Every great business starts with an idea, but turning that idea into reality takes guidance, support, and the right resources. For entrepreneurs in Rutland, Vermont, the journey got a little easier thanks to Bill Lucci and the FINSYNC CO.STARTERS program.
Bill is the Program Director for The Hub CoWorks, where he recently led his first 10-week program, bringing together a passionate group of aspiring business owners, expert mentors, and community partners to create a truly impactful experience.
A Commitment to Excellence
Bill’s dedication to delivering a high-quality program was evident from the start. One of his biggest wins? Securing top-tier guest speakers to enrich the curriculum each week. By partnering with SCORE, Heritage Family Credit Union, the Vermont Law School, and the Vermont Small Business Development Center, he ensured participants had direct access to expert insights and real-world guidance.
“Rather than us trying to scramble to find a guest speaker every week, SCORE provided me with an expert who could take one of those primary areas and be the guest speaker. It was seamless. We got some pretty heavy hitters each week,” Bill shared.
From financial planning to intellectual property law, these speakers helped demystify the startup process, making the information accessible and actionable for participants.
The Power of Community Support
Beyond the structured curriculum, what set this program apart was the strength of community collaboration. Heritage Family Credit Union, a key supporter, played an active role in the program’s success.
“Heritage Family Credit Union was happy to be a part of the recent session that Bill Lucci helped facilitate. This process started with a call between Bill, myself, and FINSYNC CO.STARTERS to see how HFCU could be involved in this programming. We are always happy to support programs like this that aim to help local entrepreneurs either start a business from scratch or continue to build on a business that they have already started. Bill’s passion for helping small business owners in the community is definitely commendable,” said Dylan Watts, VP of Commercial Lending for Heritage Family Credit Union.
SCORE also stepped up in a big way, ensuring a strong mentorship presence throughout the program. “Overall, SCORE really appreciated being invited to be part of each of the 10 sessions. It actually gave 10 of our volunteers a chance to be part of a community program in Rutland,” shared Gene Calvano, a SCORE mentor.
The Graduates’ Success Stories
Bill’s inaugural program featured diverse entrepreneurs, each with a unique vision. Among them was Harper Ennis, founder of Trehalose Biosciences, who walked away with a refined business model and a clear path forward.
“The course materials taught us how to make a proper business model canvas and prepared us for everything I had not thought of yet. It’s very thorough, very detailed, nice, easy to understand. It’s really helped me,” Harper said.
Another standout team was Mike Woods and Dylan BB, partners working on an innovative video game. With one focused on coding and the other on design, they leveraged CO.STARTERS to solidify their business structure and map out their market strategy.
A Grand Celebration and Looking Ahead
The culmination of the 10-week journey was a well-deserved celebration attended by program partners and local supporters. Heritage Family Credit Union went above and beyond, treating graduates to a $150 gift card to Roots, one of the best restaurants in Rutland, and funding a catered event graduation.
Reflecting on the experience, Bill highlighted the importance of collaboration: “The partnerships all made it better for the people participating in the program. The program alone is a great skeleton, but all these partners added meat and skin to the bones. It just made it so much better to have partners just as eager to see these people succeed as I am.”
The program’s success has already laid the groundwork for future sessions, with sign-ups underway for the next cohort in April.
Start Your Business with FINSYNC CO.STARTERS
For aspiring entrepreneurs looking for the right support system, FINSYNC CO.STARTERS offers the perfect launchpad. Whether you’re starting from scratch or refining an existing business, the program provides expert guidance, valuable connections, and a structured path forward.