The Cynic, the University of Vermont’s student newspaper, recently printed a story about VCET, and its Director of Client Programs, Scott Bailey.   The article talks about how VCET has become a valued resource, helping entrepreneurs create and grow innovative businesses in Vermont.   Thanks for the support!

Two juniors at UVM, Mike Fogg and Nick Godin, have created a business in Burlington that will change the way students make up excuses for being late to class.  “I missed the bus,” will no longer be a suitable excuse for students to give Professors.   Mike and Nick have developed a GPS Bus Tracking system that will make getting to class far more reliable, efficient, convenient, and safe.  Students access the online system through their smart phone or via text message.  They can find out when the bus will arrive at their stop to the minute!  Stay tuned in the coming months because there are new features on the way.

This company is really starting to gain traction far beyond UVM campus.   After an article that was published in the UVM student newspaper about Blirp It other organizations became interested as well.  They have really started to gain traction throughout Vermont and New England.  The Burlington Free Press was impressed and followed up the UVM Cynic with another story.

If you would like to see more information about Blirp It check out their website.

The following is a brief interview between Mike Fogg and Scott Bailey:

Other than being a full time student, how do you spend your time?

When I’m not working on assignments for school I have two other full time jobs, Blirp It and a graphic design company.  So far I have the most fun with Blirp It and the graphic design company helps me fund everything else.

What is one class that you would recommend to business students?

Financial accounting is the one class I would recommend to business students.  I’m not going to lie—I hated it, but I have found it to be the most helpful because when you own a business you had better understand the numbers.  It’s a class that you’re not going to like, but it’s a skill that you can’t put a price on.

Who do you look up to, or model yourself after?

My father.  My Dad is a serial entrepreneur.  He never went to college and actually went into the Army.  After that he had to support his family and decided to go into logging.  Then somehow he started working with computers dealing with the buying and selling of parts.  After that he started a company called Teleblend, a VoIP company.  I remember designing their logo when I was 14.  After that he has started a couple of other companies including a DSL company and a wind turbine company.  He is now looking into maple sugaring.

What’s the best advice you have ever been given?

Don’t reinvent the wheel.  You can hear it a thousand times, but when it’s given to you in the right context it changes everything.  That piece of advice hit me when we were deciding on how to track the buses.  We were between using Bluetooth and a GPS system and I had asked my uncle for advice and he looked at me and said “don’t reinvent the wheel.”  After that we decided to use a GPS.

Do you have any advice to offer students?

Yes.  Make sure that you are not overloading your schedule when starting a business.  I tried to take 18 credits and it wasn’t going to work.  Also, don’t take two art history classes in one semester.

What business or entrepreneur book would you recommend to others?

I would recommend Entrepreneur magazine.  It always has a lot of information on new and interesting companies and people.

How easy has it been for you to start a business in Vermont?

It’s been great!  There is a lot of opportunity in Vermont and so far everyone has been very easy to talk to and incredibly helpful.

Along the way each year at VCET, we hear and learn a few things we hope other entrepreneurs might benefit from by avoiding all together. Below is 2009’s Top 5 list of Entrepreneurs Gone Wild: Read the rest of this entry »

The University of Vermont is pleased to host the 5th annual Vermont Invention to Venture (I2V) Conference Tuesday, April 9, 2010. I2V is a half-day workshop in technology entrepreneurship with an exciting agenda of speakers and panelists – successful entrepreneurs who will share how they turned their dreams into reality. As with all I2V events, the goal is to engage a wide range of participants from the university community as well as members of the surrounding business community. The event is a co-production of the Technology Transfer Office at the University of Vermont, VCET, and with the National Collegiate Inventors and Innovators Alliance (NCIIA).

New VCET Team Member – Scott Bailey joined the VCET team in October as Director of Client Programs after receiving his B.S. in business administration at the University of Vermont. Scott held a concentration in Entrepreneurship and focused on small business development and product development. During his senior year, Scott co-founded the Entrepreneurship Club, which helped bring students and local Entrepreneurs together to hear inspiring stories, ask questions and help make students aware of the opportunities in the area for young entrepreneurs. Scott also developed the first UVM Business Plan Competition, where eight teams competed for cash prizes.