All Categories - The Lightning Jar

Finding Startup Capital

11/2/2018

Almost everyone I know has a great business idea, but they don't all have great businesses. Most don't even have a business! There seems to be this in between place, like a purgatory for good ideas, where folks think they need more money before they can start. In general, I challenge people on that assumption, but sometimes a bit of startup capital goes a long way.

That's when loans come in. I get it. Taking on more debt is scary – especially if you bought a car or a house or went to college in the last twenty years (or ever). But if it meant you could finally launch or expand your business, would it be worth it? At the very least, understanding your options can help you answer that question.

Not all loans are the same. If you're interested in learning about those differences and how to choose the best one for you and your business, we want to help. Join us on Wednesday, November 7 at the Lightning Jar for a panel discussion moderated by the US Small Business Administration. The panel begins at noon and registration, at 11:30am. Get here early so you can meet the lenders one-on-one!

Find more information HERE.

Entrepreneurial Mindsets

10/24/2018

Photo by Clark Tibbs on Unsplash

Last week, I got the chance to sit in on the final session of Startup 802: An Entrepreneurial Mindset, the first class of a two-part curriculum offered at CCV - Bennington in partnership with The Lightning Jar, the Chamber, the Bennington County Regional Commission, the Bennington County Industrial Corporation, Southern Vermont College, and Williams Financial. You may have heard about it while reading The Banner earlier this year (HERE and HERE).

I’ve sat in on the class a few times over the past couple weeks, and I immediately noticed the enthusiasm Robert brings to the program. As the founder of BE Your Start, which has been delivering training, incubator services, custom workshops, and other entrepreneurial programming to startups and growing businesses since 2005, and a professor of management, marketing, hospitality, and entrepreneurship as several colleges, it’s clear that Robert knows what he’s talking about.

When asked to imagine an entrepreneur, many people think of tech giants like Steve Jobs or Elon Musk – larger than life figures and companies. It’s hard to imagine ourselves as entrepreneurs if that’s the definition, and its easy to assume you need to be born with some special ability to achieve that level of success. This class challenges those assumptions.

Being an entrepreneur does require a certain mindset. Those that succeed sign a life-long learning contract to adapt and persevere. Entrepreneurs strive to better themselves and their businesses by identifying problems quickly developing strategies to solve the problem. (And they don’t do it alone!) The focus of Startup 802 has been just that: developing entrepreneurial mindsets.

This cohort of participants are learning to develop an entrepreneurial mindset and the elements required to launch and grow a successful small business or start-up. Over 8 weeks, participants have worked to build personal skills and traits that enhance entrepreneurial success. Traits including, but not limited to, creativity, curiosity, systems thinking, partnership, and collaboration. You can find more information about Startup 802 program HERE.

This semester’s showcase is tonight! Stop by CCV tonight between 6:15 and 7:45pm to meet the startups and learn about their progress. The format of the event is similar to a trade show or “poster session”. Stop by anytime to walk around and chat with 8-10 startups. Participants include a custom door company, a safety device for runners, an allergy-sensitive food company, entertainment venues, a gym/smoothie bar concept, Upstate Balloon Company, a nonprofit benefiting women’s education in impoverished countries, and more. More details about the showcase can be found on the Startup 802 Startup, Small Business, and Idea Showcase Eventbrite.

– Joe Braim, Media & Outreach Intern

Lightning Jar Member has #1 Beer Book on Amazon

9/25/2018

Nancy Koziol always wanted to write for a living. It took her 40 years to get there, but she has definitely arrived. Koziol, who is signed with Skyhorse Publishing, penned “The Joy of Brewing Cider, Mead, and Herbal Wine: How to Craft Seasonal Quick-Brew Favorites” last winter mostly on Tuesdays at The Lightning Jar. The book will be available in October at The Bennington Bookshop. It was Amazon’s #1 Hot New Release in “Beer” and in the top 1% of all of Amazon. She has the screenshots to prove it.

The Joy Of Brewing focuses on the ethical production of 1-gallon batches of cider, mead and herbal wine. There is a strong focus on the importance and economy of local as well as the history of each brew, recipes and pairing notes.

Koziol taught middle school from 1999-2007 when she left to work for the National Education Association. After being away from family for nearly a decade she still felt like something was missing. She and her husband—Little Falls, NY native Kris Koziol—took a risk. Nancy quit her job and started freelancing and the couple moved back to Bennington. An assignment to write a wine glossary for a Greek wine blog turned into more and more wine-related jobs. Her speciality was emerging region, the politics of wine and climate change and how it affects wine. Her writing on Wine Turtle got the attention of an editor at Skyhorse who then approached Koziol.

