Generator

⚡This is what seeing a project through looks like!⚡

Rae Kantrowitz is the creator of Chord Blocks, a music learning product that turns theory into something you can hold in your hands. You stack blocks to form chords, create sequences of chords to make songs, and through it all build an understanding of how harmony works… One block at a time!

Building a product like this takes skills in electronics, audio, 3D design, and more, and Rae has tackled it the way real hardware gets made… Prototype > Test > Learn > Iterate > Repeat. Initially she proved the concept with off-the-shelf components. But recently she has started designing her own custom PCBs and assembling the components using reflow soldering.

Another member, Paul Shepherd of Rugged MicroPower, helped guide her through the process of applying solder paste, positioning components, and cooking the boards in our reflow oven.

Rae doesn't come from a software or engineering background. What she has is persistence, curiosity, and zero hesitation about asking questions. That combination has carried her further than credentials ever could, and it should give anyone watching this project real confidence in her ability to deliver.

Generator's growing community of electrical engineers and hardware developers has built a culture where beginners are welcomed, questions are met with generosity instead of condescension, and knowledge gets shared freely. We didn't create that environment. Our members did.

Keep going, Rae! We can’t wait to see Chord Blocks in every school and music classroom out there!
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Rae is a Generator community member and participated in our JumpStart Business Development Bootcamp. You can learn more about JumpStart at www.generatorvt.com/jumpstart and Rae will also be presenting at the Burlington Hardware Meetup happening at Generator on August 6th

⚡Congrats to Generator member Neil Shah, whose wood stove monitor Oru just took home the Grand Prize at LaunchVT's 2026 Demo Night!

We should admit that we have a bit of a soft spot for Neil. He first came to Generator to see if we could fabricate the walnut lamp bases at the heart of his product. We said yes, but also directed him toward our classes. We pointed out that if he learned to build them himself he could more quickly test and incorporate new ideas into his designs, and for a lot less money than it would cost to pay someone else. He took the classes, became a member, and began fabricating his first round of products in our space. Since then, with input and encouragement from our community, he's continued iterating and improving his design.

Neil's is a member story we love to tell. But it's not a one-way street. Neil has given back at least as much as he's gotten. He's shared his expertise generously with fellow community members, and the knowledge and energy he brings to this space has made Generator better for everyone who walks through our doors.

Last we knew, Neil had sold 57 units sold across the country, with another 1,500 people on the waitlist. Now he's won LaunchVT's grand prize... Not too shabby for someone who, a couple of years ago, didn't know anything about wood stoves.

We're very fortunate to have played a small part in supporting Neil along his journey. We're incredibly impressed with what he's accomplished and we can't wait to see where he takes things next!

Show Neil a little love and go check out Oru at getoru.com

⚡Congratulations to all of the Spaulding HS students who wrapped up an incredible school year of making and learning last week! ⚡

Since September we've had the privilege of hosting them as they built remote-controlled planes from the ground up, reading blueprints, wiring electronics, learning the principles of flight, and showing up like the professionals they're becoming.

This program, made possible through funds provided by Ronald York, gave students real exposure to avionics and electrical engineering and included trips to Vermont Flight Academy, Burlington Airport ATC, and Vermont Tech Center, plus insights from industry leaders at BETA Technologies and Global Foundries.

A special shout out goes to Generator Lead Instructor, Syd Telek, who developed the curriculum and led the program from start to finish. Syd's passion and dedication is a big reason this program was received so well.

We're so impressed with what these students accomplished, and grateful to everyone who made it happen, especially the teachers and coordinators who believe that the best classroom doesn't always have four walls.

If your school or organization is interested in partnering on a similar program, we'd love to hear from you. Give us a shout and let's build something awesome together!

🔺Bike & Gear Repair Event Cancelled!🔺

The Bike & Gear Repair Fair scheduled for tomorrow, Thursday, June 18th at Zero Gravity in Burlington has been CANCELLED.

With a soggy forecast for tomorrow, we're calling the event off. We've had a great time at the last two events meeting people and helping fix up everyone's gear and bikes, but tomorrow it's not meant to be.

We'll be back next season with more repair events, and even if tomorrow is rainy you can still come down to Zero Gravity and get a bite and a bevy.

Shout out to all of our partners for making this series possible. We couldn't have done it without their support, especially all of the volunteer bike mechanics!

And don't forget to check out all of the other fun things happening at Generator Makerspace in Burlington. We don't just fix bikes and gear. We also have community wood and metal shops, teach things like 3d printing, laser cutting, jewelry making, and offer workshops, programs, and camps for kids and adults interested in hands-on learning.