BURLINGTON, Vt. (February 10, 2025) – LaunchVT, a division of the Lake Champlain Chamber, is now accepting applications for its 2025 Accelerator. The selected startups will be the 13th cohort through LaunchVT’s flagship acceleration program.
Entrepreneurs selected for the cohort will work with a dedicated business coach and strategic advisors to address their startup’s most pressing needs. They will also participate in peer sessions, office hours with business advisors, and workshops with content experts over the 13-week program, which begins on April 2 and concludes on June 27.
The highlight of the program is Demo Night on June 24 at Hula, when the cohort of founders will pitch their businesses to investors and the public. Each entrepreneur will leave the program with a refined and polished pitch deck, a Launch Report, and extensive connections to advisors, investors, service providers, and other local founders.
Last year’s LaunchVT participants included Biobe, Brightwater Tools, EnrichedHQ, Flipt, Hootie Hoo, h2Go, Offshore Greens, and Shrubbly. At Demo Night, Brightwater Tools took home the $5,000 audience choice award, while Biobe received the $15,000 grand prize.
Cathy Davis, president of the Lake Champlain Chamber, announced that “the startups selected this year will be the 13th cohort to come through LaunchVT’s flagship accelerator since the Chamber founded the program.” She added, “Since 2013, LaunchVT has delivered on the Chamber’s mission of creating economic opportunities for all Vermonters by providing strategic support, education, and coaching to high-growth startups statewide.”
Applicants will be selected for the LaunchVT cohort based on viability, scalability, and impact:
- Viability – quality of the product, business model, and team;
- Scalability – market opportunity and revenue growth potential;
- Impact – job creation and positive economic impact on Vermont.
Lauren Bass, director of LaunchVT, emphasized the exceptional funding opportunities available to the 2025 cohort, reinforcing the accelerator’s role in driving some of Vermont’s fastest-growing startups. “With support from our statewide partners and Vermont’s tight-knit network of early-stage investors, top strategists, and world-class mentors, LaunchVT continues to accelerate the success of our most promising ventures. As new funding sources emerge, now is a prime time for these high-growth startups to secure the capital needed to scale and thrive.”
Applications will close on February 28, 2025, at 11:59 p.m. To learn more about LaunchVT or apply, visit launchvt.com. Contact the Director of LaunchVT, Lauren Bass, with questions at [email protected].