Koziol’s blog, The Oethical Oenologist, explores the ethical production and consumption of alcohol, green living and homebrewing recipes. She doesn’t update it enough. She is also fairly active on Instagram (@oethical_oenologist) where she posts about alcohol and chronicles her travels. Koziol spent time in France this spring exploring the wines and terroir of the South of France followed by the Loire Valley. She was the guest of regional wine organizations. She is #geekedongreek and has spent a considerable amount of time tasting Greek wine in New York City.

The Bennington Wine Tasting Meetup is organized by Koziol and meets a few times a month. They host blind tastings, regional- and producer-specific tastings and are always looking for new members. It is a friendly, unpretentious group.

“I don’t know what’s next,” Koziol said when asked about her next project. “I’ve got all kinds of ideas and have always been an obsessive planner. I’m learning, though, that when I let go and follow the cues of the universe I find where I’m supposed to be. Currently, all of my energy is focused on promoting the book—and I’d love to write another for Skyhorse, maybe on sour beer, the history of wine in the Finger Lakes or a more in-depth book on mead or herbal wine.”

The Bennington Bookshop and Harvest Brewing are hosting the book’s official release party on October 26 at 7 pm and Nancy is speaking at Northshire Bookstore in Manchester at 2 pm on the 27th. Both events are free to the public.

Koziol and her super supportive husband live downtown in the historic Drysdale Building with an old dog, a young cat and a lot of wine. They enjoy hiking Vermont, active travel and road trips to see live music. They can be found at Harvest Brewing most nights of the week.

What's a Lean Lab?

7/3/2018

Two months ago, I attended my first Lean Lab at Lever in North Adams, just south of us in the Berkshires. I'll admit I didn't quite know what to expect, but I knew the featured speaker (shout out to our very own Dimitri Garder, CEO & Co-Founder of Global-Z) and heard murmurs of pizza, beer, and networking. The murmurs weren't wrong, they just didn't really cover what happens at a Lean Lab.

To start with, Lean Lab is based on Lean Startup methodology (learn more about that HERE) and is sponsored by Lever, a startup incubator working to grow the regional economy. I was glad I arrived a few minutes early – they're a prompt bunch, and the speaker started right on time. For about 40 minutes, Dimitri walked us through how Global-Z started and described how, when, and why they pivoted, for better or worse.

After some Q&A, there was a presentation by one of the startups Lever is working with. Fabber, a digital fabrication platform that makes the digital tools used by those that design and build furniture and the like smarter and easier to use, presented briefly on its "MVP" or "minimum viable product." This part was more conversational than I expected. Sure, Fabber's Founder Eric Schimelpfenig presented his product, but he also asked questions and took advice. I think one of the biggest misconceptions folks have is that they can't talk about their good ideas. So many people are afraid someone will take it and make millions, but everyone I've met in this entrepreneurship world just wants to help you make it work.

After the presentation, we were all divided into four groups for some facilitated networking. We were tasked with each sharing one thing we're working on that we're excited about. It may sound corny to you, but being given a question or framework for networking makes the whole deal a significantly easier and more useful. I got to talk a bit about the Lightning Jar and connect with folks in the region with similar interests and goals.

Lean Lab is open to any entrepreneur, especially those seeking to grow their business. They also welcome business leaders with a desire to leverage continuous innovations a means to grow and stay ahead of their competition. Check out the next one which will be hosted at the Lightning Jar on Tuesday, July 10 from 6pm to 8pm and will feature CEO & Co-Founder Chris Brooks of Vermont Wood Pellet Company.

Lean Lab is sponsored by Lever, a startup incubator working to grow the regional economy. It is co-organized by Brent Filson, Lever's Director of Programs and Operations, Steve Miller, Professor of Mathematics at Williams College, and David Eve, Associate Professor of Computer Science at Massachusetts College of Liberal Arts.

Turning a Passion Into a Business

7/2/2018

Chris Brooks is a fifth-generation lumberman and the CEO & Co-Founder of Vermont Wood Pellet. Like many Vermonters, Brooks has a passion for sustainability, and he built Vermont Wood Pellet on this passion. Today, Vermont Wood Pellet is still committed to sustainable, renewal harvesting techniques that ensure our forests are as beautiful and vibrant tomorrow as they are today.

