Vermont Center for Emerging Technologies

What Vermont Center for Emerging Technologies does

Vermont Center for Emerging Technologies (VCET) is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit business incubator founded in 2003 in Burlington, Vermont, operating from a coworking and innovation facility at 266 Main Street that includes six private conference rooms, seven phone booths, event space, a mother's room, kitchen, and collaborative work areas. The organization serves technology-enabled startups positioned to scale within Vermont, alongside student entrepreneurs, female founders, remote workers, and international companies seeking soft-landing support for U.S. market entry. VCET directly assists entrepreneurs through free 1:1 business coaching, a network of 130+ mentors, structured coworking memberships, event programming including the Female Founders Speakers Series (32 events, 87 speakers since 2016) and AI After Hours (launched April 2026), and seed capital through its managed Vermont Seed Capital Fund (a $6-9 million revolving venture vehicle).

The underlying platform is built on the Proximity coworking management system (iOS and Android mobile apps) for door access, reservations, and member self-service, paired with the #ScaleHere digital membership portal that organizes coaching sessions, partner offers, and member directory services. A curated Jobs in Vermont board (powered by Getro) connects talent to portfolio and partner companies. Content distribution runs through the Start Here podcast (105+ episodes on Spotify and other platforms), a monthly First Chair newsletter, and active LinkedIn, Instagram, and Facebook channels. VCET manages a portfolio of 75+ companies that have collectively generated $780M in revenue, raised $614M in capital, and produced $476M in payroll since inception.

VCET's revenue mechanics span three streams: small recurring monthly coworking membership fees, donations and grants from corporate sponsors, individual donors, and government partners, and management fees associated with the Vermont Seed Capital Fund LP. Core advising is provided free. The organization is administered through the Vermont Technology Council and maintains strategic relationships with the University of Vermont (ARC program), Middlebury College, the State of Vermont, the U.S. Small Business Administration, M&T Bank, and US Senator Patrick Leahy. Notable outcomes include the March 2022 acquisition of portfolio company NextCapital by Goldman Sachs Asset Management, validating the fund's investment thesis.

Name

Vermont Center for Emerging Technologies

Legal name

Vermont Center for Emerging Technologies

Website

https://vcet.co

Company type

Private

Founded year

2003

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Vermont Center for Emerging Technologies is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit business incubator in Burlington, VT, providing coworking, business coaching, mentorship, and seed capital through the Vermont Seed Capital Fund to technology-enabled startups scaling within Vermont.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Business Incubation Services

NAICS

Grantmaking and Giving Services (81321), Portfolio Management and Investment Advice (523940), Professional and Management Development Training (611430)

SIC

Investment Advice (6282), Services-Management Consulting Services (8742)

akta.pro primary industry

Accelerators & Incubators (Investor-Operated) (FSANAAAM)

akta.pro secondary industries

Geography-Focused Venture Capital (Regional/Emerging Markets) (FSANAAAE), Micro-VC & Angel Funds (FSANAAAI), Sector-Focused Venture Capital (Vertical Specialists) (FSANAAAD)

Keywords

• Business incubation services
• Startup coworking space
• Venture capital fund management
• Entrepreneur mentorship programs
• Small business advising

Headquarters

HQ city

Burlington

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure, Others

Revenue model

1. Vermont Seed Capital Fund Management: VCET operates the $6M Vermont Seed Capital Fund (expanded to $9 million per some sources) as a revolving venture capital investment fund that provides seed investment to portfolio companies. This is a key revenue stream for supporting the startup ecosystem.
2. Coworking Membership Fees: Some members opt-in for more significant engagement requiring a small monthly member fee for coworking access, conference room bookings, and member benefits.
3. Donations and Grants: As a 501(c)(3) public benefit corporation, VCET receives funding through corporate sponsors, individual donors, and strategic partnerships.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels10 records

Core offering

VCET operates as a nonprofit business incubator providing technology-enabled startups in Vermont with 1:1 business advising and coaching, flexible coworking space with conference rooms and amenities, access to a 130+ mentor network, and seed-stage capital through the Vermont Seed Capital Fund LP. Additional programs include the Start Here podcast, Female Founders Speakers Series, AI After Hours meetup, and the Jobs in Vermont job board connecting talent with portfolio companies.

