ACTION Incubator Helps Put Vermont Cleantech Startup on Map

July 19, 2012 - PRLog -- The Vermont Center for Emerging Technologies (VCET), an incubator in the Association of Cleantech Incubators of New England (ACTION), provided much needed incubation and capital support to ElectroCell Technologies, Inc, which is now a growing company in New England’s cleantech economy. A young startup in 2005, ElectroCell entered VCET as one of its first clients. In 2007 ElectroCell “graduated” from the incubator. Since then, ElectroCell has been recognized both regionally and nationally for their environmentally friendly and cost effective solution for managing animal manure on hog and dairy farms.

ElectroCell Technologies’ Bio-Electric treatment technology transforms livestock manure into an odor reduced, nutrient reduced, and biologically active fertilizer.  Treated manure improves soil and crop health, virtually eliminates land-applied manure odor and dramatically reduces nutrient run-off into adjacent waterways. In April of this year, ElectroCell was presented with the Pennsylvania Governor’s Award for Environmental Excellence for keeping excess phosphorous and nitrogen off farm fields and out of the Chesapeake Bay. In the last year, ElectroCell’s Bio-Electric technology has also been successfully tested in municipal wastewater treatment and food processing plants.

ElectroCell entered VCET in order to  gain market credibility and identify and begin targeting market segments. ElectroCell was invited to be a charter member of VCET. VCET enabled ElectroCell’s progress by providing expert advice, facilitating market exposure, and helping the company raise capital for early development and market penetration. In December 2011, the Vermont Seed Capital Fund (for which VCET serves as Fund Manager) invested in ElectroCell as part of a Series A Preferred Stock offering.

The incubation programs at VCET are designed to provide advantages to client firms. The startups realize benefits ranging from networking, financial advice, and access to strategic partners in a variety of categories. As David Bradbury, President and Seed Fund Manager at Vermont Center for Emerging Technologies states: “At VCET, we measure success not by how high we soar, but by how well we bounce. We mentor and prepare startups to handle a variety of potential situations and to be resilient.” ElectroCell CEO Buzz Hoerr comments: “VCET gave us credibility and support in our early years and has since continued to provide essential connections, advice and timely funding that continue to make a huge difference as we move into our defined target markets.” Michael Ryan, President of ACTION echoed these sentiments: “The success of VCET and ElectroCell is a great example of how ACTION’s member incubators are supporting and accelerating the success of startups across the region - creating jobs, building new businesses, developing new technologies – it’s exciting to see! ”

For every dollar VCET has invested, they have helped secure an additional $11 from other private investors. The combination of an incubation program, a mentor network and capital are the keys to their winning formula.

About ACTION
The Association of Cleantech Incubators of New England (ACTION) is New England’s leading network of cleantech incubators sharing the common goals of accelerating the growth and success of early-stage companies, strengthening the regional cleantech cluster, and creating more green jobs in New England.
Their network of incubators provides diverse resources and a highly- supportive hub in which entrepreneurs, business leaders, government agencies, community leaders, investors, universities, and other interested organizations can collaborate toward the successful commercialization of enterprises that will build a prosperous green economy, improve the quality of our lives and sustain the health of our environment. Visit www.actionnewengland.org

About VCET
The Vermont Center for Emerging Technologies (VCET) is a member of ACTION. VCET offers programs and capital funds to select early stage firms, including substantive business mentoring along with traditional business incubator services and infrastructure.  VCET team members and partners work closely with entrepreneurs helping to crystallize concepts, assemble teams, craft business models, secure resources and locate early customers.  www.VermontTechnologies.com

About ElectroCell
ElectroCell Technology represents a new, more cost effective approach to processing a wide range of organic waste streams. The company provides mobile treatment services as well as permanently installed waste treatment equipment to farms, municipal wastewater treatment plants and private industry.  ElectroCell’s Bio-Electric technology transforms organic liquid waste streams by destroying anaerobic bacteria, breaking down solids and reducing nutrients and odors. On client farms, ElectroCell develops customized annual treatment plans based on each farm’s unique odor or nutrient management needs. In industrial settings, ElectroCell accelerates waste digestion processes and reduces waste disposal costs. ElectroCell is based in Colchester, VT and currently operates in the Northeastern U.S.  www.ElectroCell.us