Greetings BYOBiz Supporter,

At the BYOBiz press conference, student entrepreneur Jason Nikel fields a question as Vt. Governor Jim Douglas looks on.

As the summer races to an end and the fall academic semester begins, the BYOBiz program is taking shape. We have a growing network of business volunteers, Champlain alumni business owners, faculty and staff signing on as mentors. Here is an update on what's been happening at the College:

• Vermont Governor Jim Douglas joined Burlington Mayor Bob Kiss and Champlain President Dave Finney in formally announcing the BYOBiz program to the community. The response from local businesses to support this effort has been strong and continues to grow. Many of you were there as Governor Douglas stated,

  "Small business is the backbone of our state's economy; most businesses in Vermont are small, by any standard. A majority of people who are employed in Vermont are employed by small businesses. So it makes perfect sense that Champlain College would launch this important initiative to encourage small businesses to begin and grow in the Green Mountain State."

• We hit a BYOBiz milestone in August when one of our early entrepreneurs, Ben Kaufman, founder of Mophie (www.mophie.com), concluded a deal with Vermont-based Fresh Tracks Capital and Village Ventures of Williamstown, Mass. to fund the company's product line expansion. It started to come together for Ben at a Vermont Venture Network event with nurturing by Merritt & Merritt & Moulton law firm.

  Lightning strikes—directly on Ben's hard work and great ideas—and we love it! Read the press release here.

• Champlain College has developed the Entrepreneurs' Club, in which faculty will incubate and foster students' ideas until students can utilize BYOBiz Network support. As these students emerge, we will match them with appropriate community mentors.

• In addition to personalized business and academic advising, we are providing students with space on campus to network and work on their business ideas. Initially this will be a shared space in the Ireland Global Business & Technology Center, which we hope to expand as the program grows. We're designating this space the BYOBiz Garage (The Garage)—a place where students can work on their entrepreneurial engines.

• We are currently in discussion with Vermont's MIT Alumni group and hope to co-sponsor some public events on campus this fall.

• Our own BYOBiz Speaker Series is under development and we're adding ideas to the list almost daily. Our legal faculty is developing a group of presentations on Business Entities, Employment Law and Trademarks & Copyrights. Other topics include Franchising and Financial Planning for Entrepreneurs.

  Have an idea for a 45-minute presentation followed by some Q&A? We'd love to get your topic on our list. E-mail Charlie Nagelschmidt at charlie@champlain.edu

• Champlain President Dave Finney has initiated the President's speaker series, Up Close and Personal. This initiative will include many topical areas but for BYOBiz participants it will entail a working lunch and give students the opportunity to meet and learn from a successful local entrepreneur in a small intimate setting.

• As the buzz on BYOBiz spreads, we are seeing continued interest from prospective students. Sam Kunz, Assistant Director of Champlain Admission, has joined the team to spearhead our recruitment efforts. If you know of prospective students—Vermont students in particular—please refer them directly to Sam at (802) 860-2727 ext. 2309, (800) 570-5858, or kunz@champlain.edu.

• The BYOBiz Network is always looking for new speakers and mentors to match with our students. Please share this newsletter with friends and associates. Contact Dave Binch at binch@champlain.edu or (802) 865-6439 for additional information or to request a copy of our member survey.

Thank you for your interest and support of the BYOBiz program. We continue to organize and plan to match mentors and students during the semester as we assess student business needs. We're off to a fast start and early success.

Enjoy the rest of your summer and think BYOBiz and Champlain College!

Best regards,

Charlie & Dave

Charlie Nagelschmidt & Dave Binch
Co-Directors, BYOBiz Program
www.champlain.edu/byobiz
charlie@champlain.edu (802) 651-5963
binch@champlain.edu (802) 865-6439

Founded in 1878, Champlain College is a private, baccalaureate institution that offers professionally focused programs balanced by a liberal arts foundation. The College is a national leader in educating students to become skilled practitioners, effective professionals and global citizens.