Category: Uncategorized

  • Welcome our new Executive Director!

    Welcome our new Executive Director!

     

    Burlington, Vt:  Generator announced Meg Hammond has been named executive director of the nonprofit makerspace devoted to providing tools, expertise, education, and opportunities enabling members of its community to create, collaborate, and to make their ideas reality.

    Hammond has been a college development director and leader in community arts and education in Vermont for the last 15 years. She was co-founder and CEO of the Langdon Street Café, the collectively run art and music venue in Montpelier that that Seven Days named “the crown jewel of the Montpelier arts community.” She succeeds Chris Thompson, who held the post starting in 2016 and transformed Generator from a two-year-old boot-strapping non-profit to an institutional leader in the entrepreneurship, STEM education, and arts communities. Thompson is returning to his original post on Generator’s board of directors.

    “The Generator board of directors and I are very pleased that Meg Hammond will be joining us as our next Executive Director,” said Generator’s board president, Dan Harvey, “Meg’s background and experience are a great fit for us as we enter our sixth year of providing a unique space for our members and students.”

    Hammond’s hiring comes as Generator plans for strategic growth in membership, educational opportunities, development, and community outreach, building on the successes of a groundbreaking period that included winning the Mayor’s Prize for Entrepreneurship, launching new programming including AMP (the Advanced Manufacturing Program) for high school students, and witnessing the successes of Generator members, including those involved with industry-leading companies Beta Technologies and OVR Technology, and several artists winning local and national accolades.

    “It is a great honor to join the Generator team and extended community of makers, artists, and entrepreneurs,” said Hammond, “I have watched Generator grow extensively over the last five years and I look forward to building on its current successes while collaboratively imaging the next strategic steps to continue empowering the Burlington community to design, innovate, and actualize solutions for tomorrow.” 

    Hammond comes to Generator from Goddard College where she was Director of Development. At Goddard she led a successful campaign for a multi-phase renovation of the historic Haybarn Theatre in 2014 and produced the Haybarn Theatre Concert Series featuring world-class performers including Suzanne Vega and Jonathan Richman. Hammond was costume designer and stage manager for the original Vermont productions of Hadestown which went on to win 8 Tony awards in 2019. Hammond is working towards her Masters of Arts in Psychology from Goddard College and holds a Bachelor of Arts in Studio Arts from Bloomsburg University. She is a sculptor, painter, and self-described “maker, board-gamer, escape room enthusiast, and ‘trashion’ designer.” Hammond is based in Montpelier.

    For Immediate Release: December 11th, 2019

    Press Contact: Christine Hill, Communications Director, (802) 540-0761

  • JumpStart

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    JumpStart empowers and supports makers to launch and grow their businesses.

    JumpStart is made possible through a partnership with LaunchVT and with support from

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    JumpStart

    JumpStart is a product-focused 9 week program, designed to connect very early stage makers with the resources they need to turn their product prototypes into market ready businesses. JumpStart provides a comprehensive business development program, one-on-one expert mentoring, sophisticated prototyping tools-sets, technical training, and free work space.

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    JumpStart Business of Art

    Generator’s Business of Art is a 9-week intensive exclusively for artists who are ready to turn their practices into a sustainable business.

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    JumpStart Collegiate

    JumpStart Collegiate us a summer-long entrepreneur start-up intensive built on a rigorous turn-key curriculum exclusively for college student entrepreneurs.

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  • Meet the JumpStart Business of Art Cohort

    Meet the JumpStart Business of Art Cohort

    [vc_row type=”in_container” full_screen_row_position=”middle” scene_position=”center” text_color=”dark” text_align=”left” overlay_strength=”0.3″][vc_column column_padding=”no-extra-padding” column_padding_position=”all” background_color_opacity=”1″ background_hover_color_opacity=”1″ width=”1/1″ tablet_text_alignment=”default” phone_text_alignment=”default”][vc_column_text]Here are the eight artist-entrepreneurs spending nine weeks with us at Generator.

