Growing up in rural Vermont, we always took back roads to reach our destinations a little more efficiently. They weren’t usually the roads most traveled, but they passed like-minded people along the way, and the views were typically worth it.

Compared with the traditional routes, Vermont’s networking environment is much the same. Flashy, high-end, stuffy, and esoteric are not words that usually describe an event here. We sit just off the beaten paths of Boston and New York City, yet we are smaller, more welcoming, and carry a deep reserve of experience in our roots. Vermont’s greatest competitive edge isn’t a tax break or a relocation grant—it’s our proximity to one another and the back roads that connect us. Here are a few networking ideas to consider when choosing Vermont as a founder or an investor.

Secret Sauce:

• Shared Values: Mission-driven work on climate, aviation, batteries, life sciences, and community threads through government, academia, and business.

• Guardrails: Accelerators and incubators such as Generator, VCET, LaunchVT, Green Mountain Accelerator Fund, StartUp Rutland Accelerator, and Hula, along with excited investors eager to back the next generation of startups.

• Closer Distances = Faster Answers: Drive two hours in any direction and you’ve crossed the state. The investor you meet in the morning may already be having coffee with the partner you need an introduction to by the afternoon.

• Open-Door Culture: In Vermont, “Let me know how I can help” is sincere. People encourage you to take your shot and will assist if they can.

• IP Generation: UVM’s new R1 status has expanded opportunities for technology transfer across the state’s colleges. Founders also value the work–life balance Vermont offers.

Why It Matters:

• Short Learning Curves: Quick feedback loops keep founders from spending months on the wrong problem.

• Mentorship on Tap: Seasoned operators retire here; they pick up the phone when you call and have time to help.

• Less Gatekeeping: Titles impress less—contribution matters more.

Success Stories:

• Beta Technologies, Ben & Jerry’s, Seventh Generation, Burton, Dealer.com, Dynapower, Keurig Green Mountain, IDX, and more.

Advice for Founders:

• Give First: Offer your skill set before asking for a favor. The pay-it-forward ethos keeps the network spinning.

• Show Up in Person: Handshakes > Zoom. Attend a Hula Lunch-and-Learn or a LaunchVT founder event.

• State Your Need Clearly: Vermonters love to help but appreciate specificity.

In Vermont, the quickest route to opportunity is rarely the interstate. Our back roads—and the relationships they foster—turn miles into minutes for founders and investors alike.

May, 2025