Learn about our past Ventures!
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Founded by Joshua Wallace, a bright and driven GSB student, SmallBiz Marketing is on a mission to provide affordable, high-quality marketing services tailored to small businesses. With a strong background in photography and content creation, Josh has worked on various marketing projects around campus, especially within GSB. His vision is to bridge the gap between budget-conscious businesses and premium marketing strategies, ensuring that every brand—no matter its size—has access to professional marketing support. CIF has played a key role in helping Josh refine his business model, build financial projections, and conduct customer discovery to better understand his target market. Through this support, SmallBiz Marketing is going to grow into a well-rounded firm that empowers local businesses with impactful marketing solutions.
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Founded by Shannon Douglas, a GSB student and self-taught coder, MySubletter.com is a peer-to-peer subletting marketplace designed to instantly connect users with available sublets in their area. The platform simplifies the subletting process, making it easier and more secure for renters and subletters to find the perfect match. With Shannon personally coding and developing the site, MySubletter.com stands out as an innovative, student-driven solution to housing challenges. CIF supported the venture by helping refine its business model, expand its reach, and strategize for growth. As housing demand rises, MySubletter.com is positioned to become a game-changer in the rental market. Check it out.
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Founded by Niall Monahan, PieceWise aimed to create a centralized furniture marketplace—like Depop, but for furniture. The platform sought to streamline the buying and selling of secondhand furniture, making it easier for people to find quality pieces locally while promoting sustainability. While CIF’s time with Niall ended early, his dedication to customer discovery was admirable. He worked hard to understand the demand for a furniture marketplace in Burlington, gathering insights from potential users and refining the concept. His commitment to the project demonstrated the power of validating an idea through real customer feedback, a critical step for any startup. Though PieceWise didn’t move forward under CIF, Niall’s entrepreneurial mindset and problem-solving skills set a strong foundation for future ventures.
Fall 2024 Ventures
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The Akwaaba Community Collective is a social enterprise connecting local merchants in Ghana to American markets, creating sustainable economic opportunities for artisans and small businesses. The company remains active today and is part of the SIMBA Program, continuing its mission to foster cross-cultural commerce and support ethical trade. As they uplift communities, celebrate heritage, and create sustainable income opportunities, Akwaaba is proving that commerce can be a powerful force for good. From vibrant textiles to handcrafted goods, every purchase tells a story and supports a dream. Visit the site.
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Founded by Javi Rodriguez, PDG Studios is a dedicated music studio focused on supporting Burlington’s growing R&B and hip-hop music scene. With CIF’s funding, Javi was able to build a professional studio space above Mr. Mike’s in downtown Burlington, providing local artists with high-quality recording and production facilities. PDG Studios continues to serve as a creative hub for emerging talent in Vermont. Learn more.
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(See previous entry under Fall 2022)
Spring 2023 Ventures
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SewUp is more than just a sewing collective—it’s a movement to revive hands-on craftsmanship and build community connections. Founded by Lucy Powell, SewUp brings people together to learn sewing skills while also creating a marketplace for community-made projects. Through CIF’s support, Lucy refined her business concept, strengthened her brand identity, built a social media presence, and honed her pitching skills. Her hard work paid off as she made it to the final round of the Meyers Cup, narrowly losing to another CIF alum. SewUp continues to grow as a hub for creative expression and sustainable fashion.
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Revolutionizing ski manufacturing with 3D printing, 3D Skis is pushing the boundaries of innovation in winter sports. With a vision to create lightweight, customizable, and high-performance skis, the founder faced challenges in designing a functional 3D printer while living in a dorm room. CIF provided critical support in material sourcing, design optimization, and problem-solving, helping to advance the concept toward a viable product.
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(See previous entry under 2023)
Spring 2024 Ventures
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Before ginger shots became a mainstream wellness trend, Raz Hansen saw the opportunity to create ginger shots infused with caffeine—a refreshing and healthy alternative to coffee and energy drinks. During his time with CIF, Raz successfully built a brand, developed a test product, and launched his first batch of a few hundred shots. Though the business was not pursued long-term, it remains one of the biggest missed opportunities, as the market for ginger shots has since exploded.
