Startup Vermont Panel Discussion
May 29th, 2012
Alumni Auditorium, Champlain College

Jumpstart Our Business Startups: The 2012 JOBS Act
Raising Capital For Private Companies/Investing Capital in Private Companies

The recent Federal JOBS (Jumpstart Our Business Startups) Act is arguably the most comprehensive and sweeping piece of legislation to affect private capital markets in more than 60 years. The JOBS Act will allow private companies to “crowdfund” equity investors and will remove the longtime prohibition of General Solicitation for Regulation D private offerings aimed at accredited investors. Join Cairn Cross from FreshTracks Capital, Brian Murphy from Dinse, Janice Shade from True Body Products and John Cronin from BISHCA as they actively speculate what this new world of fund raising will look like. This discussion will be moderated by Dave Strubler, Dean of Champlain College’s business school, and the event will include plenty of time for questions and comments from the audience. The event is free and open to all but is primarily of interest to, entrepreneurs interested in raising capital, angel investors who invest in Regulation D private offerings, anyone interested in participating in crowdfunded equity investments, broker dealers, registered investment advisors, professional business advisors, and students.

“There is a tremendous interest among entrepreneurs and investors in the legislative changes codified in the JOBS Act,” said Cairn Cross, Co-Founder of FreshTracks Capital, “but there is also plenty of confusion. Although the SEC still has to promulgate rules based on the JOBS Act, we plan during our discussion to actively speculate on what challenges and opportunities will exist for entrepreneurs, investors and professional advisors because of this sweeping new regulation.”

When: May 29th from 7:00PM to 9:00PM

Where: Alumni Auditorium at Champlain College.

Cost: Free

Presented by: Champlain College and Startup Vermont.

To Sign Up, visit the facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/events/280583042036337/

Tech @ Rutland Meetup:
Entrepreneur’s Networking Event Planned for May 31st

Thinking about starting a technology firm?
Got a growing business?
Looking for interns?
Or, do you just want to connect with other entrepreneurs and investors?

If so, come meet up at the Tech @ Rutland Meetup
Thursday, May 31st, from 5:30pm – 7:30pm at:

VBSR 2012 Spring Conference:
Creating Pathways for Vermont’s Next Business Generation

Date: Tuesday May 15th, 2012
Time: 7:29 AM – 5:30 PM
Location: UVM Davis Center
Address: 590 Main Street, Burlington, VT 05405

Cost: Register on or before May 8th to take advantage of early bird rates: $140 VBSR Members; $190 for non-members

Register Here
Download Press Release Here 

For More Info: E-mail CONFERENCE@VBSR.ORG or call (802) 862-8347

VT EPSCoR has two new funding opportunities for private sector projects:

1. SBIR Phase (0) – deadline May 1, 2012
2. Private Sector Use of Facilities – deadline May 8, 2012

SBIR Phase (0) (due May 1, 2012): Awards up to $15,000 each.
Use of Facilities for Private Sector (due May 8, 2012): Awards up to $5,000 each.

Please check each individual RFP for full requirements and more detailed information.
Electronic Submission forms are available on the web at the above links.
Questions? Contact Lillian Gamache at epscor@uvm.edu

The Woodstock Digital Media Festival returns this summer.

The Woodstock Digital Media Festival is a unique experience for all kinds of people — you’ll find those with a keen professional interest alongside those who just want to learn about and experience some of the most fascinating work happening today from all over the country. The Festival is many things:

– A showcase of the most innovative, accessible, and thought provoking digital media
– An engaging interactive exhibition and exploration
– A memorable event that captures the energy from different perspectives – artists, educators, non- profits, and business leaders
– A unique experience in Vermont as the perfect backdrop to engage in digital media

from woodstockdigital.com

Register for both free and paid events on eventbrite
Follow @WDMFestival on twitter and  facebook
Read the press release from vtdigger

Dave Porcello CEO of Pwnie Express — a VCET incubator company — and his popular device, the Pwn Plug, were recently featured in a Wired Magazine article about penetration testing. The article, The Little White Box That Can Hack Your Network, explains the burgeoning field of penetration testing and the power of Pwnie’s device in helping pentesters to expose the vulnerability of wired and wireless networks. The Pwn Plug allows companies — large and small — to covertly test the security of their networks at an affordable price. As a result, the Pwn Plug has become a huge success across a wide range on industries. This is surely an exciting time for Porcello’s Barre-based Pwnie Express.