    A panel of retailers, curators, and art professionals selected these talented artists to participate in the JumpStart Business of Art program and receive:

    • free access to Generator’s tools, resources, and shared workspace
    • free public lectures and group coaching from established artist-entrepreneurs and industry professionals
    • free expert mentoring and technical assistance
    • an artist-entrepreneur stipend

    We’re so excited to help these folks strengthen existing business and launch new ones.

    Meet the artists below and be sure to mark your calendars with the upcoming Business of Art lectures and panels.[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row type=”in_container” full_screen_row_position=”middle” scene_position=”center” text_color=”dark” text_align=”left” overlay_strength=”0.3″][vc_column column_padding=”no-extra-padding” column_padding_position=”all” background_color_opacity=”1″ background_hover_color_opacity=”1″ width=”1/3″ tablet_text_alignment=”default” phone_text_alignment=”default”][image_with_animation image_url=”7912″ alignment=”center” animation=”Fade In” box_shadow=”none” max_width=”100%”][/vc_column][vc_column column_padding=”no-extra-padding” column_padding_position=”all” background_color_opacity=”1″ background_hover_color_opacity=”1″ width=”2/3″ tablet_text_alignment=”default” phone_text_alignment=”default”][vc_column_text]Kristin Silverman, Silverhill Creative Millinery

    Kristin Silverman is passionate about hats — both the artistic design in creating them and as a means of self-expression when people wear them. She designs and hand-makes one-of-a-kind hats and headpieces under the label Silverhill Creative Millinery. Using traditional millinery techniques, Kristin’s designs often incorporate other artistic mediums, such as extensive beading, hand embroidery and origami ribbonwork.[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row type=”in_container” full_screen_row_position=”middle” scene_position=”center” text_color=”dark” text_align=”left” overlay_strength=”0.3″][vc_column column_padding=”no-extra-padding” column_padding_position=”all” background_color_opacity=”1″ background_hover_color_opacity=”1″ width=”1/3″ tablet_text_alignment=”default” phone_text_alignment=”default”][image_with_animation image_url=”7909″ alignment=”” animation=”Fade In” box_shadow=”none” max_width=”100%”][/vc_column][vc_column column_padding=”no-extra-padding” column_padding_position=”all” background_color_opacity=”1″ background_hover_color_opacity=”1″ width=”2/3″ tablet_text_alignment=”default” phone_text_alignment=”default”][vc_column_text]Haley Fenn

    Haley Fenn is a jewelry designer and visual artist.  Curious by the relationship between form and function they are driven by creating interesting interactions between their pieces and the space they occupy.  Whether it is the human form or an open room the artwork is made to highlight its surroundings and make the viewer take a closer look.[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row type=”in_container” full_screen_row_position=”middle” scene_position=”center” text_color=”dark” text_align=”left” overlay_strength=”0.3″][vc_column column_padding=”no-extra-padding” column_padding_position=”all” background_color_opacity=”1″ background_hover_color_opacity=”1″ width=”1/3″ tablet_text_alignment=”default” phone_text_alignment=”default”][image_with_animation image_url=”7913″ alignment=”” animation=”Fade In” box_shadow=”none” max_width=”100%”][/vc_column][vc_column column_padding=”no-extra-padding” column_padding_position=”all” background_color_opacity=”1″ background_hover_color_opacity=”1″ width=”2/3″ tablet_text_alignment=”default” phone_text_alignment=”default”][vc_column_text]Nikki Laxar

    Nikki Laxar blends her talent of detailed ink illustrations with watercolor pigments to create a whimsical animal-inspired line of reproductions and stationery goods. She is currently exploring a series of scientifically accurate nebulas and other out of this world discoveries. Nikki has participated in a handful of local gallery exhibitions. Her ultimate dream is to participate in an artist residency so she can build a body of work to share as a solo show.[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row type=”in_container” full_screen_row_position=”middle” scene_position=”center” text_color=”dark” text_align=”left” overlay_strength=”0.3″][vc_column column_padding=”no-extra-padding” column_padding_position=”all” background_color_opacity=”1″ background_hover_color_opacity=”1″ width=”1/3″ tablet_text_alignment=”default” phone_text_alignment=”default”][image_with_animation image_url=”7904″ alignment=”” animation=”Fade In” box_shadow=”none” max_width=”100%”][/vc_column][vc_column column_padding=”no-extra-padding” column_padding_position=”all” background_color_opacity=”1″ background_hover_color_opacity=”1″ width=”2/3″ tablet_text_alignment=”default” phone_text_alignment=”default”][vc_column_text]Mats Thureson

