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Message from the Board
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Useful Links
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Dear vtTA Members & Supporters,
If you're looking for tech-focused events, you'll find plenty of them in October.
In particular, this month features the first
Innovation Week
that kicks-off with the
Hackathon
, culminates with the 10th
Vermont Tech Jam
,
and has a range of activities in between. It all helps shine a spotlight on the messages that the Vermont Technology Alliance communicates in the state and beyond: Vermont's tech ecosystem is strong and growing, this is a great place to find a tech job or start a tech business, and the tech sector represents an economic growth opportunity for the state.
And we are proud to be an organizing partner for the annual
Vermont Tech Jam
event. We'll be there with over a 160 job openings from our members. The Vermont Technology Alliance is partnering with BTV Ignite and Seven Days to once again present the
Vermont Tech Jam Awards
. Who will win? It's up to you!
Cast your vote here
to select who will be recognized as the winners at the Tech Jam Awards Ceremony Friday, October 21. Voting is open until 11:59 p.m. October 19.
Jeff Couture
Executive Director, Vermont Technology Alliance
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Innovation Week
[October 14-22, 2016 - Various venues, Burlington]
Innovation Week is designed to bring residents, businesses, and visitors of all ages together to showcase the vibrant greater Burlington ecosystem of innovation and technology.
Participants will have an opportunity to attend an array of free discussions, lectures, and social events throughout the week (including a few listed below).
Find more
here.
[October 14 & 15 2016 - Green Mountain Power, Colchester]
This is a 24-Hour Hackathon where teams work to build apps to create a brighter future for Vermont. The theme this year is education.
Find more here.
The candidates for governor join moderator Cathy Resmer of Seven Days for a roundtable discussion sponsored by the Vermont Technology Alliance, BTV Ignite, Seven Days and Vermont PBS. The conversation will be focused on public-policy priorities identified by the Vermont Technology Alliance
[October 19, 2016 - C2-Competitive Computing, Colchester]
Many of today's successful and growing Vermont tech businesses started on the energy and ambition of individuals or partners with ideas, vision and dreams. Leaders of three businesses that started small, but have grown to become successful Vermont tech businesses will share their journeys, lessons learned, and perspectives on leading a tech business in Vermont. This Lunch & Learn is sponsored by C2.
Find more here.
Technology is rapidly evolving. Depending on your business lifecycle stage you may be facing new hurdles as you scale. This Innovation Week event features panelists answering questions relating to the role of technology in various size businesses, from startup to enterprise level organizations.
[October 20, 2016 - Karma Birdhouse, Burlington]
Startup Grind's monthly events featuring successful local founders, innovators, educators and investors, presents a talk by Kyle Clark, the co-founder of Designbook.
Vermont Tech Jam
[October 21-22, 2016 - Champlain Valley Expo, Essex Junction, VT]
 This annual two-day job fair and tech expo features some of Vermont's most exciting companies and their projects. This year's Tech Jam will also host a school mini maker faire organized by the team behind the Champlain Mini Maker Faire.
The VT Web Marketing Summit is a leading annual conference that delivers some
of the boldest, brightest and immersive digital marketing trends, strategies, challenges and success stories. The Vermont Technology Alliance is an event partner.
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The state's top tech firms will be at the 10th Vermont Tech Jam, which takes place Friday and Saturday, October 21 and 22, 2016, at the Champlain Valley Expo in Essex Junction. Attendees can learn about exciting new Vermont-made apps, see drone and robotics demonstrations, find out about colleges and training programs, and meet reps from dozens of local companies in healthcare, aerospace, energy efficiency and IT that are hiring. Tech Jam is produced by Seven Days, with organizational support from the Vermont Technology Alliance and BTV Ignite.
The nominations have been made and the judges have selected the finalists. Now the Vermont Technology Alliance, BTV Ignite, and Seven Days invite you to vote to select the 2016 Tech Jam Award winners. There are five finalists for each of the four award categories: Innovation Award, Ambassador Award, Newcomer Award and Startup Award. Voting is open until 11:59 p.m. October 19.
Heather Adams, vice president of human resources at MyWebGrocer, acknowledged the Winooski company has made a "few reductions" in staff, but declined to specify how many jobs were cut. Adams stressed that MyWebGrocer currently has 19 open positions, particularly for its software engineering teams.
 After two buyouts in less than two years at Dealer.com, totaling more than $5 billion in cash, the Burlington-based business is now run by Wayne Pastore, a former chief financial officer from the Boston area. He discusses Dealer's change in ownership from Dealertrack Technologies to Cox Automotive.
