Burlington Entrepreneur Wins Grand Prize in UVM Business School Competition

In 2022, Zach Dunn founded Painting with Purpose with the support of UVM’s Catamount Innovation Fund. The goal of the company was to address the shortage of trades in the Burlington area by providing a range of services including residential and commercial painting, lead abatement, lead inspections, power washing, and minor carpentry. Dunn emphasized that starting a business can be challenging and advised starting small, keeping things simple, and leveraging personal connections for assistance.

Last week, Painting with Purpose won the Joy and Jerry Meyers Cup in a new competition launched by UVM’s Grossman School of Business. Three undergraduate teams presented their ideas to a panel of judges, with Dunn’s group ultimately winning the grand prize of $215,500. According to UVM business professor Erik Monsen, programs like this are vital for Vermont’s workforce development as they teach not only technical skills but also the confidence needed to pursue entrepreneurship.

Dunn expressed his gratitude for the recognition and described the experience as surreal. He is motivated to continue making a positive impact in the community through his work at Painting with Purpose.