    Mats moved to Vermont in January 2019 to pursue his goal of self-employment as a professional bladesmith. He’s a carpenter by day and runs a side-hustle Etsy shop called TBsmithy where he sells small hand forged items. He wants to shift his main focus into professional violin making tools and one-off kitchen knives. He’s mostly self-taught, though he attended a continuing education course in bladesmithing at  MassArt with JD Smith, a mastersmith of the American Bladesmith Society.[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row type=”in_container” full_screen_row_position=”middle” scene_position=”center” text_color=”dark” text_align=”left” overlay_strength=”0.3″][vc_column column_padding=”no-extra-padding” column_padding_position=”all” background_color_opacity=”1″ background_hover_color_opacity=”1″ width=”1/3″ tablet_text_alignment=”default” phone_text_alignment=”default”][image_with_animation image_url=”7914″ alignment=”” animation=”Fade In” box_shadow=”none” max_width=”100%”][/vc_column][vc_column column_padding=”no-extra-padding” column_padding_position=”all” background_color_opacity=”1″ background_hover_color_opacity=”1″ width=”2/3″ tablet_text_alignment=”default” phone_text_alignment=”default”][vc_column_text]Gahlord Dewald

    Gahlord Dewald is a creative musician devoted to experimentation in acoustic, electric, and synthetic bass frequencies. He works seamlessly through the spectrum of composed and improvised musical expression, often blending acoustic and synthetic sound worlds to create complex textures and soundfabric.[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row type=”in_container” full_screen_row_position=”middle” scene_position=”center” text_color=”dark” text_align=”left” overlay_strength=”0.3″][vc_column column_padding=”no-extra-padding” column_padding_position=”all” background_color_opacity=”1″ background_hover_color_opacity=”1″ width=”1/3″ tablet_text_alignment=”default” phone_text_alignment=”default”][image_with_animation image_url=”7911″ alignment=”” animation=”Fade In” box_shadow=”none” max_width=”100%”][/vc_column][vc_column column_padding=”no-extra-padding” column_padding_position=”all” background_color_opacity=”1″ background_hover_color_opacity=”1″ width=”2/3″ tablet_text_alignment=”default” phone_text_alignment=”default”][vc_column_text]Ashley Wilkinson, Wit and Woven

    Ashley Wilkinson is a Burlington based-artist who graduated from University of Vermont in 2014, where she received a B.A in Studio Art and Art History and a B.S in Art Education. Today, she channels her creative energy into her sewing business, Wit and Woven, a product line of gender-neutral and organic clothing for babies and toddlers. Ashley looks forward to participating in the Jump Start Business of Art program where she plans to systematically develop her business into a sustainable career.[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row type=”in_container” full_screen_row_position=”middle” scene_position=”center” text_color=”dark” text_align=”left” overlay_strength=”0.3″][vc_column column_padding=”no-extra-padding” column_padding_position=”all” background_color_opacity=”1″ background_hover_color_opacity=”1″ width=”1/3″ tablet_text_alignment=”default” phone_text_alignment=”default”][image_with_animation image_url=”7907″ alignment=”” animation=”Fade In” box_shadow=”none” max_width=”100%”][/vc_column][vc_column column_padding=”no-extra-padding” column_padding_position=”all” background_color_opacity=”1″ background_hover_color_opacity=”1″ width=”2/3″ tablet_text_alignment=”default” phone_text_alignment=”default”][vc_column_text]Lauren Larken Scuderi