Before Vermont Wood Pellet, Brooks worked as a consultant developing and expanding business strategies for 25 years. With that kind of experience, it makes sense that he now manages a staff of 20 or so while overseeing the company's finances and operational efficiencies himself. Oh, and before all that, he got a liberal arts degree in archeology and then a graduate degree in computer simulation. The path to a solid business – or even a good idea – is rarely a straight line.

Learn more about Brooks's journey and how Vermont Wood Pellet came to be at Lever, Inc.'s Lean Lab on July 10 at the Lightning Jar, 6-8pm. Register and find out more HERE.

Upcoming Event: VT Tech Startup Front Porch Forum Co-Founder & CEO Michael Wood-Lewis

6/6/2018

Join us for an evening with Michael Wood-Lewis, Co-Founder & CEO of Front Porch Forum.
Front Porch Forum is one of a growing roster of successful Vermont entrepreneurial startups leading the state's tech startup scene, including Ello, Dealer.com, MyWebGrocer, Logic Supply, GameTheory, Pwnie Express, and many others. Co-founder and CEO Michael Wood-Lewis will be in Bennington to tell the story of how this tech startup got going and how they're continuing to grow.

Doors open at 5pm, talk starts at 5:30. Cash bar and light fare will be available.
$15 in advance / $20 at the door
Lightning Jar members enter FREE & receive a free drink

For more information and to register visit our Events page.

Springtime Networking

5/9/2018

Happy Spring! I know we're a little late here, but so is the weather. Now that the days are warmer and we've got a few more hours of sunlight, put that extra energy to use and meet us at the Lightning Jar.

Thursday, May 17, the Lightning Jar is opening its doors to the public from 6 to 8pm. We'll provide the pizza and beverages if you provide the dazzling conversation. (Slightly shimmery conversation will suffice.) Meet people, catch up with folks you already know, check out the Lightning Jar's new art (thanks to the Bennington Area Arts Council), and network to your hearts content.

Nervous about networking? Check out tips and tricks to prepare for a networking event HERE. Our favorite trick is simple, walk up to someone you don't know and say, "Hi, I'm Michelle. (Go for a handshake here.) We haven't met, how'd you hear about this event?"

This is an after hours event, so please enter through the Depot Street entrance and ring the bell.

Professional Development Series: Managing Stress & Preventing Burnout

4/5/2018

Thursday, April 19, 6 to 8pm
The Lightning Jar, 194 North Street, Bennington (Please use Depot St. entrance)

If you ever feel frustrated with your work, doubt your competence, or don't feel as passionate as you used to, you may be at risk of professional burn out.

Join the Lightning Jar as we explore self-care and stress management techniques. Learning how to manage stress and work-life balance can help you take action before it affects your health.

The Lightning Jar is excited to partner the Bennington Holistic Healing Practitioners, and BHHP's Holistic Wellness Fair (find more info about that HERE) to bring Deb Lewis, Mindful Paths to the Lightning Jar. Deb will share her strategies for managing stress while progressing in your career.

This event is part of the Lightning Jar Professional Development Series in collaboration with the Bennington Young Professionals. Whether you think you could use a few tips or have your own advice (or horror stories!) to share, come on by!

Free and open to the public, pizza and cash bar provided by Ramunto's. Please enter through our Depot Street entrance.

Call For Artists - The Lightning Jar Gallery Show

3/26/2018

Bennington Area Arts Council is partnering with The Lightning Jar to create an opportunity for area artists to showcase their work on the walls of The Lightning Jar.

If you are interested in being part of a gallery show at The Lightning Jar, send your submissions to BenningtonAreaArtsCouncil@gmail.com.

Please share this call for art widely!

Upcoming Event: Mary Powell, CEO of Green Mountain Power

1/30/2018

Join us for an evening with Mary Powell, President & CEO of Green Mountain Power.

Named 2015 Vermonter of the Year by The Burlington Free Press and one of the Top 25 Most Influential Women of the Mid-Market by CEO Connection in 2017, Powell is revolutionizing the power industry from within. Her emphasis on workplace culture, leadership, and customer satisfaction continues to guide Green Mountain Power through an an industry landscape undergoing massive disruption.

Doors open at 5pm, talk starts at 5:30. Cash bar and light fare will be available.
$15 in advance / $20 at the door
Lightning Jar members enter FREE & receive a free drink

For more information or to register, visit our Events page.