Jason Levinthal / J Skis
After founding a company, seeing it acquired, and realizing he wasn’t built to sit still, he launched J Skis, a direct-to-skier brand creating hand-crafted, limited-edition skis.
News & Events
First Chair: April 2026
Welcome back to First Chair 🚠: Your monthly rundown on Vermont’s startup scene.
VCET Launches ‘AI After Hours’ Meetup Series for Builders and Innovators
April 08, 2026
AI After Hours is designed to bring together entrepreneurs, innovators, and curious minds across Vermont and the region. Featuring Pillar VC and LucenArc.
Jason Wilbur / WILBUR
After leading advanced design at Honda, Jason walked away to create what he calls “mechanized art”. He now makes supermachines.
The Instinct Here Is Not Small
In Burlington, Vermont, an engineer codes from a hammock. Down the hall, co-founders debate marketing strategy in a Spiderman-themed meeting room. In the corner, a pair of designers sketch out a video game. Through the kitchen windows, Lake Champlain stretches toward the horizon. This is VCET.
VCET and Regional Partners Host First-Ever Northeast Meetup at SXSW, Connecting the Region’s Most Innovative Builders
VCET will host the first-ever Northeast Meetup at SXSW in Austin, TX. The meetup will serve as a gathering space for founders, investors, and ecosystem leaders from across the Northeast.
Julie Jatlow / Fuse
Julie explains everything from working with the world’s biggest brands to strategies centered on youth culture, sports, and experiential marketing.
First Chair: March 2026
Welcome back to First Chair 🚠: Your monthly rundown on Vermont’s startup scene.
Entering into a new orbit of innovation.
One thing about being planted in New England is that collaboration between regional innovation leaders feels natural and authentic. As part of our collaboration, Vermont founders will gain access to the pilot of Orbit, an AI-based startup planning and strategy tool, that is specifically tuned for entrepreneurs.
May all your roads lead to Vermont.
If Vermont wants to keep the twenty-somethings here, we’ve got to show them more than just the lifestyle. Read Ema’s perspective on how to keep them here.
Chelsea Bardot Lewis / VBSR
She’s steering VBSR into its next chapter by doubling down on in-person connection, pragmatic advocacy around housing, and more, building a stronger, more generous Vermont business ecosystem!
Dear Founders
You trusted us with your time, doubts, hopes and startup journeys this past year once again and we are deeply thankful.