Results
2018
1ST PLACE
Green Mountain Maple Innovations | Vermont Tech
Jack Beauparlant and Manny Aretakis
A new tool for tapping trees that is ergonomic, light weight and more efficient than traditional tools.
2ND PLACE
BeachIt | Middlebury College
Andrew Smith
An innovative parking app solution that allows people with spaces to connect with people that will pay to use them.
3rD PLACE
Pure Investments | Champlain College
Michael Wolf
A crypto-currency trading information and education platform that allows subscribers to gain confidence and invest on their own
2017
First prize: $6000
Awarded to: Beacon
Max Robbins and Peter Silverman attend the University of Vermont.
Beacon: The future of embarking on careers after college. Beacon creates user-friendly, visually-pleasing career software for institutions of higher education.
Second prize: $2000
Awarded to: Share to Wear
Linley Shaw and Michelle Yang attend Middlebury College.
Share to Wear: One big affordable, accessible, fashionable closet for college women.
Third prize: $1000
Awarded to: PetMed
Matthew Brien, Jillian Daniell, Macy FitzGerald, and Kimberly Westby attend Vermont Technical College.
PetMed: An automated pill dispenser to medicate your pet when you're away from home.
2016
At the first-ever LaunchVT Collegiate Competition, teams from Champlain College and Middlebury College were awarded cash prizes to help launch their businesses. First prize winner, Thermouse from Champlain College will also have the opportunity to compete as a finalist in the LaunchVT competition on May 5 in Burlington.
Tom Torti, President of the Lake Champlain Chamber which helped organize the competition, was impressed by the quality of the pitches “It warms the heart to see the talent and creativity the teams brought to their business ideas and presentations today. I hope these students walk away knowing that if they do start a business in Vermont, there is a great network of people to support them.”
First prize winners Matthew Giles and Cullen Jemison said after winning that “We consider this a really vital step in moving toward our goal of manufacturing this product in Vermont.
Eight teams from Castleton University, Champlain College, Johnson State College, Lyndon State College, Middlebury College, Norwich College, St. Michael’s College, the University of Vermont, and Vermont Technical College competed in today’s competition. Vermont Technical College President, Dan Smith, commented that “Entrepreneurship is in Vermont’s DNA. This event is an excellent opportunity for students and the state to showcase our creativity and enterprising spirit. We are thrilled to field a team and be a part of it."
First place: $7500
Awarded to: Thermouse
Matthew Giles from New Haven, Vermont attends Champlain College; and Cullen Jemison from Starksboro, Vermont attends the University of Vermont.
Thermouse: Your hand is unique and your mouse should be too. Thermouse designs ergonomical, 100% customizable mice geared toward gamers.
Second place: $2500
Awarded to: Joyryde
Terry Goguen, from Massachusetts, attends Middlebury College.
Joyryde: An app that uses incentives to keep drivers from being distracted by their mobile devices.
Third place: $500
Awarded to: Vermont Supply Crates
Alex and Rebecca Romac, siblings, attend the University of Vermont.
Vermont Supply Crates: A handmade wooden gift box stocked with local Vermont products and shipped directly to your door.