
Start & Grow a Venture
Are you interested in launching an entrepreneurial, innovative, and/or social venture? Wondering where to start? The University of Maryland has many resources for supporting students, faculty, alumni, and startups & businesses aspiring to launch or grow a venture.
Students
START
- Take an entrepreneurship or innovation course
- Visit the Academy for Innovation and Entrepreneurship
- Attend a "Pitch Dingman" Friday
- Participate in Spark
- Go to a hackathon like Bitcamp or Technica
- Engage in a consulting project through a class or student group
- Build something cool at one of the makerspaces across campus
- Go to an enTERPreneur meeting
- Intern for a startup
- Become a Do Good Ambassador
- Minor in Innovation & Entrepreneurship
- Join the Terrapin Innovation Network
GROW
- Apply to join the Startup Shell
- Sell your goods at the Terp Markeplace
- Participate in a pitch competition
- Apply to the Hinman CEOs program
- For social ventures, apply to become a Do Good Fellow
Faculty
START
- Pick up a copy of the Faculty Startup Guide or read it online
- Attend a free entrepreneurship workshop at Startup UMD
- Meet with a Site Miner or Licensing Analyst from UM Ventures
- Attend an entrepreneurship event such as Innovate Maryland
- Apply to participate in the UMD I-Corps program
- Launch your startup at Mtech Ventures
GROW
- Set up an appointment with the Director of Faculty Startup Support
- Arrange a meeting with an Entrepreneur in Residence
- Demo your venture at the Innovate Maryland Startup Showcase
- Meet with the Dingman Center Angels Investment Manager
- Apply for funding from the Maryland Industrial Partnerships program
- Scale your venture in the Discovery District
Alumni
START
- Meet with a trained business counselor at the SBDC
- Join the Terp Entrepreneur Network (TEN)
- Attend the EnTERPreneur Conference
- Listen to the Dingman Bootstrapped podcast on how other enTERPreneurs got their start
- Attend the annual Innovate Maryland event
- Stop by the Startup UMD Suite to speak with a UMD staff person
GROW
- Apply for a loan through the SBDC
- Engage a student-led consulting project through QUEST, CYC, or AMA
- Collaborate with a UMD professor on a research project
- Meet with the Investment Manger for the Dingman Center Angels and Maryland Momentum Fund
- Relocate or scale your venture in the Discovery District

Startups & Businesses
START
- Meet with a trained business counselor at the SBDC
- Listen the to Dingman Bootstrapped podcast on how entrepreneurs got their start
- Attend the annual Innovate Maryland event
- Stop by the Startup UMD Suite to speak with a UMD staff person
GROW
- Apply for a loan through the SBDC
- Engage a student-led consulting project through QUEST, CYC, or AMA
- Collaborate with a UMD professor on a research project
- Meet with the Investment Manger for the Dingman Center Angels and Maryland Momentum Fund
- Relocate or scale your venture in the Discovery District