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Tomek Botewicz envisioned Governed.io as a fully digital government interface, streamlining services like secure blockchain-based voting, DMV processes, permits, and real-time bill tracking. While the concept was innovative, breaking into the government contracting space was a major challenge. CIF provided resources for software development, branding, and website creation, allowing Tomek to establish a professional presence. Although Governed.io was never fully launched, the project showcased the potential of digital governance solutions. Visit the site.
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Founded by Casey Pope, Northeast Creative started as a sports-focused media and video editing company. Through CIF’s support, Casey was able to pivot his business, expanding into a broader range of media opportunities. Beyond creative guidance, CIF played a key role in helping him with financial management, accounting, and reinvestment strategies, allowing him to focus on the artistic side of the business. Today, Northeast Creative continues to produce high-quality media content across multiple industries.
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Professor Rugs started as a bespoke custom rug business driven by a passion for craftsmanship. Leveraging Instagram, the founder gained visibility and attracted customers, but the business faced logistical challenges. CIF helped refine the business model, balancing creative passion with practical strategies. Ultimately, the founder realized rug-making was more of a hobby than a full-scale business, but the experience provided valuable entrepreneurial lessons.
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RJ’s Car Detailing became Burlington’s largest auto detailing company and successfully exited through an acquisition. During CIF’s involvement, RJ’s aimed to scale their business by purchasing a van and consolidating operations. CIF provided financial assistance to acquire new equipment, allowing the company to enhance efficiency and expand its customer base.
Fall 2022 Ventures
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Hemp Steeze is redefining sustainable fashion with its eco-friendly clothing made from hemp—one of the most durable and environmentally responsible fabrics available. Committed to reducing the fashion industry’s impact, Hemp Steeze faced early challenges in material sourcing, but through CIF’s support, the company worked to establish reliable supply chains and refine its brand strategy. Today, Hemp Steeze continues to push forward in the sustainable fashion movement, proving that style and sustainability can go hand in hand. Explore more.
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Founded by Nicholas Carlson, Mittenquant is a mission-driven ESG consulting firm helping businesses navigate the evolving landscape of environmental, social, and governance (ESG) data. Mittenquant works with companies to collect, analyze, and strategically market their ESG statistics, ensuring that sustainability efforts resonate with customers and stakeholders alike. CIF played a key role in helping Nicholas refine their business focus, positioning Mittenquant as a trusted partner in the ESG space. Learn more.
Fall 2023 Ventures
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MuzGear brings style, sustainability, and craftsmanship together with its handmade fleece apparel. Specializing in trendy hats, shorts, and vests, MuzGear prioritizes sustainably sourced materials to create high-quality, fashionable pieces. Designed for comfort and durability, MuzGear’s products cater to outdoor enthusiasts and fashion-forward individuals alike.
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Founded by Zach Dunn, Painting with Purpose is more than just a painting company—it’s a mission-driven business dedicated to giving back. Committed to social impact, the company donates 30% of all profits to CVOEO, a nonprofit supporting Vermont’s homeless community. Since its inception, Painting with Purpose has experienced extraordinary growth, increasing revenue eightfold within its first six months. Now the largest painting company in Vermont, the business continues to expand while maintaining its philanthropic mission. Their success was further recognized in 2024 when they won the prestigious Meyers Cup. Learn more.
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Shark-Bite Hot Sauce, founded by Mallory Stafford & Jaeda Dean, delivers a bold twist to traditional condiments with its cocktail-inspired flavors. Crafted to elevate any dish, these unique sauces blend heat with unexpected yet complementary ingredients, creating a one-of-a-kind culinary experience. Whether you're a spice lover or a mixology enthusiast, Shark-Bite Hot Sauce adds the perfect kick to every bite.