Get Started
Information for Students
Who’s eligible to submit ideas?
- This opportunity is open to undergrad students across all UVM Schools and Colleges
- All business proposals from all stages of development are welcome
- Teams must include at least one UVM undergrad who is graduating in the 24/25 school year
- Not graduating just yet? All UVM undergraduate students are invited to join an eligible team and also participate in the development workshop with business partners.
How do I apply?
1. Submit an application
Submit applications through Google Forms by Wednesday, October 16. Students may submit a written abstract or a pitch deck following the prompted questions. Applications will be assessed on a rolling basis. Once your application has been submitted, we will contact you via email to set up a brief interview. Early applicants may have the opportunity to share their ideas with the e-forum on October 11.
While it is encouraged to apply through Google Forms you may email your submission to Mollie Davis at mollie.davis@uvm.edu.
Meyers Cup Application Template
2. Acceptance into Cohort
Once applications close, the 2025 cohort will be chosen by UVM professors and community advisors. The accelerator will have weekly meetings with training sessions to prepare for the final pitch.
3. Pitch to the Meyers Family
The program will conclude with a pitch showcase at the end of March. The Meyers family will award the final prize to the winner, live!
2024 Meyers Cup Inaugural Winner
Congratulations to Jake Falanga and Zach Dunn '23 from Painting With Purpose, the inaugural Joy and Jerry Meyers Cup grand prize winners! Read the full story.
2025 Competition Schedule
The competition offers ongoing opportunities for selected teams to develop mentorship relationships with community partners and improve pitches. Each week teams will attend training sessions led by experienced entrepreneurs and meet 1:1 with industry mentors. This expert-created curriculum will cover topics including business and financing models, customer discovery, pitch creation, and more. Competitors are encouraged to take advantage of all opportunities to engage with these business partners to deliver the best final presentations and business plans.
Oct. 16, 2024 | Applications Due | Online submission |
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Oct. 21, 2024 | 2025 Meyers Cup Cohort Announced | Online announcement |
Oct. 25, 2024 | Weekly Training Sessions Start | Sessions every Friday through March, 2025 |
Mar. 21, 2025 | Final Pitch Presentations | Silver Maple Pavilion Alumni House |
Resources
- Guy Kawasaki's "The Only 10 Slides You Need in Your Pitch Deck"
- Harvard Business School - pitch deck example (PDF)
- Start Here Podcast: Stories of Vermont entrepreneurs from the Vermont Center of Emerging Technologies (VCET)
- Mentoring support from Vermont Center for Emerging Technologies
- Business planning and startup video lessons from the Kauffman Founders School
Student Entrepreneurship Coordinator
Thank You To Our Corporate Partners
Dinse
Dinse
Dinse, P.C. is a full-service firm representing businesses, institutions, and individuals in a wide range of complex cases and transactions. From the emphasis placed on building trusting, collaborative relationships to a pragmatic approach to developing tailored legal solutions for each unique challenge, Dinse is dedicated to exceeding expectations and achieving positive outcomes for our clients. For more information, please visit our website at www.dinse.com.
Fresh Tracks Capital
Fresh Tracks Capital
Founded in 200, Fresh Tracks Capital is a Vermont-focused investment fund that uses venture capital to create positive economic and community impacts. Across its funds, which total more than $47 million, FreshTracks has invested in more than 30 Vermont-based companies. FreshTracks hosts a number of events for entrepreneurs and investors, including Peak Pitch and Road Pitch. The firm’s General Partners and Managing Directors are Cairn Cross, Lee Bouyea and T.J. Whalen. FreshTracks is actively investing out of its most recent fund, FreshTracks Capital IV.
Fuse
Fuse is an award-winning marketing agency that help world class brands connect with teens and young adults. The agency offers strategy, experiential, social media, public relations, and creative services. Fuse has been named one of the best places to work in Vermont by Vermont Business Magazine and one of the top 25 places to work in the country by Outside Magazine.
Gallagher, Flynn & Company
Gallagher, Flynn & Company's services have been performance based and relationship driven for over 60 years. Its CPA services are the foundation of our firm, and set the benchmark for technical expertise and integrity in our suite of professional services. The firm is large enough to provide clients with a diverse portfolio of services while remaining as highly responsive and client-focused as always. GFC delivers accounting, tax, and consulting expertise in key business areas, including tax consulting & compliance, accounting & assurance, mergers, acquisitions & transaction, private equity support, business consulting, business valuation & litigation support, finance & accounting outsourcing, and HR consulting services.
Hula Lakeside
Hula Lakeside
Hula Lakeside is a lakefront coworking campus, business incubator and venture fund in Burlington’s South End, focused on elevating Vermont-based companies. It offers the most idyllic setting to recruit the top talent, maximize productivity, access necessary growth capital, and foster a healthy and active company culture.
Vermont Center for Emerging Technologies
Vermont Center for Emerging Technologies
The Vermont Center for Emerging Technologies (VCET) serves entrepreneurs, innovation leaders, and startup businesses from start to scale through business consulting, mentorship, coworking, and seed investment. Since 2005, the VCET team has worked with entrepreneurs helping to crystallize concepts, assemble teams, craft business models, secure resources and locate early customers. VCET’s programs and capital funds offer select early stage firms substantive business mentoring along with traditional business incubator services and infrastructure.
Meyers Cup News
Grossman School News (April 26, 2024): UVM Student Team Wins Grand Prize to Launch New Business in Vermont
Grossman School News (February 29, 2024): 2024 Semifinalists Announced
Grossman School News (October 25, 2023): Entrepreneurs Provide Feedback on Business Ideas of UVM Students
Grossman School News (September 8, 2023): UVM Students Can Apply To Win $212,500 to Launch Their Business
Grossman School News (April 26, 2023): UVM Launches Annual Initiative to Fund Student Ideas into Operating Vermont Businesses
WCAX-TV (April 26, 2023): UVM competition aims to fund student success in Vermont business
WVNY-TV/WFFF-TV (April 26, 2023): UVM to fund student entrepreneurs through $2.5 million donation
WPTZ-TV (April 26, 2023): UVM launching an annual competition for student entrepreneurs