Product overview

VCET is a non-profit business incubator providing a platform of interconnected services to Vermont entrepreneurs: coworking workspace (with meeting rooms, phone booths, and 24/7 access via the Proximity platform), 1:1 business advising and coaching, and access to capital through the Vermont Seed Capital Fund. The #ScaleHere digital platform unifies membership benefits including coaching sessions, member networking, and partner offers. Additional programs include the Jobs in Vermont job board (powered by Getro), Start Here podcast (100+ episodes), and Female Founders Speakers Series (10 seasons). The organization has directly assisted over 3,800 entrepreneurs and manages a portfolio of 75+ startups that have generated $780M in revenue and $614M in capital.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Coworking Space Flexible 24/7 coworking workspace in Burlington, VT with over 200 members, featuring six private conference rooms, seven phone booths, mother's room, event space, kitchen, and bike storage. Designed for technology-enabled startups, freelancers, and remote workers.
• Business Advising and Coaching Free 1:1 business coaching and consulting provided by experienced VCET staff and executives in residence, helping Vermont entrepreneurs crystallize concepts, assemble teams, craft business models, secure resources, and locate early customers.
• Vermont Seed Capital Fund A revolving venture capital investment fund managed by VCET providing early-stage seed investment to Vermont startups. The fund was originally $6 million and expanded to $9 million, enabling direct equity investments in portfolio companies.
• Jobs in Vermont Board A curated, place-based, free job board connecting job seekers with career opportunities at VCET portfolio companies and partner firms. Powered by Getro, displays 376 jobs searchable by job title, company, location, seniority, and salary.
• Start Here Podcast VCET's podcast featuring interviews with Vermont founders, entrepreneurs, and innovators sharing their stories. Over 105 episodes produced and distributed on Spotify and other podcast platforms.
• Female Founders Speakers Series An annual speaker series empowering women entrepreneurs in Vermont through events featuring prominent female founders and business leaders. Has featured 87 speakers across 32 events since launch, currently in Season 10.
• AI After Hours Meetup Series A monthly community event series for first-time and serial builders in the AI space, featuring expert speakers, pitch kitchens, and networking opportunities. Free to attend with advanced registration.

Named customers10 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration7 records

Feature1 record

Partnerships

Seven partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• US Senator Patrick J. LeahycoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2005Long-term strategic partner and champion for VCET's mission since the organization's founding. Senator Leahy has been a key advocate for Vermont's startup ecosystem and VCET's programs.
• University of VermontcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPrimary academic partner providing student entrepreneurs, research commercialization through the ARC program, and collaborative programs. UVM and VCET have collaborated for over a decade on entrepreneurship initiatives.
• Vermont Technology CouncilcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerVCET administers the Vermont Technology Council which provides annual funding and works to build a stronger innovation ecosystem in Vermont focused on workforce development, R&D pipeline, innovation culture, and infrastructure.
• State of VermontcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerState government partner supporting Vermont's entrepreneurial ecosystem through economic development initiatives and funding.
• Middlebury CollegecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerAcademic partner hosting the Entrepreneurs course for 13 years, MiddWorks internship program, and Vermont Innovation Summer students. Strong collaboration on student entrepreneurship.
• Champlain College OnlineminorStrategic or Co-development PartnertruED Partnership offering reduced tuition for VCET staff, coworking members, and their family members for 60+ degree and certificate programs. Collaboration spanning over a decade.
• Accurate Box CompanyminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorFourth-generation family-owned business in New Jersey that partnered with portfolio company Rigorous for robotic automation solutions.

Scale indicators11 records

Recent moves8 records

Expansion highlights7 records

Broad incumbents

• Techstars: One of the largest global accelerator operators with a fund and mentor-driven model. VCET is comparable as an investor-operated accelerator offering coworking, mentorship, and seed capital — though Techstars operates globally with much larger fund sizes.
• Idealab: A long-standing technology startup studio and seed investor. Comparable to VCET in combining incubation infrastructure with seed capital deployment, though at much greater scale and with a for-profit structure.
• Capital Factory: A Texas-based accelerator, coworking hub, and fund manager with an extensive mentor network. Comparable in providing coworking + advising + capital stack, though with a much larger geographic footprint and portfolio.

Direct peers

• gener8tor: A nonprofit/impact-oriented accelerator that combines a 12-week program with seed capital and a national mentor network. Closely mirrors VCET's combination of coworking, advising, and fund management, with similar geographic/community focus.
• MassChallenge: A global nonprofit accelerator with a zero-equity model, mentor networks, and corporate partnerships. Directly comparable to VCET's nonprofit structure and its emphasis on free founder services plus a curated community.

Regional players

• LaunchVT: A Vermont-based startup support organization offering coworking, mentorship, and events. Directly comparable as a Vermont-rooted community incubator competing with VCET for the same founder pool.
• Rev: Ithaca Startup Works: A nonprofit startup incubator in Ithaca, NY providing coworking, advising, and community programs. Operates in a comparable rural/small-city ecosystem to Vermont, serving similar technology-enabled founders.
• Maine Center for Entrepreneurs: A nonprofit regional incubator serving Maine-based startups with advising, programming, and access to capital. Comparable as a New England nonprofit incubator addressing rural/small-state founder challenges similar to Vermont.
• TechPlace: A New Hampshire-based incubator/ coworking space serving early-stage technology companies. Closely comparable as a small-state, nonprofit-flavored regional incubator with shared mission and similar service mix.

Emerging players

• BioEnterprise (BioGenerator): A St. Louis nonprofit startup generator providing advising, capital, and lab/coworking infrastructure for science- and technology-enabled founders. Comparable as a nonprofit ecosystem-builder operating a parallel people/place/capital model.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xtwitter.com/VCET
• YouTubeopen.spotify.com/show/5lZyHksFnxbZ33MS0J7DBi
• Facebookfacebook.com/vcet.co
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/vcetco
• Instagraminstagram.com/vcet.co

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles6 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments22 records

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Vermont Center for Emerging Technologies