    Lauren Larken Scuderi is a vocalist, performer, mother and Artner who uses the tools of theatre, music, local plants and interdisciplinary arts to encourage healing and freedom of expression. She has stewarded many creative arts and activism campaigns, including the new young adult STEAM arts musical, Will and Whit, through the not-for-profit organization she founded and runs: ArtEvolve.org  She and her husband Stephen offer dance and music jam events locally at 365songbird.com[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row type=”in_container” full_screen_row_position=”middle” scene_position=”center” text_color=”dark” text_align=”left” overlay_strength=”0.3″][vc_column column_padding=”no-extra-padding” column_padding_position=”all” background_color_opacity=”1″ background_hover_color_opacity=”1″ width=”1/3″ tablet_text_alignment=”default” phone_text_alignment=”default”][image_with_animation image_url=”7908″ alignment=”” animation=”Fade In” box_shadow=”none” max_width=”100%”][/vc_column][vc_column column_padding=”no-extra-padding” column_padding_position=”all” background_color_opacity=”1″ background_hover_color_opacity=”1″ width=”2/3″ tablet_text_alignment=”default” phone_text_alignment=”default”][vc_column_text]Carrie Root, Root Studios

    After many years of being a lead merchandiser and buyer for several catalog companies, Carrie left the corporate world to focus on her dream of being a professional artist. Looking for something new and inspiring to rekindle her passions, she remembered the stained glass window she made over 20 years ago. Carrie dug out her soldering iron and some dusty pieces of glass and retaught herself the art of stained glass. Inspired by nature, her current work includes colorful feathers, ferns, birds and mountains.[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row type=”in_container” full_screen_row_position=”middle” scene_position=”center” text_color=”dark” text_align=”left” overlay_strength=”0.3″][vc_column column_padding=”no-extra-padding” column_padding_position=”all” background_color_opacity=”1″ background_hover_color_opacity=”1″ width=”1/1″ tablet_text_alignment=”default” phone_text_alignment=”default”][vc_column_text]

    Learn more about JumpStart Business of Art here.

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  • Meet the 2019 Jump/Start maker-entrepreneurs

    Meet the 2019 Jump/Start maker-entrepreneurs

    [vc_row type=”in_container” full_screen_row_position=”middle” scene_position=”center” text_color=”dark” text_align=”left” overlay_strength=”0.3″][vc_column column_padding=”no-extra-padding” column_padding_position=”all” background_color_opacity=”1″ background_hover_color_opacity=”1″ width=”1/1″ tablet_text_alignment=”default” phone_text_alignment=”default”][vc_column_text]Generator is all about combining art, technology, and entrepreneurship, and no program does that better than our Jump/Start program.

    The small product-based business incubator program, facilitated in partnership with LaunchVT, welcomed eight maker-entrepreneurs into the 2019 cohort.

    These folks are spending nine weeks at Generator building foundations for their businesses, accessing our workshops and resident tool experts to iterate on their existing prototypes, receiving mentoring from local business leaders, and preparing to launch their small businesses!

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    1. Todd Taylor and Marble Mundo

    “Marble Mundo reimagines the way we play and learn, one fold at a time, through marble run building kits for kids made from cardboard,” Todd writes. Marble Mundo is a toy for children that folds and assembles into interlocking blocks and ramps. Those pieces then connect to form marble runs in an open-ended system of play.

    Todd is a Generator member and has been prototyping Marble Mundo for the past year by collecting pizza boxes and cutting them on the Epilog laser cutter. Todd received $5,000 worth of in-kind prototyping services when he won Generator’s 2017 Pitch It, Fab It contest hosted by Generator and UVM IMF. Todd is excited to continue his work on prototyping while focusing more on marketing, distribution, and his business model with the Jump/Start cohort and mentors.[/vc_column_text][/vc_column_inner][/vc_row_inner][vc_row_inner text_align=”left”][vc_column_inner column_padding=”no-extra-padding” column_padding_position=”all” background_color_opacity=”1″ width=”1/2″][vc_column_text]

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    2. Adriana Saipe and Ink with Intent

