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NOON TALK

This is Unnecessary

The oscillating TV stand. The alarm clock cup. The Lego Suck It!, which vacuums up Legos and instantly sorts them by size.

These are all examples of Matty Benedetto’s Unnecessary Inventions — pointless products he has designed, fully prototyped and documented across his social media channels. He’s made more than 400 of them in the past five years. His videos mimic actual promotional campaigns, and watching him take a ridiculous idea from concept to reality is oddly satisfying, which explains his audience of 15 million.

And that’s just on his social channels; Benedetto has also demonstrated his inventions on TV, including appearances on the “Today” show and repeat segments on “The Kelly Clarkson Show.” The Lego Suck It! was a hit with Clarkson and her guests, including “America’s Got Talent” judge Simon Cowell.

Big brands have noted Benedetto’s reach; Captain Morgan paid him to create the Super Bowl Punch Bowl — you might have seen it, and Matty himself, in an ad during this year’s game. He’s also been part of branded collabs with Disney, Wendy’s and Apple.

A Long Island, N.Y., native, Benedetto came to Vermont in 2008 to attend Saint Michael’s College. After earning a business degree in 2012, he stuck around. His current base of operations is a spacious second-floor suite on the top block of Church Street that used to house the Gap.

Benedetto will discuss his unlikely entrepreneurial journey — and share his strategy for making content that viewers can’t resist sharing.

3 p.m. KEYNOTE+HAPPY HOUR

From Zero to $100 Million: How OnLogic built a global business in South Burlington

Many Tech Jam exhibitors over the years have been sold, moved or disappeared. OnLogic, a locally owned industrial PC company founded in 2003, has demonstrated real staying power. Husband-and-wife team Roland and Lisa Groeneveld launched the company from their kitchen table. He was the engineer; she brought sales and marketing muscle — and a connection to Vermont. Lisa grew up in Barre; they built the business here to be closer to family.

Initially known as Logic Supply, OnLogic has grown and changed as computing demands have shifted. Today it’s known for creating hardware that can survive in some of the most challenging environments on, below and even above Earth — NASA is one of its clients, along with Amazon, General Dynamics, General Motors and Universal Studios.

OnLogic’s specialty is building small, fanless, highly reliable computers — some of the company’s systems have been operating nonstop for more than a decade.

In spring 2024, OnLogic opened its new global headquarters: a 150,000-square-foot, three-story building visible from Interstate 89, by the landmark “Whales’ Tails” sculpture. It features geothermal heating and uses solar power, and the building is four times larger than OnLogic’s previous location across the highway. The University of Vermont Grossman School of Business recognized Roland and Lisa in September with a Vermont Legacy Award.

In this keynote presentation, Seven Days deputy publisher Cathy Resmer talks with cofounder and now-executive board chair Roland Groeneveld and vice president of human resources Lauren Lavallee about how OnLogic has adapted and expanded in a rapidly changing business environment.

Keynote includes a happy hour with a cash bar and cookies courtesy of Coldwell Banker Hickok & Boardman.

Get a new profile pic.

Need a better headshot for social media or to share with potential employers? Storyworkz is on the job. The Montpelier-based photo service provides the backdrop and lighting equipment — all you need to bring is your smile! Get expert coaching to make you feel comfortable in front of the camera and 4-5 images uploaded to a private, personal gallery. Book by 10/23 to guarantee your $15 session. Limited walk-in sessions at Tech Jam are first-come, first-served for $25. Sponsored by Seven Days Jobs.

Find a great gig!

Calling all coders, chip designers, production technologists, logistics technicians, sales associates, digital marketers and engineers of all kinds! Meet up with recruiters from dozens of local tech companies and network with other like-minded professionals. Get inspired and discover new opportunities right here in your own backyard.

Refresh your resume.

Career coach Sue Schlom from The Targeted Resume offers drop-in resume reviews and job-seeking tips in the Sandbar conference room near Brio all day long. Stop by and make an appointment for a free 15-minute session. Don’t forget your resume!

Try to fly!

What’s it like to pilot Alia, Beta Technology’s battery-powered aircraft? Get behind the controls of Beta’s flight simulator, aka the MobileDome, located outside in the Airstream trailer parked between Building 44 and Building 50. Three interactive displays geared toward students teach the fundamentals of the science behind Beta’s all-electric aircraft. The displays demonstrate how electric propulsion works, the basics of flight controls and battery technology.

Learn about FIRST.

The nonprofit FIRST designs robotics programs that use a little friendly competition to motivate young people ages 6 to 18 to pursue careers in STEM. Members of Vermont’s FIRST teams are taking over the Isthmus conference room. See their creations and talk with coaches, students, parents and mentors about how you can participate or help train the next generation of Vermont’s technical workforce — and have fun doing it!

Photo © Daria Bishop Photography