Page 8 - BusinessWest April 18, 2022

of its programs, or affiliates.
“The founders of VVM did a masterful job of
getting it here and recognizing the importance
of the startup community and small-business growth and the importance of that to the West- ern Mass. economy,” Sullivan told BusinessWest. “We’re building off that leadership and vision and bringing in here. And I think it does align perfect- ly with the EDC, because it [VVM] is really looking to bring all the resources together for a common goal and put everyone under one umbrella. So I’m optimistic about the future of VVM.”
VVM now joins several other affiliates of the EDC, including the Springfield Regional Cham- ber, the Greater Springfield Convention and Visi- tors Bureau, the Westmass Area Development Corp., the Springfield Business Improvement Dis- trict, the Amherst Business Improvement District, Westover Airport, and the East of the River Five Town Chamber of Commerce.
The new affiliation agreement provides a good opportunity (there’s that word again) to revisit the mission of VVM, which has entered another intriguing chapter in its history, and how it will carry that mission out.
Indeed, the stronger relationship with the EDC comes as the agency continues what Ross Gibaldi, who joined the agency two years ago and has grown into her current role, described as an evo- lutionary process, one impacted in many ways by the pandemic, and sometimes in a positive way.
Indeed, programs that were once limited to those who could attend in person are now acces- sible to anyone who can join via Zoom, which has greatly increased attendance in some cases and brought some new and different voices to the discussions.
Meanwhile, as she noted, the new affilia- tion provides VVM with an opportunity to cre- ate more and stronger partnerships with other agencies in the ecosystem and enable that larger entity to better serve the region and its business community.
For this issue, BusinessWest talked with Ross Gibaldi and Sullivan about not only the new/old affiliation between the EDC and VVM, but also about the business plan moving forward for an agency that has been at the forefront of efforts to promote entrepreneurship and assist businesses as they work to get to that next level — whatever it might be.
Getting Down to Business
‘Dolphin tank pitches.’
That’s the very unofficial name given to one of the more intriguing elements of a summer stu- dent business-accelerator program VVM operates in conjunction with the Berthiaume Center at UMass Amherst.
And, yes, it’s a derivative of sorts of the popular television show Shark Tank.
Actually, “it’s a softer version of what you see on TV — it’s, well, not as sharky,” Ross Gibaldi told BusinesWest. “We’re lovingly critical ... we’re not vicious. It’s not that we don’t want these entre- preneurs to get real feedback, because that’s an important part of building a venture — getting real, honest, transparent feedback from judges and mentors. But you also don’t want to break their spirit, so we’re trying to find a loving way to do it.”
The dolphin tank, even if it’s not really called that, is part of a broad network of programs that VVM conducts or is part of, all aimed at helping
those in business or looking to start one clear hurdles and get to the next level. And it is just one example of how the agency is working to refine and strengthen all those roles Ross Gibaldi described earlier — from convener to advocate to champion of entrepreneurs.
“I see VVM stepping in to support a lot of these amazing initiatives that are helping to build that ecosystem.”
Elaborating on these thoughts, Ross Gibaldi said that, as the entrepreneurship ecosystem con- tinues to grow and evolve, VVM looks to play a broader role in forging partnerships with various players, create more awareness of specific initia- tives (and the system itself ), and bring a more unified, cohesive approach to the mission shared by these agencies.
“We’re all building a unified front for innova- tion and entrepreneurship across the region,
and I think that fits very nicely with the Western Mass. Economic Development Council, and this new alignment puts VVM in a position to support some these ecosystem initiatives that are so dras- tically needed,” she explained. “But, as organiza- tions and nonprofits that are so strapped, every- one is working with blinders on, which creates silos that people are working in and duplication of efforts. So when we’re able to clearly map out our regional entrepreneurial ecosystem, we can highlight where the
gaps are and where we are not serving
VVM
Continued on page 11
Now for Something Revolutionary:
Perks & Priority Service Regardless of Your Income or Savings
To learn more contact:
Jason Niles
MyBanker, NMLS #763668
413.449.4697 [email protected]
has
Leveled the Playing Field for Everyone
 One point of contact catering to you Maps your journey
Make more out of your money Provides personalized service
Banking products are provided by Berkshire Bank: Member FDIC. Equal Housing Lender. MyBanker priority service and perks are dependent upon a full fifinancial relationship commitment and may vary per individual. N N o o n n - - r r e e l l a a t t i i o o n n s s h h i i p p c c l l i i e e n n t t s s m m a a y y b b e e t t r r a a n n s s f f e e r r r r e e d d t t o o a a t t r r a a d d i i t t i i o o n n a a l l b b r r a a n n c c h h s s e e r r v v i i c c e e d d e e l l i i v v e e r r y y c c h h a a n n n n e e l l . . R e v0. 4 4 / / 12 92
8 APRIL 18, 2022
FEATURE
BusinessWest