    Adriana is a freelance illustrator who creates customized Jewish wedding contracts (ketubahs) and secular wedding certificates. She’s run her own business (inkwithintent.com) for the past five years and recently joined Generator to start incorporating ornate paper cut elements into the ketubahs

    Or participating in Jump/Start, Adriana writes, “The thing that appeals most to me about the Jump/Start program is the mentorship component. I would absolutely love to have an outsider’s perspective on what’s working and what’s not in my business and where I might go from here. And I’d love to get my hands on the curriculum! Given that I’ve trial-and-errored my way through the first stages of my business, it would be wonderful to take a step back and learn some of the basics that I may have skipped at the beginning.”[/vc_column_text][/vc_column_inner][/vc_row_inner][vc_row_inner text_align=”left”][vc_column_inner column_padding=”no-extra-padding” column_padding_position=”all” background_color_opacity=”1″ width=”1/2″][vc_column_text]

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    3. Fat Bird Studios and Querent

    Fat Bird Studios is a design and game studio consisting of Amila, Kayla, and Mish. Their game, Querent, is a tabletop roleplaying game that uses tarot cards to create a narrative-driven and personal experience.

    “We have two products, the first being our guidebook The Cartomancer’s Tome. This is a 250+ page guidebook that will house the rules of our game as well as charts to help players decipher the meanings of tarot cards in relation to certain game-related spreads. Our second product is our custom 78-card tarot deck. Each card will be illustrated by our artist Amila to capture the essence of Querent and the meanings of traditional tarot cards.”

    Fat Bird Studios ran a Kickstarter campaign that was funded 820% of their original goal. Now they’re focused on developing on online store to take pre-orders and to conduct on-going business. They’re excited to participate in Jump/Start and receive coaching around finances and business growth.[/vc_column_text][/vc_column_inner][/vc_row_inner][vc_row_inner text_align=”left”][vc_column_inner column_padding=”no-extra-padding” column_padding_position=”all” background_color_opacity=”1″ width=”1/2″][vc_column_text][/vc_column_text][/vc_column_inner][vc_column_inner column_padding=”no-extra-padding” column_padding_position=”all” background_color_opacity=”1″ width=”1/2″][vc_column_text]

    4. Mat Gilbert and Robot Draws You

    “Robot Draws You provides a fun interactive ‘photo booth’ experience where people can watch a plotter machine draw their pictures. It can also be used to create pen drawings of existing photos that were shot by more professional photographers.”

    Mat’s focus during Jump/Start is developing a business plan that combines his different opportunities to generate revenue, including corporate events, personal sessions, and retail sales of components of the ‘booth’ in the form of kits or 3D printable parts that would be available for purchase via online download.[/vc_column_text][/vc_column_inner][/vc_row_inner][vc_row_inner text_align=”left”][vc_column_inner column_padding=”no-extra-padding” column_padding_position=”all” background_color_opacity=”1″ width=”1/2″][vc_column_text]

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    5. Tessa Hill and Tessa Hill Sculpture

    Tessa has 10 years of glass blowing experience — and it shows. Her small and detailed glass jewelry is stunning and she’s sold it through her Etsy shop for the past seven years.

    Her focus in Jump/Start will be expanding production and distribution of one of her most popular items: a handblown glass honey bee pendant, the sales of which support honey bee conservation. She’s focused on using Jump/Start to plan for growth, including outsourcing some of her production and increasing the number of galleries and retail outlets carrying her bee necklaces.[/vc_column_text][/vc_column_inner][/vc_row_inner][vc_row_inner text_align=”left”][vc_column_inner column_padding=”no-extra-padding” column_padding_position=”all” background_color_opacity=”1″ width=”1/2″][vc_column_text]

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    6. Kristian Brevik and Starwatcher

    Kristian creates illuminated lanterns of whales and other creatures which aim to enhance connection between humans and other species and the environmental issues we face.

