Connect & Network
As diverse and robust as the university's innovation and entrepreneurship ecosystem is, there is no shortage of opportunities for students, faculty, alumni, investors, business owners, and community members to connect and network.
Upcoming Events
March 9th, 2023: Elevate! Black Founders x Ladies First Event
Join the Dingman Center for its first annual Elevate! Black Founders x Ladies First Event to celebrate the entrepreneurial journeys of underrepresented entrepreneurs. Hear personal stories and conversations between several entrepreneurs that explore their challenges and triumphs. Explore what community and allyship can look like in order to elevate equity and inclusion within entrepreneurship. Dinner will be provided for all attendees.
April 12th, 2023: Terp Marketplace
Sell your product or service to UMD students, faculty and staff at Terp Marketplace! Find out if what you have is a product or service people want and the price they are willing to pay. The Dingman Center will provide UMD student entrepreneurs with a table, chair, and tablecloth.
April 18th, 2023: Pitch Dingman Competition
Pitch Dingman Competition, the Dingman Center’s signature annual Shark Tank-style competition, provides the university’s most talented student entrepreneurs the opportunity to compete for seed funding and exclusive access to venture development resources. This year, the Dingman Center is offering more prize money than ever before and four competition tracks for University of Maryland students to compete. Watch our finalists pitch their businesses to a panel of expert judges for a chance to win over $90,000 in seed funding. Vote for your favorite startup and they could win $1,000! Attendees will also be able to network with our student entrepreneurs at our Founders Showcase. We will be announcing all winners at the end of the event.
Business Skills for Scientists Workshop Series
A series of hands-on workshops developed to teach faculty and graduate students relevant business concepts and skills, inform them of available startup resources at UMD and how to take advantage of those resources, provide them with access to legal support and advice surrounding their startups, as well as offering faculty and graduate students the opportunity to develop applicable skills and attain new tools to activate transformational impact.