Inaugural Winner Announcement
April 25, 2024 | 4 - 6 p.m. with reception to follow | Ifshin Hall Keller Room
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.
About the Joy and Jerry Meyers Cup
The Joy and Jerry Meyers Cup is an annual initiative to help fund the businesses of outstanding undergraduate entrepreneurs at The University of Vermont. The goal of this competition is to select, mentor, and finance UVM undergraduate entrepreneurs to create new Vermont-based business ventures, which profitably contribute to the greater economic, social, and environmental fabric of Vermont. The grand prize winner will receive $212,500 in cash plus in-kind services from local organizations including dedicated desk space at a local entrepreneurial co-working space as well as pro bono accounting, legal, and business development services.
Information for Students
Who’s eligible to submit ideas?
- UVM undergrad students who are graduating in the 23/24 school year
- Teams including at least one graduating UVM undergrad
- 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 on October 18.
- Full eligibility, prizes and payments information.
How can you create your best final application?
- Submit your business idea (or ideas - you can have more than one) at each draft deadline — the more you submit, the more feedback from business partners you’ll receive to further develop and fine-tune your idea for the final application due on January 27, 2024.
- View full competition schedule below.
Get Started
2025 Competition Schedule
The competition offers on-going opportunities for eligible entrants to develop mentorship relationships with community partners and improve pitches. Each draft submission is an opportunity to receive feedback from our business partners. Competitors are encouraged to take advantage of all opportunities to engage with the business partners to deliver the best final application and presentation. Business partners will review and send feedback following each round of submissions.
| Oct. 2024 | First draft/idea(s) due | Online submission | optional |
|---|---|---|---|
| Oct. 2024 | Development workshop with business partners. All are welcome to attend. | Keller Room, Kalkin/Ifshin Hall | optional |
| Nov. 2024 | Second draft/idea(s) due (first drafts accepted) | Online submission | optional |
| Jan. 2025 | Final application due (firsts drafts accepted) | Online submission | required |
| Feb. 2025 | Semi-final presentations | Keller Room, Kalkin/Ifshin Hall | required |
| Apr. 2025 | Final presentations | Keller Room, Kalkin/Ifshin Hall | required |
Event History
Joy and Jerry Meyers met as undergraduate students at the University of Vermont. Their children grew up skiing in Stowe, including Chip Meyers, who along with his wife Louise Meyers, made this generous donation to UVM representing the Meyers Family Trust in honor of his parents. The donor’s goal is to showcase the University of Vermont’s student entrepreneurs, with the top prize launching the winner from concept to reality, and also to create Vermont-based organizations that will benefit the University and the State of Vermont. Initial funding for this event is guaranteed through 2033.
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
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