The 7th annual Invention to Venture Workshop
 I2V: Vermont 2012

There’s still time to register!
Date: Monday, April 2, 2012
Time: 1:30 AM to 4:30 PM (with reception to follow)
Location: Grand Maple Ballroom, 4th Floor Dudley H. Davis Center, University of Vermont

You are invited to attend this half day event with great speakers focused on inspiring entrepreneurship, job creation, and economic growth. We are honored to announce that Carolyn Edwards, President and CEO of C2 will give the keynote talk. There are also two roundtable discussions planned on finding funding sources and entrepreneurial lessons learned.

Who Should Attend

Aspiring technological entrepreneurs, including students, faculty and community members.

What You Will Learn
How to take ideas to commercialization and how to make valuable networking connections. Your future business partner or investor may be sitting beside you!

Cost
$5 Students; $20 All others (includes reception)

For more information or to register go to: I2V: Vermont 2012

Invention to Venture workshops are held in cooperation with the National Collegiate Inventors and Innovators Alliance (NCIIA).

Worried about state tax policy regarding cloud computing?

GBIC and the Lake Champlain Regional Chamber of Commerce invite you to attend a free informational meeting over breakfast on Wednesday, March 14, from 8:00 – 9:00 a.m. at the Sheraton Hotel on the status of pending legislation regarding taxation of cloud based services. We will provide an overview of the issue with the assistance of Michael Wasser, attorney with State Tax Services, LLC and former Vermont Tax Department analyst, a question and answer opportunity and advice as to how you can get involved to change the state’s direction on this issue.

A recent article in Seven Days entitled Vermont Software Firms: Taxing the Cloud Has no Silver Lining provides an overview of the issue and why we need to encourage action by state officials.

Space is limited to the first 50 people to sign up, so please email alexa@vermont.org to register for this free breakfast meeting and pass the word on to your colleagues to attend.

Tech @ Middlebury Meetup:
Entrepreneur’s Networking Event Planned for March 15th

Thinking about starting a technology firm?
Got a growing business?
Looking for interns?
Or, do you just want to connect with other entrepreneurs and investors?

If so, then please meet up at the Tech @ Middlebury Meetup
Thursday, March 15th, from 5:30 pm – 7:30 pm at:

51 Main at the bridge
51 Main Street
Middlebury, VT
http://www.go51main.com/
Google Map: http://g.co/maps/7eg7e

Download the Press Release here.

Visit the Facebook Page to get updates on this and future events.

In a recent post for TechCrunch, James Altucher describes that lessons he learned from watching ABC’s Shark Tank with his son. Shark Tank offers a variety of lessons for investors and entrepreneurs.  James sums up the lessons in a top ten list:

1. Math — 10% of the company for $100k = The company’s valuation.
2. Not everything is as it appears — Study the background of your audience in detail, because looks are deceiving.
3.  Sell the dream, not the sales — Investors want to see potential, so dream big and sell them on the future.
4. Don’t nickel and dime —  As Cuban said, “better to have 20% of a $100 million company than 100% of nothing.”
5. Don’t take the Hail Mary Deal —  The last investor left will sometimes throw out a lopsided offer, hoping you are desperate.
6. Be the source — As an investor, take control of the situation by teaming up with others or by becoming the information bank for the entrepreneur.
7. The deal doesn’t close until the money hits —  Deals often fall apart after the handshake.
8. Know what you are good at — Invest in what you know, pitch to the investors that know your business
9.  Get advice when you can — If the deals fall through, get some advice on what to do differently!
10. Who cares? —  Just being on the show is a huge success for these startups. Incredible advertising! So, if you don’t get the money, who cares?

Read the full article here:
http://techcrunch.com/2012/02/25/ten-lessons-shark-tank/