Vermont Small Business Development Center

What Vermont Small Business Development Center does

Vermont Small Business Development Center (VtSBDC) is a non-profit, government-funded small business advisory program operated within Vermont State University (VTSU) and headquartered in Randolph Center, Vermont. Founded in 1992, it delivers no-fee, confidential, one-on-one business advising to Vermont small business owners across all counties, with services organized around the lifecycle stages of Start, Grow, Thrive, and Transition. The portfolio of offerings includes 1:1 advising, recurring "Starting Your Own Business" workshops and webinars, and a digital resource library (Business Agility Guide, Planning to Buy roadmap, youth entrepreneurship materials), plus specialty focus areas spanning young entrepreneurs, veterans, disaster recovery, innovation/technology commercialization, intellectual property, export/import, and cybersecurity awareness.

VtSBDC has no proprietary technology platform; service delivery is human-advisor-led, supported by a standard WordPress/RevSlider website, an event registration portal (ic.vtsbdc.org), and social channels (Facebook, Instagram, YouTube, LinkedIn). The organization is staffed by 11–50 personnel, led by State Director Linda Rossi and a regional bench of certified business advisors including Scott Holson, Ronda Berns, and Anastasios Zois.

The business model is grant-funded rather than commercial: 2025 program funding totals approximately $2.56M, comprising a $1.66M SBA SBDC core grant (47% federal / 53% non-federal cost-share), a $526,819 SSBCI Technical Assistance Program grant (100% federal), and $372,000 in Congressional Directed Spending. Because services are provided at no cost to clients, there is no pricing model, no sales motion, and no revenue concentration in end-clients; the strategic and financial profile is that of a public-purpose economic development program rather than a venture-backable business.

Name

Vermont Small Business Development Center

Legal name

Vermont Small Business Development Center

Website

https://vtsbdc.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1992

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

VtSBDC is a non-profit, SBA- and state-funded program that provides free, one-on-one business advising and educational resources to Vermont small business owners across all counties, operating within Vermont State University.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Small Business Advisory Services

NAICS

Business, Professional, Labor, Political, and Similar Organizations (8139)

SIC

Services-Educational Services (8200)

akta.pro primary industry

Small Business & Entrepreneurship Community Education (EDAAAFAK)

akta.pro secondary industry

Entrepreneurship & Small Business Workforce Programs (EDAAAOAM)

Keywords

• Small business advising
• Business consulting services
• Entrepreneurship education
• Economic development services
• Small business support

Headquarters

HQ city

Randolph

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Others

Revenue model

1. Government Funding: VtSBDC is funded through the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) and the State of Vermont Agency of Commerce. The organization provides no-fee services to clients, operating as a non-profit economic development entity.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

Vermont Small Business Development Center (VtSBDC) provides no-fee, confidential 1:1 business advising and education to Vermont small business owners and entrepreneurs at every stage of business ownership (Start, Grow, Thrive, Transition). Services are delivered by certified business advisors across all Vermont counties through in-person advising, workshops, webinars, and specialized focus programs covering topics such as veterans' business ownership, young entrepreneurs, disaster recovery, innovation and technology commercialization, scam prevention and cybersecurity, selling a business, intellectual property protection, and export/import.

Product overview

VtSBDC operates as a statewide business advising network, not a technology product company. The organization provides a unified service model centered on no-fee, confidential 1:1 business advising supplemented by webinars, events, and resource materials. Services are organized around specific focus areas including young entrepreneurs, disaster recovery, innovation/technology commercialization, cybersecurity, veterans, selling a business, intellectual property, and export/import. The portfolio represents a single integrated advising service rather than a platform-plus-modules architecture.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• 1:1 Business Advising
• Workshops, Webinars, and Events
• Young Entrepreneurs Program
• Veterans Business Services
• Disaster Recovery Advising
• Innovation & Technology Commercialization
• Scam Prevention & Cybersecurity Advising

Quantifiable outcome

• Thousands of business owners served since 1992

Named customers1 record

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

One partnership is on record.

• Vermont State University (VTSU)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerVtSBDC is hosted within the VTSU system, sharing campus facilities and collaborating on community initiatives such as the partnership with Kingdom East School District to revitalize the Lyndon campus.

Scale indicators3 records

Recent moves5 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• SCORE: National nonprofit providing free, confidential business mentoring and education to small businesses — the most direct US peer to VtSBDC's model, though operating nationally with a stronger digital infrastructure and volunteer-based mentor pool.
• Women's Business Centers (WBC) Program: SBA-funded network providing business training and advising focused on women entrepreneurs — directly comparable funding model, service delivery approach, and target audience (underserved SMB segments).
• Veterans Business Outreach Center (VBOC): SBA-funded resource partner providing business training, consulting, and mentoring to veteran entrepreneurs — same SBA umbrella as SBDCs, similar no-cost service model, specialized on the veterans segment.

Regional players

• New Hampshire Small Business Development Center: Sister state SBDC in neighboring New Hampshire, operating under the same SBA/state co-funding model with the same no-fee advising structure — a direct structural peer operating in adjacent geography.
• Massachusetts Small Business Development Center: Larger New England SBDC network serving Massachusetts, operating under identical SBA funding mechanics. Comparable service portfolio (advising, training, specialty programs) but at materially larger scale.
• Business Development Bank of Canada (BDC): Canadian Crown corporation providing consulting, financing, and advisory services to small and medium-sized businesses — functionally analogous SMB advising/support model in a different national jurisdiction.

Broad incumbents

• Goldman Sachs 10,000 Small Businesses: Major privately-funded small business education and growth program offering no-cost business education, mentoring, and access to capital — comparable function (SMB advising/education) at a larger, well-capitalized scale.
• Small Business Majority: National small business advocacy and education organization providing research, webinars, and resources to SMBs — comparable education/outreach mission though with a stronger policy/advocacy emphasis than direct 1:1 advising.

Emerging players

• EforAll (Entrepreneurship for All): Nonprofit running business accelerator programs and pitch contests for underserved entrepreneurs in multiple US cities — comparable community-based, mission-driven SMB support though focused on cohorts rather than 1:1 advising.

Others

• Ashoka: Global network supporting social entrepreneurs with fellowships, resources, and ecosystem connections — thematically related as nonprofit-driven entrepreneurship support, but operates at global scale and focuses on social-impact ventures.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/@vermontsmallbusinessdevelo221
• Facebookfacebook.com/vtsbdc
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/vtsbdc
• Instagraminstagram.com/vermontsbdc
• Xx.com/vtsbdc

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles4 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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

M&A

Investments

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

Frequently asked questions about Vermont Small Business Development Center