    Kristian has been making art for years and his beautiful lamps have recently struck a chord with locals. “The whale lanterns were very successful beyond what I was expecting at Art Hop, both in the response from the community, from press, and with sales, but in the months since then, I’ve been bogged down with organizational issues – accounting and taxes, having a clear business plan, developing a cohesive online presence and market,” Kristan wrote.

    Kristian is excited to keep up the positive momentum of his art business while getting a solid foundation in place through Jump/Start, which includes deciding on a legal business structure, setting up accounting systems, and figuring out which sales channels to prioritize.[/vc_column_text][/vc_column_inner][/vc_row_inner][vc_row_inner text_align=”left”][vc_column_inner column_padding=”no-extra-padding” column_padding_position=”all” background_color_opacity=”1″ width=”1/2″][vc_column_text]

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    7. Ezra Ranz-Schleifer and Bloom

    “Bloom is a beautifully futuristic take on artificial flowers featuring a modern design aesthetic and delightful interactivity possibilities,” Ezra writes. “I want to participate in JUMP/START because Bloom is a unique product that could infuse new ideas into the floral landscape- both aesthetically and from the business side where the model is based on reuse. I feel the focus of JUMP/START is perfect for the current stage of Bloom. Access to Generator would give me the necessary to tools to continue to refine the product and working with the guidance of mentors to hone a suitable business model and marketing strategy.”

    Ezra is looking forward to more prototyping, as well as figuring out how and when to integrate more elements into his artificial flowers, including scent and lighting.[/vc_column_text][/vc_column_inner][/vc_row_inner][vc_row_inner text_align=”left”][vc_column_inner column_padding=”no-extra-padding” column_padding_position=”all” background_color_opacity=”1″ width=”1/2″][vc_column_text][/vc_column_text][/vc_column_inner][vc_column_inner column_padding=”no-extra-padding” column_padding_position=”all” background_color_opacity=”1″ width=”1/2″][vc_column_text]

    8. Jaen Carrodine and MAG Bindings

    “MAG Bindings simplify the process of strapping into a snowboard. My proprietary design replaces the ratchets of a standard binding. This means that the “feel” of traditional straps is maintained but strapping in becomes faster and easier, ” Jaen writes.

    Last year, Jaen participated in the Catamount Innovation Fund Accelerator where he received valuable training in marketing, brand identity, pitching, and other business skills. He excited to continue this work and use Jump/Start to prepare for all aspects of taking his binding to market.[/vc_column_text][/vc_column_inner][/vc_row_inner][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row type=”in_container” full_screen_row_position=”middle” scene_position=”center” text_color=”dark” text_align=”left” overlay_strength=”0.3″][vc_column column_padding=”no-extra-padding” column_padding_position=”all” background_color_opacity=”1″ background_hover_color_opacity=”1″ width=”1/1″ tablet_text_alignment=”default” phone_text_alignment=”default”][/vc_column][/vc_row]

  • Maker in Residence: Hilton Dier III

    Maker in Residence: Hilton Dier III

    Our November/December Maker In Residence is Hilton Dier III, a renewable energy expert and designer (and man of many talents and areas of work), who had this to say about his project:

    “The birth of this idea came during the Fukushima nuclear accident in 2011. I was contacted by a friend of a friend who was involved in radiation monitoring in that part of Japan. Their battery powered radiation monitors required Blackhawk helicopter flights (at $$$/hour) to replace batteries and he wanted a ruggedized portable solar power pack that could be deployed by non-expert soldiers. The Japanese government restored power before I had finished the design but the idea stayed with me. I have designed and prototyped a similar system for powering a network of medical clinic communication nodes in Malawi. I’d like to fabricate a working prototype of a single-person portable, rugged solar power pack. My rough estimate is that the major electrical parts (PV module, charge controller, inverter, battery) would cost around $450. There would be incidental costs for connectors, wire, adhesives, and similar supplies. The finished device would produce 12 volt DC and 120 volt AC power.”

    We’re looking forward to sharing more about what Hilton accomplished at Generator during his residency. If you’d like to hear more about Hilton, his work, and our Maker In Residence opportunities, sign up for our newsletter.

