Innovation Week will run from Tuesday, October 15th through Saturday, October 19th
Innovation Week is back! This year’s program will highlight and celebrate a range of innovative technologies, practices, and people across different sectors.
Be a part of this unique experience and connect with innovators in tech, entrepreneurship, healthcare, manufacturing, art, and more and learn how Burlington is becoming an authentic innovation ecosystem that is both strengthening our local community while making global impacts. Innovation Week 2019 will also include events presented by community partners, such as Seven Days’ Tech Jam and Reconciled's Entrepreneur Summit. Most events will be free, open to the public, and family-friendly.
Additional news and events will be added here in the coming weeks, so check back in to stay up to date on all things Innovation Week.
October 15th
Innovation Week Kickoff Event: Our State of Innovation
Tuesday, October 15, 2019
12:00 PM 3:00 PM
Vermont Center for Emerging Technologies (VCET) (map)
Innovation is defined in many different ways, but at its core, innovation is about bringing into existence brilliant and socially relevant ideas to create significant positive change. But what does it take to be innovative? This event, hosted by the Vermont Center for Emerging Technologies (VCET) and BTV Ignite, will bring together experts, entrepreneurs, and decision-makers to discuss their work and share their stories of what it takes to innovate in Vermont.
Introductory remarks and special announcements will be given by Burlington Mayor Miro Weinberger and UVM President Garimella. Following these remarks, a panel discussion will explore the state of innovation in Vermont.
Panelists include David Bradbury, President of Vermont Center for Emerging Technologies (VCET), Michael Ly, CEO of Reconciled, Co-Founder of Humnly, and Co-Founder of BlockchainVT, and Sascha Mayer and Christine Dodson, Founders of Mamava, and Janice St. Onge, Preident of Flexible Capital Fund. The panel will be moderated by John Antonucci, Director of Entrepreneurship at LaunchVT
This event will be free and open to the public. Please register, as space is limited.
Innovation in Healthcare
Tuesday, October 15, 2019
5:00 PM 7:30 PM
Larner College of Medicine Sullivan Classroom (map)
Join EMBOLDIA and guest moderator Dr. Barry Finette, co-founder of THINKMD, for an engaging conversation with Dr. Darin Vercillo, co-founder of Central Logic as they discuss Entrepreneurs, Technology, and the Healthcare Revolution.
Also featuring Shameless Plugs, an around the room no-holds-barred 2-minute opportunity for attendees to share current business concepts, garner interest for investment opportunities, seek collaboration, or engage with potential employees or employers.
October 16th
Innovation in Energy
Wednesday, October 16, 2019
5:30 PM 7:30 PM
Vermont Energy Investment Corp (VEIC) (map)
Climate change impacts everyone on Earth, and Burlington is at the forefront of combating this crisis. This event will highlight the work of the Vermont Energy Investment Corporation (VEIC), Packetized Energy, and the Burlington Electric Department (BED) and how they are developing and deploying innovative technologies and practices to fight climate change and realize a truly sustainable future for future generations.
This event is free and open to the public. Please register as space is limited.
October 17th
Reconciled's Entrepreneur Summit
Thursday, October 17, 2019
8:00 AM 4:30 PM
Reconciled is welcoming entrepreneurs from all over the country to come and learn about launching and scaling an online services business. Come learn from entrepreneurs who have successfully built seven-figure businesses that leverage the latest in cloud-based technology with a remote-team approach.
This one-day event will feature keynote lectures and workshops led by entrepreneurs who have successfully built seven-figure businesses that leverage the latest in cloud-based technology with a remote team approach.
This is a private and paid event.
Vermont Tech Jam
Thursday, October 17, 2019
9:00 AM 5:00 PM
Yup, Vermont’s home to numerous innovative companies that are working locally and producing globally. The Vermont Tech Jam is one of the few times each year that all of these amazing companies come together under one roof to recruit talent and show off their latest projects.
This event is held annually by Seven Days, is free, and open to the public.
Continuous Improvement and Innovation Symposium
Thursday, October 17, 2019
10:30 AM 3:00 PM
GlobalFounderies (map)
Join the Vermont Manufacturing Extension Center (VMEC) and other Vermont continuous improvement and innovation enthusiasts at this unique networking and learning event! The purpose of this special VMEC Manufacturing Month Event is to connect, stimulate, and learn. This Symposium is an opportunity to see what’s happening right here in Vermont by bringing together hundreds of people from the business, educational, and government communities to share their knowledge and experiences.
October 18th
Innovation in Craft Beverage
Friday, October 18, 2019
5:30 PM 8:00 PM
Citizen Cider Press House (map)
The craft beverage revolution is a modern story of innovation like no other and has deeps roots here in Burlington. In particular, Flynn Avenue in Burlington’s South End has been and remains the home of some the most successful craft brews in the game. This event offers an opportunity to hear from Alan Newman, Founder of Magic Hat Brewing, Bill Cherry, Founder of Switchback Brewing, and Justin Heilenbach, Founder of Citizen Cider.
These entrepreneurs will share their stories of how taking chances and doing it differently has made Burlington a pioneer and steadfast leader in the global craft beverage industry.
After the presentation, there will be time for Q&A, live music, and (of course) some libations.
October 19th
Champlain Mini Maker Faire at City Hall
Saturday, October 19, 2019
2:00 PM 5:00 PM
Champain Mini Maker Faire at City Hall (map)
The Champlain Maker Faire is a family-friendly festival of invention, creativity, and resourcefulness. Part science fair, part county fair, and part something entirely new, Maker Faire is an all-ages gathering of tech enthusiasts, crafters, educators, tinkerers, hobbyists, engineers, science clubs, authors, artists, students, and commercial exhibitors. All of these “makers” come to Maker Faire to show what they have made and to share what they have learned.
Maker Faire is primarily designed to be forward-looking, showcasing makers who are exploring new forms and new technologies. But it’s not just for the novel in technical fields; Maker Faire features innovation and experimentation across the spectrum of science, engineering, art, performance, and craft.
Maker Faire is a gathering of fascinating, curious people who enjoy learning and who love sharing what they can do. It’s a venue for makers to show examples of their work and interact with others about it. Many makers say they have no other place to share what they do and their work is often invisible in our communities, taking place in shops, garages and on kitchen tables. Maker Faire makes visible these projects and ideas that we don’t encounter every day.
This event is free, open to the public, and family-friendly. There is no registration required.