confidence. Join us at our next Lunch & Learn event on Wednesday November 19 for a discussion on document and information security in an age of hackers and identity thieves. John Burton of NPI and Dave Van Mullen of SecurShred will discuss the IT and physical security steps that can prevent the loss of confidential and personal information.
Finally, we're pleased to report that the Vermont Technology Alliance has received a $10,000 donation from the Stiller Family Foundation. As a non-profit, the vtTA depends on donations, membership fees and sponsorships to continue its operations and programs, so we are grateful for this financial support. Please consider supporting the vtTA to help us carry out our mission to strengthen, promote and grow Vermont's technology business sector.
Jeff Couture
Executive Director, Vermont Technology Alliance
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Upcoming Events
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Become a Sponsor
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Lunch & Learn: Document and Information Security in an Age of Hackers and Identity Thieves
[November 19, 2014, noon to 2 p.m. - Community College of Vermont, Winooski]
Vermont's technology and other businesses depend on the recording, storing and sharing of electronic and physical data among employees, customers and business partners - but how can they ensure it's safe and how should it be managed? In this vtTA Lunch & Learn session, John Burton of NPI and Dave Van Mullen of SecurShred will discuss IT and physical security measures to prevent the loss of confidential and personal information, from virus protection and stopping cyber thieves, to information back-up and electronics recycling and destruction. Attendees will gain a better understanding of the potential security threats and effective countermeasures to prevent the loss of critical information.
For more information and to register, click here.
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Ladies Love Tech Fall Social
[November 20, 2014 - Generator, Burlington]
Girl Develop It Burlington, the Society of Women Engineers (SWE) and Vermont Works for Women are joining forces for a fun night at Generator. They will be meeting up to connect and network with women in tech during Generator's monthly social hour.
For more information, click here.
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We have sponsorship opportunities in our newsletter, for our Lunch & Learn events, on our website, and much more.
Click the link below to contact us.
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Teaching the Legal Basics of Innovation and Entrepreneurship to Scientists and Engineers
[November 25, 2015 - UVM, HSRF 300]
Oliver Goodenough of the Vermont Law School will discuss the legal basics important to scientific entrepreneurs. It is part of the University of Vermont's Spark-VT initiative, designed to connect researchers with business innovators to help commercialize research.
For more information, click here.
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Vermont's Mini Tech Boom
[Nov 12, 2014 - Source: Dice.com]
Vermont is in the midst of a mini tech boom, one that's producing its own share of jobs. While the tech giants of Silicon Valley might not have large outposts in the state, recent activity by area startups and midsize companies has translated into a growing number of IT positions.
For more information, click here.
Ello answers critics with $5.5M in venture capital
[November 13, 2014 - Source: burlingtonfreepress.com]
Ello's claims that its popular social network site would remain ad-free were greeted with skepticism among tech bloggers and journalists. In response, Founder Paul Budnitz raised an additional $5.5 million in venture capital, while simultaneously turning Ello into a public benefit corporation.
For more information, click here.
GlobalFoundries Stresses Commitment to IBM Essex Plant
[Nov 12, 2014 - Source: vpr.net]
When GlobalFoundries takes over IBM's semiconductor plant in Essex Junction, employees there will become part of a young company that has grown rapidly in the five years since it was established. Recently, Tom Caulfield, a senior vice president at GlobalFoundries, sought to dispel concerns that there would be any significant changes in Essex in the next four or five years, following a series of layoffs by IBM.
For more information, click here.
UVM expands SPARK-VT initiative to stimulate research innovation
[November 13, 2014 - Source: vermontbiz.com]
UVM has expanded SPARK-VT, an initiative launched in 2012 by the Department of Medicine to help bring promising research discoveries to the marketplace. The program connects UVM faculty with leading experts from the biotech, pharmaceutical, business and legal fields and provides seed grant funding to move the best project ideas forward to commercialization.
For more information, click here.
Center for Appreciative Inquiry unveiled at Champlain College
[November 12 - Source: Vermont Business Magazine]
Champlain College's new David L Cooperrider Center for Appreciative Inquiry is the only academic center in the world focused entirely on Appreciative Inquiry. AI, as it's known by practitioners across the globe, emphasizes a strengths-based approach to organizational development and management.
For more information, click here.
Burlington Adds Cryptocurrency With Bitcoin ATM
[November 12, 2014 - Source: sevendaysvt.com]
The usual point of an ATM is to transform a virtual representation of money - the digits of your bank account balance - into crisp, green bills you can stuff in your wallet. But a Bitcoin ATM swallows cash instead of spitting it out. For a demonstration, one need only visit the Burlington-based 3D print shop Blu-Bin - one of the few businesses in Vermont that accepts Bitcoin, and now home to the state's one and only Bitcoin ATM.
For more information, click here.
Oracle v Google: Are APIs Copyrightable?
[November 12, 2014 - Source: Downs Rachlin Martin]
Last month, Google asked the Supreme Court to hear its appeal of an appeals court ruling that certain application program interfaces (APIs) are copyrightable. In a blog post, local attorney Mark Chadurjian discusses how he expects the result could have significant ramifications on the use of program APIs without a license.
For more information, click here.