  • Pitch It, Fab It

    Pitch It, Fab It

    Call to innovative Vermonters!

    Do you have a product in early stage development that could benefit from a solid engineering push? Are you in need of a prototype that your customers can touch, feel and experience?

    Join UVM’s Instrumentation and Modeling Facility (IMF) and GENERATOR for an evening of invention and ingenuity. Dubbed ‘Pitch It, Fab It’ this fast and interactive evening of pitches is aimed at exciting the IMF to collaborate with you on your idea.

    Event Date: Wednesday, October 17 | 5:30 – 7:30pm
    Event Location: Generator is located at 40 Sears Lane, Burlington, VT 05401
    Deadline for Submissions: October 5th, 2018
    Check out a VIDEO about the competition!

    For 45 years IMF has designed and fabricated custom instruments and innovative prototypes for UVM researchers, emerging technology companies, and Vermont inventors. Here’s your chance to access the tools and minds on tap at IMF.  Learn more about IMF HERE

    Work with UVM Instrumentation and Model Facility (IMF to Design and Fabricate a Killer Product. With a single pitch, a team can walk away with up to $5,000 in-kind services, materials and expert mentoring for:

    • Precision machine and mechanical design consultation
    • High-resolution 3D printing using hard and flexible materials
    • And the parts and materials needed to build your prototype

    Past winners have included laboratory devices, kitchen products, specialty bartending apparatus, educational holography, farm equipment, robots for kids and more.

    HOW TO ENTER

    Prepare a pitch deck of SIX (6) slides that includes:

    1. Who you are, what’s your passion?
    2. Problem – What’s the challenge you’re tackling?
    3. Context – What makes this challenge significant?
    4. Solution – What’s your big idea?
    5. What does your model look like?
    6. How will you use the IMF?

    CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD A PITCH DECK TEMPLATE

    Populate a product description and share the link for your pitch deck.  Applications will be denied without the pitch. (Don’t worry, everything under your “details” tab is only seen by the judges and a live audience. If you have any questions, just click that little blue question mark on the right). You will receive an email from the competition hosts when you are accepted to the PITCH OFF. Pitch your product in 5 MINS or less to a panel of IMF-invited judges on Wednesday, October 17 at 5:30PM. Award decisions will be made that night, on the spot, by a panel of IMF and Generator judges.

    [button color=”accent-color” hover_text_color_override=”#fff” size=”medium” url=”https://survey.uvm.edu/index.php/571951?lang=en” text=”APPLY NOW” color_override=””]

    SCORING

    Pitches will be judged for their:

    • Clarity
    • Innovation
    • Feasibility

    TIMELINE

    All awardees have the opportunity to begin work immediately and are expected to maximize their use of the IMF facility to get their product prototype developed efficiently.

    Sponsors: UVM Instrumentation and Modeling Facility, UVM Office of the Vice-president for Research

    Thank You for Your Support

  • Dealer.com & Generator Brings Maker Education to Vermont Students

    Dealer.com & Generator Brings Maker Education to Vermont Students

    Dealer.com and Generator are launching: Design Lab innovative STEM workshops for 7th-12th grade students. Working closely with area teachers Generator has developed programming that offers students unique hands-on learning experiences that focus on collaboration, prototyping, and flexible thinking. Rachel Hooper, Director of Community Outreach at Generator says, “I see maker education as a way to engage all kinds of learners in STEM, especially those who have struggled with science or math, by exposing them to a new kind of creative problem-solving.”

    Design Lab workshops start with design thinking, a creative problem-solving method that embraces human-centered design. Students work with design thinking specialist in the classrooms to design projects. When it’s time to prototype, students head to Generator where they will build and test their projects. Hooper says, “Students drive the design process and our maker educators guide them while teaching them how to use tools such as laser cutters, 3D printers, and other CNC tools.” When projects are collaborative, the opportunity to unite around a choice-filled creative project often helps students who had previously struggled to work in groups.

