Black River Innovation Campus

KICKING OFF THIS THURSDAY: INTRODUCTION TO STARTUP INVESTING

BRIC's new Vermont Investor Education Series begins this Thursday with Workshop #1: Introduction to Startup Investing, featuring Noragh Devlin, Director of LaunchVT!

How do startups evolve from idea to investment - and how do investors evaluate opportunities along the way?

This practical introductory session will explore the fundamentals of early-stage investing, with insight into Vermont's startup ecosystem and the resources helping founders become investment-ready.

📅 Thursday, August 13
⏰ 5:00–6:00 PM ET
💻 Virtual
💜 Free to attend

🔗 View the full schedule + register: https://form.jotform.com/262207352025043

Join us for one session, several, or the whole series!

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ABOUT THE SERIES

BRIC's GAFC Capital Formation Initiative includes two complementary workshop series designed to strengthen Vermont's startup and investment ecosystem - with practical education, expert perspectives, and opportunities to build stronger connections between founders and capital.

💰 Vermont Investor Education Series: 8 workshops for current + prospective investors
🚀 Founder Capital Readiness Series: 4 workshops for founders preparing to raise capital

Sessions run through October 1 and will feature founders, investors, attorneys, and entrepreneurial ecosystem leaders from across Vermont. Sessions will also be recorded for future viewing.

🌟 This programming is made possible with support from the U.S. Small Business Administration through the 2025 Growth Accelerator Fund Competition (GAFC).

🎲🥽 HiJinx Con is THIS WEEKEND!

VRmont Studios will be at HiJinx Gaming Convention August 14–16 at Fireside Inn & Suites in West Lebanon, NH - and we’re bringing VR experiences along for the adventure!

Come explore a full weekend of board games, card games, RPGs, vendors, local game designers, and tabletop fun - then stop by and step into virtual reality with us.

Good news from HiJinx: day-of badge sales are open, and badge prices are staying at pre-registration rates!

🎟️ Get your badge: https://www.hijinxcon.com/
🥽 Reserve a VR time slot: https://vrmontstudios.as.me/schedule/f17ce8ed?calendarIds=13896219

See you at HiJinx - let the games begin!

NEW WORKSHOPS FOR VERMONT FOUNDERS + INVESTORS!

BRIC is excited to launch two complementary workshop series designed to strengthen Vermont’s startup and investment ecosystem - with practical education, expert perspectives, and opportunities to build stronger connections between founders and capital.

💰 INVESTOR EDUCATION SERIES
Thursdays | 5:00–6:00 PM ET | Aug. 13–Oct. 1

An eight-part series for current and prospective investors, business leaders, and anyone interested in learning more about early-stage investing in Vermont.

Topics include startup investing, investment readiness, evaluating early-stage companies, financing, Vermont’s capital landscape, and building a stronger innovation ecosystem.

🚀 FOUNDER CAPITAL READINESS SERIES
Mondays | 12:00–1:00 PM ET | Aug. 24–Sept. 21

A four-part virtual series helping Vermont founders better understand the fundraising process and prepare to raise capital.

Topics include navigating Vermont’s funding landscape, becoming investment-ready, startup financing fundamentals, and preparing for a successful fundraise.

⭐️ Join one workshop, several, or follow the full series - choose the sessions that are most useful to you.

🔗 View the full schedule + register: https://form.jotform.com/262207352025043

The series kicks off this Thursday, August 13 with Introduction to Startup Investing, featuring Noragh Devlin, Director of LaunchVT. Stay tuned for more!

This programming is made possible with support from the U.S. Small Business Administration through the 2025 Growth Accelerator Fund Competition (GAFC).

Let’s keep building a more connected, informed, and vibrant innovation economy here in Vermont. 💚

Thank you to Springfield Food Co-op for including us and thank you to everyone that rounded up for BRIC! So many good collaborative vibes in downtown Springfield lately, it's so cool to be part of! 💚

Our wonderful friends over at Black River Innovation Campus came over last week to take a photo with Tamsin after being the organization of the month in the Change for Change program. Our customers rounded up a total of $490.00!! A heartfelt thank you to BRIC and all they do in the community, and of course to our amazing customers. 🥰

🌭 🍔 🥗 🏸 🎁 📸 🎶 🐝 It's a beautiful day in the neighborhood, and we're looking forward to this super fun community event with VTel coming up next week!

Free food, live music, yard games, photo contest...
What's not to love?? 😃

(gluten-free and vegetarian options available) ✅

Tell your friends and fam, and hope to see you there! 🤩

🍔 FREE LUNCH on us! 🌭

We’re celebrating our amazing Neighbors on Wed, Aug 12 (11am-2pm) with a free family cookout at VTel (354 River St, Springfield)!

Stop by for:
✨ Burgers & hotdogs (vegetarian option available)
🎸 Live music
🎁 Prizes (early birds get something special!)
👀 The BIG reveal of our new mascot!

See you there! Drop a 👋 in the comments if you're coming!

LAST CALL: Looking for a new career path?

We’re partnering with the Center on Rural Innovation to help connect local residents with WORC, a paid workforce development program designed to prepare participants for careers in IT and technology.

Participants earn industry-recognized certifications, receive career support, and train for in-demand jobs - all at no cost. EARN WHILE YOU LEARN!

If you’ve been thinking about making a career change, this could be the opportunity you’ve been waiting for.

Applications close Friday, August 7

Learn more and apply:
www.surveymonkey.com/r/worc4

✨ PUPPETRY WORKSHOP ALERT! ✨

This is not your average sock puppet situation.

Join us at VRmont Studios on October 5th from 4:00–6:30 PM for a hands-on puppet-making workshop with special guest Eric Weiss of Homeslice Puppetry!

Participants ages 8+ will design and build their very own high-quality sock puppet with guidance from an award-winning professional puppet builder who has been creating and teaching puppetry since 2006.

Whether you’re a kid, a grown-up kid, a theater lover, a maker, a character-design nerd, or someone who simply believes the world needs more googly eyes and dramatic entrances… this one’s for you.

🧦 Make your own puppet
🎭 Learn from a professional puppet builder
✨ Take home a totally unique handmade character
📍 VRmont Studios, Springfield, VT
🗓️ October 5th | 4:00–6:30 PM
👥 Ages 8+
💸 $40/person

Ready to bring your new puppet pal to life?

Register here:
https://form.jotform.com/261755129208055

✨ Scenes from this week's STEAM-powered Girls Summer Camp! 💜

This week has been packed with creativity, problem-solving, and hands-on fun! From coding LEGO robots to navigate restaurants they designed themselves, to creating colorful tie-dye shirts, bringing ideas to life on our 3D printers, and exploring the VRmont Studios makerspace with Josie, these campers have been busy turning imagination into reality.

Watching these girls collaborate, experiment, build, and cheer each other on has been so inspiring. 💪

We can't wait to see what these future engineers, artists, designers, coders, and inventors create next! 🤖✨