Housed at The HUB · Downtown Rutland
The BRIC
Actuator.
A free, 8-week incubator cohort for founders ready to pressure-test a real business — delivered in partnership with Black River Innovation Campus (BRIC), with 1:1 mentorship that continues at least a year after graduation.
A pillar of Startup Rutland
The program
A structured path for idea- to validation-stage founders.
The Actuator brings a small cohort of founders — industry-agnostic, 6 to 8 per group — through an 8-week curriculum built for people ready to pressure-test a real business, not just an idea. Every cohort is anchored by a local Entrepreneur-in-Residence who deepens regional ties and keeps mentoring long after the program wraps.
Step 01
Cohort formation
6 to 8 founders per cohort, industry-agnostic, idea- to validation-stage — plus established owners exploring a new line of business. Applications reviewed on a rolling basis.
Step 02
8-week curriculum
From value proposition and customer discovery through revenue modeling, partnerships, and pitch development — prepared learning plus weekly workshops with guest Subject Matter Experts.
Step 03
Entrepreneur-in-Residence
Every cohort is anchored by a local Entrepreneur-in-Residence and mentor network who provide 1:1 guidance — continuing for at least a year after the cohort ends.
Step 04
Capstone pitch & beyond
Founders present at an off-site capstone event to mentors, investors, and stakeholders, then continue with mentorship, workspace, and planning tools long after the program ends.
8-week curriculum
Real case studies,
every week.
Each weekly workshop pairs facilitated discussion with guest Subject Matter Experts — grounded in real business case studies founders can apply directly to their own concept.
Platform & Tool Onboarding
Self-directed — staff support
No workshop this week. Founders enroll in Start Up Rutland’s online learning platform and coworking access tool, build a founder profile, and review intro videos on startup life and lean canvas tools.
Week
Value Proposition
Case studies: Apple · Tesla Electric Cars
Understanding the importance of a strong value proposition — identifying and defining your product or service’s unique value, and crafting a compelling value proposition statement.
Week
Customer Persona (Discovery & Segments)
Case studies: Lululemon Athletica · Bumble
Conducting customer discovery interviews and surveys, then creating detailed customer personas and segmenting your target audience.
Week
Hypotheses & Prototyping
Case studies: Dropbox · Beta Technologies
Formulating hypotheses about customer needs, problems, and solutions — then building and testing prototypes to validate assumptions.
Week
Channels & Ecosystems (Marketing & Go-to-Market)
Case studies: Coca-Cola · Red Bull
Exploring different marketing channels and strategies, and designing a go-to-market plan to reach your target audience effectively.
Week
Revenue Modeling
Case studies: Uber · Spotify
Developing revenue models and pricing strategies, and calculating the lifetime value of a customer and customer acquisition costs.
Week
Key Partnerships & Resources
Case studies: Starbucks · McDonald’s
Identifying potential partners, suppliers, and collaborators; leveraging key resources; and an introduction to intellectual property and legal structures.
Week
Costs, OKRs & KPIs
Case studies: OKRs at Google, Bono & Intel · Amazon
Analyzing fixed and variable costs associated with your business, and defining key performance indicators (KPIs) to measure success.
Week
Presentations & Pitches
Guides: “How to Pitch to a VC” (David S. Rose) · “The Clues to a Great Story” (Andrew Stanton)
Crafting a compelling pitch for investors, stakeholders, and customers, and practicing effective presentation and storytelling techniques.
Capstone Presentation Event
Off-site — mentors, investors, stakeholders & founders
A celebratory, off-site presentation and networking event where founders pitch to a curated guest list of mentors, investors, and stakeholders.
Program benefits
Mentorship, tools, and a lasting network.
1:1 Mentorship
Ongoing guidance from a local Entrepreneur-in-Residence and mentor network.
Business Planning Software
Guided access to a business planning platform to build and refine your plan.
Hybrid Format
Attend workshops in person at The HUB or join virtually.
Capstone Pitch Event
Present your business concept to mentors, investors, stakeholders, and the local community.
Follow-On Support
At least one year of continued 1:1 mentorship after your cohort concludes.
Local Ecosystem
Build lasting connections within the Rutland County entrepreneurial community.
Who should apply
Bring the idea
you're ready to grow.
- Anyone with an idea for a new product, service, or business who wants to ideate and validate their concept.
- Founders who have, or are working toward, a Minimum Viable Product (MVP) and are engaged in customer discovery.
- Established business owners exploring a new business or product line extension.
- Founders across any industry — technology, trades, services, creative ventures, and community-focused businesses are all welcome.
Curriculum length
Founders per cohort
Estimated time per week
Cohort offerings
Two cohorts,
a year.
Each cohort runs the full 8-week curriculum, plus orientation and a capstone pitch event — offered at no cost to Rutland County founders.
Fall 2026 Cohort
8-week curriculum, plus orientation and a capstone pitch event.
Spring 2027 Cohort
8-week curriculum, plus orientation and a capstone pitch event.
Frequently asked questions
Good to
know.
Ready to start up
Bring the idea you’re ready to grow.
Let’s build a real business plan around it.
Free to join. Applications are open for the Fall 2026 and Spring 2027 cohorts — reviewed on a rolling basis.