    Design Lab itself is an iteratively developed program. “This is our pilot year and we will be observing, testing and improving our offerings as we move forward,” Hooper says. Featured workshops for the year include:

    • Parklet with Purpose – Collaborating with Winooski School’s iLab and Burlington Parks and Recreation the Design Lab team will help students create a mini-park inside a parking space for Winooski residents.
    • Marble Run – What does it take to make a gigantic marble run? Middle school students learn prototyping skills as they design and build a gigantic marble run.
  • At Generator’s First Global Service Jam, Design Happened

    At Generator’s First Global Service Jam, Design Happened

    At Generator’s First Global Service Jam, Design Happened

    By 

  • Jump/Start Lecture Series

    Jump/Start Lecture Series

    [vc_row type=”in_container” full_screen_row_position=”middle” scene_position=”center” text_color=”dark” text_align=”left” overlay_strength=”0.3″][vc_column column_padding=”no-extra-padding” column_padding_position=”all” background_color_opacity=”1″ background_hover_color_opacity=”1″ width=”1/4″ tablet_text_alignment=”default” phone_text_alignment=”default”][image_with_animation image_url=”5269″ alignment=”” animation=”Fade In” box_shadow=”none” max_width=”100%”][/vc_column][vc_column column_padding=”no-extra-padding” column_padding_position=”all” background_color_opacity=”1″ background_hover_color_opacity=”1″ width=”1/4″ tablet_text_alignment=”default” phone_text_alignment=”default”][image_with_animation image_url=”5270″ alignment=”” animation=”Fade In” box_shadow=”none” max_width=”100%”][/vc_column][vc_column column_padding=”no-extra-padding” column_padding_position=”all” background_color_opacity=”1″ background_hover_color_opacity=”1″ width=”1/4″ tablet_text_alignment=”default” phone_text_alignment=”default”][image_with_animation image_url=”5271″ alignment=”” animation=”Fade In” box_shadow=”none” max_width=”100%”][/vc_column][vc_column column_padding=”no-extra-padding” column_padding_position=”all” background_color_opacity=”1″ background_hover_color_opacity=”1″ width=”1/4″ tablet_text_alignment=”default” phone_text_alignment=”default”][image_with_animation image_url=”5272″ alignment=”” animation=”Fade In” box_shadow=”none” max_width=”100%”][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row type=”in_container” full_screen_row_position=”middle” scene_position=”center” text_color=”dark” text_align=”left” overlay_strength=”0.3″][vc_column column_padding=”no-extra-padding” column_padding_position=”all” background_color_opacity=”1″ background_hover_color_opacity=”1″ width=”1/1″ tablet_text_alignment=”default” phone_text_alignment=”default”][vc_column_text]Entrepreneurs, startups, go-getters… ALL are welcome to learn about launching a business at Generator’s Jump/Start Lecture Series. Thank you, People’s United Bank, LaunchVT, Merritt & Merritt, Davis & Hodgdon Associates CPAs, Center for Women & Enterprise, M//E design, Middlebury College, FreshTracks Capital, BTVIgnite, and RETN Vermont for making Jump/Start happen. The first Jump/Start lecture with Cristine Hammer was a great success. Generator had so many attendees that every chair was filled. Learn along with the Jump/Start cohort(Courtney Reckord, Jake Blend, Clay Mohrman, and Christine Hill) at Generator’s next lecture.

    RSVP now! https://www.eventbrite.com/myevent?eid=41426114624[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row]

  • Alex Consantino- Mini Landscape-3D Printed, CNC Milled, and Painted

    Alex Consantino- Mini Landscape-3D Printed, CNC Milled, and Painted

    [vc_row type=”in_container” full_screen_row_position=”middle” scene_position=”center” text_color=”dark” text_align=”left” overlay_strength=”0.3″][vc_column column_padding=”no-extra-padding” column_padding_position=”all” background_color_opacity=”1″ background_hover_color_opacity=”1″ width=”1/1″ tablet_text_alignment=”default” phone_text_alignment=”default”][image_with_animation image_url=”4846″ alignment=”center” animation=”Fade In” box_shadow=”none” max_width=”100%”][/vc_column][/vc_row]