Meet the People Who Power Vermont's Growing Tech Sector
[October 24, 2014 - Source: sevendaysvt.com]
Vermont's tech economy is growing. It isn't Silicon Valley - yet - but anecdotal evidence suggests an increasing number of local tech companies are calling Vermont home. Advances in technology are playing a role in this shift - it's easier than ever to connect and share information in Vermont - but it's people who make the network work. Seven Days talked with seven of them who've found their niches in various corners of the state's tech industry: schools, businesses, community organizations.
Read the article here.
An A-Z Guide to Vermont's Tech Ecosystem
[October 24, 2014 - Source: sevendaysvt.com]
From A is for access (to the Internet) to Z is for zettabyte, Seven Days compiled an A-Z guide to Vermont's evolving technology innovation ecosystem.
Read the article here.
Faraday Awarded $1M to Modernize Solar Sales
[October 22 - Source: PRNewswire]
Faradayhas received a $1 million U.S. Department of Energy SunShot Initiative award. The funding will support the development of the Faraday platform, which uses data analysis and visualization to improve conversion rates.
For more information, click here.
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Websites that work are a combination of visual appeal, usability, and marketability. Union Street Media is real estate software and Internet marketing company that creates lead-generating websites designed to target qualified buyers and sellers. Their team thrives on innovation and lives on the front lines of real estate technology. Their USM Interactive team develops custom websites on WordPress.
For more information, visit www.unionstreetmedia.com
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Would you like to see your company highlighted? Know of a company the vtTA should be talking about? Send us an email at [email protected]
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The Vermont Technology Alliance continues to welcome new members. If you're not a member, please consider joining us. Members support the outreach and advocacy work of the vtTA and receive discounts on our sponsored events, access to our Career Center and networking and business opportunities. New members joining the vtTA in the past month include the Terasem Movement Foundation and rbTechnologies.
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Useful Information & Links
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vtTA's Career Center
Be sure to check out the Career Center tab on the Vermont Technology Alliance website. Member companies can post open positions for free, while job seekers can search positions and sign up for new posting notifications.
It Job Training Program
The Vermont Department of Labor and Vermont HITEC are offering a job training program called the "Vermont Bridging the Gap Initiative," which has two components for employers looking to fill open IT positions.
- Employers wanting to develop entry-level employees can participate in a program that will offer a combination of classroom instruction and on-the-job training. Participants gain the skills required for entry-level IT positions, such as software developers, web developers, iOS/Java programmers and IT support.
- For more immediate hiring needs, where potential candidates possess some, but not all, of the skills needed, the program will provide direct-hire opportunities that include reimbursement of the required additional training through On-the-Job-Training contracts.
An informational kick-off session for employers was held earlier this month, but there are still opportunities for businesses to participate. For more information contact either Ann Carnell at [email protected], 802-652-0368, or Lisa Dame at Vermont HITEC at [email protected] , (802) 872-0660.
For more information, click here
Professional Certificate in Project Management
The UVM Center for Leadership and Innovation is offering four, day-long sessions in Advanced Project Management Skills Training on Nov. 21, Dec. 5, Dec. 12 and Dec. 19. The program includes topics such as negotiation, conflict management, strategic planning and quality management.
For more information, click here.
SBA accepting award nominations
The Vermont Small Business Administration office is accepting nominations for its annual small business awards. The awards are given in 8 categories. Previous Vermont winners include Ben and Jerry's, Switchback Brewing Company and Vermont Teddy Bear Company.
For more information, click here.
EPSCoR Funding Opportunities
VT EPSCoR is offering three funding opportunities with awards of up to $15,000 to Vermont based businesses, including a new pilot project for small businesses.
- SBIR Phase (0) provides the opportunity to compete for up to $15,000
- Use of Facilities for Private Sector provides the opportunity to compete for up to $5,000
- New - Pilot Project Awards for Small Businesses provides the opportunity to compete for up to $10,000
For more information, click here.
VMEC Offers Training
The Vermont Manufacturing Extension Center is offering a number of training workshops in December. Upcoming workshops include:
- Improving Workplace Communication - Dec. 2
- Innovation in Small Business - Dec. 4
- Structured Problem Solving - Dec. 9
For more information on the schedule and workshops, click here.
SCORE Presents Free Workshop on Branding
Champlain Valley SCORE is offering business workshops covering a range of topics targeted to the small business owner held on the first Tuesday of the month through May 2015. The sessions are free and will run from 5:30 to 7:00 at the New England Federal Credit Union, 141 Harvest Lane, Williston. The next session is "All About Branding," with Lisa Taft Sylvester and Mark Sylvester, Owners of Interrobang Design Collaborative Company , which
provides brand strategy and design services for Switchback Brewing Co., Autumn Harp, Gardener's Supply, Middlebury College, Renewable NRG Systems, an others.
For more information and to register, click here.
Workshops on Bringing New Technologies to Market
The Vermont Small Business Development Center (VtSBDC) is presenting a series of free workshops this fall and winter for businesses that are developing new technologies and would like the know-how to bring their ideas to the marketplace. Upcoming workshops are scheduled on "How to Protect Your Intellectual Property," Nov. 20 and Jan 6; and "How to Commercialize Your Idea," Dec. 9 and 11.
For more information, click here.
Know of any resources that would be helpful to vtTA members? Send us an email at [email protected]
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� 2014 Vermont Technology Alliance | 70 South Winooski Ave., Box 270, Burlington, VT 05401 | (802) 735-0840
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