[September 26, 2016 - Source: VTDigger]
Since its inception in 2013, Rutland Young Professionals, an all-volunteer group committed to the region's economic revitalization, has been battling the perception that there are few if any opportunities in Rutland. The group would like to put its city and region on the map as a destination for families and new businesses, and hopes its second annual young professionals summit will help.
[September 26, 2016 - Source: Vermont Business Magazine/Press Release]
 The Rutland Economic Development Corp. announced plans to launch a nonprofit makerspace for the Rutland region, including $50,000 of startup capital provided by a special job creation fund donated to REDC by Green Mountain Power. The Greater Rutland Makerspace will be housed in space owned by REDC, with GMP providing used office furniture, and REDC providing rent-free space and utilities.
[September 20, 2016 - Source: vtTA]
The Vermont Technology Alliance is partnering with BTV Ignite, Seven Days and Vermont PBS to sponsor a forum with the candidates for governor on technology, innovation and Vermont's economy, Oct. 17 at Main Street Landing in Burlington. The conversation will be moderated by Cathy Resmer of Seven Days and will be focused on the public-policy priorities identified by the Vermont Technology Alliance in its report "
Vermont's Tech Employment - The Hidden Driver of our Economic Growth
.
"
[September 20, 2016 - Source: UVM]
GreenScale Technologies, a research and development company with ties to UVM focused on the small satellite market, was honored by the National Council of Entrepreneurial Tech Transfer as one of the nation's top 36 university-spawned start-up companies. The company was selected for its miniaturized propulsion system for small satellites.
[September 15, 2016 - Source: Vermont Business Magazine/Press Release]
FairPoint Communications has completed broadband expansion projects in 38 towns in Vermont. As a result of these upgrades, faster broadband speeds are available to approximately 39,250 locations in these communities - including some addresses for the first time.
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Vermont Energy Control Systems LLC (VECS) of Addison County makes general purpose systems that perform monitoring, data logging, and control functions. The most common application is heating and energy management for complex residential and light commercial/industrial installations, but there are systems in college labs and industrial control settings as well.
The business has its origins in 2005 when one of the principals, Bill Kuhns, installed a wood gasification boiler, heat storage, and solar hot water panels. He quickly discovered that there were no satisfactory control solutions, so he built the forerunner of the company's Vesta controller. In 2013 he joined with Ralph Shepard to form VECS.
The company's primary product is the 'Vesta' line of controllers, sensors, and accessories. The Vesta line includes wired and wireless sensors including temperature, humidity, current, motion, wet floor and others. Control options include the full range of standard residential and commercial controls.
VECS has a 'made in Vermont' supply chain, with Vermont suppliers doing metalwork, powder coating, artwork, soldering, and contract engineering. Product development and final assembly is also done in Vermont. With systems in at least eight states and four provinces, VECS is seeing a real increase in demand in a range of markets.
VECS was founded with a core mission to provide knowledge and tools to enable people and organizations to do a better job of managing energy. As part of that mission, the company is 'Open Source', which means that each controller comes with the source code for the software that runs it.
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Vermont Technology Alliance Membership Update
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The Vermont Technology Alliance thanks the following new and renewing business members:
The Vermont Technology Alliance welcomes businesses and individuals to join our non-profit business association. Members benefit from vtTA's advocacy, programs and services, including discounts on our sponsored events, job postings in our Career Center, and networking and business opportunities. To find our more and to discuss membership, contact Jeff Couture,
[email protected]
, or sign up to be a new member
here
.
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Useful Information & Links
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SCORE Launches Small Business Education Series for 2016-2017
Score is offering a nine-part series of free education sessions for small business on the second Wednesday of each month from 5:30 to 7 p.m. at the New England Federal Credit Union in Williston. This series is targeted to those who are either thinking about getting into business or have a new business, and could use some information and education to help them be successful.
Find more details
here.
UVM OutReach Blog Profiles Students, Graduates
Continuing and Distance Education at UVM offers over 40 programs for non-traditional students whether they're preparing for an undergraduate or advanced degree, looking for a career change, or seeking individual development. Read more about what some of their talented students and alumni are doing in the blog,
UVM OutReach.
vtTA's Career Center
Vermont Technology Alliance member companies are hiring, and when you visit the
Career Center
on the
Vermont Technology Alliance website
you can browse and search for these job openings
. We currently have more than 150 job openings for both tech and non-tech positions, making it a great source for finding an opportunity with growing Vermont tech businesses.
Are you looking for business services, meet-up groups, government information or funding sources? Find this and more at vtTA's
resources page
posted on the
Vermont Technology Alliance website
. And be sure to let us know if there's something we should add.
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| © 2014 Vermont Technology Alliance | 70 South Winooski Ave., Box 270, Burlington, VT 05401 | (802) 735-0840 |
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