About
TEDCO’s BRIDGE Program was created to provide legal, accounting and financial advisory services to Socially and Economically Disadvantaged Individuals (SEDI)-owned businesses and Very Small Businesses (VSBs) with fewer than 10 employees.
With this additional support, SEDI-owned businesses and VSBs will receive better access to capital, including funds from the State Small Business Credit Initiative (SSBCI) Capital Program and other federal funding opportunities resulting from the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, CHIPS and Science Act, Inflation Reduction Act, and SBIR/STTR funding.
The three-year project will be led by TEDCO in collaboration with SBDCs (MD-UMCP, VA-George Mason University, DC-Howard University), University of Maryland Francis King Carey School of Law and supported by SBDC (Delaware), Delaware Division of Small Business and the Virginia Small Business Financing Authority.
This project is being supported, in whole or in part, by federal award number SSBCI-21034-0009 awarded to Maryland Technology Development Corporation (TEDCO) by the U.S. Department of the Treasury.
In addition to the program described below, BRIDGE Advisors will work with companies to understand where they are today and help them move to where they want to be through a BRIDGE Assessment. The BRIDGE program includes:
BRIDGE Programs
- BRIDGE Advising - Concierge-style business assessment and roadmap development
- BRIDGE Advisors serve as the program’s central navigators. Once a business enters BRIDGE, Advisors conduct TEDCO’s BRIDGE Assessment, a 16-point diagnostic that evaluates the company’s maturity, financial position, operational gaps, and readiness for various forms of capital. Advisors then create an Individualized BRIDGE Roadmap, guiding each business to the specific Legal, Accounting, and Financial (LAF) technical assistance they need—such as financial literacy, credit repair, legal services, proposal development, or back-office support. Advisors also check in with businesses throughout the program to support progress.
- Financial Literacy, Credit Repair, and Building - Hands-on financial literacy training, credit repair coaching, and financial record-keeping support
- This program prepares businesses to become capital-ready by strengthening their financial infrastructure and creditworthiness. Delaware residents can sign up with the Maryland SBDC.SBDCs across MD, DC, and VA provide no-cost, confidential consulting that helps business owners:
- Understand financial statements (profit & loss, balance sheet, cash flow)
- Improve budgeting, financial planning, and decision-making
- Repair and build personal/business credit
- Interpret credit reports, dispute errors, and develop a credit-building plan
- Strengthen internal financial systems, record-keeping practices, and accounting software usage
- This program prepares businesses to become capital-ready by strengthening their financial infrastructure and creditworthiness. Delaware residents can sign up with the Maryland SBDC.SBDCs across MD, DC, and VA provide no-cost, confidential consulting that helps business owners:
- CDFI Technical Assistance - Targeted financial advisory services delivered by participating CDFIs
The program directly addresses challenges such as insufficient documentation, limited credit history, and difficulty navigating lender requirements. CDFI partners provide one-on-one financial assistance that focuses on preparing businesses to successfully access debt capital. Services include:
• Loan application preparation and documentation support
• Guidance in identifying suitable financing options
• Credit repair and credit-building strategies
• Financial projections, cash flow modeling, and business financial planning
• Loan packaging assistance and lender-readiness coaching
- Back-Office-In-A-Box - Subsidized financial infrastructure, accounting, and compliance support
The service’s purpose is to help businesses maintain accurate records, reduce operational risk, and meet due-diligence requirements when applying for loans or investments. This program engages selected service providers to deliver essential financial and accounting system support, including:
• Bookkeeping and accounting system setup
• Payroll, HR, and basic compliance support
• Financial report generation (P&L, balance sheet, cash flow)
• Tax compliance preparation tools
• Access to subsidized software and toolkits that strengthen financial operations
- Women’s Access to Capital & Entrepreneurship (ACE) Program - Biannual cohort strengthening financial literacy, capital readiness, and entrepreneurial leadership for women
The intent is to address documented barriers women entrepreneurs face—particularly SEDI women—and equip them with the skills and networks needed to become investment-ready. This expanded program from TEDCO’s IWEE provides:
• Cohort-based training focused on operational excellence and financial literacy
• Guidance on preparing for capital acquisition (loans, grants, investments)
• Instruction on budgeting, financial forecasting, and credit improvement
• Tools for engaging lenders, CDFIs, and investors
• Support with establishing financial management systems
- Rural & Urban Business Innovation Initiative (R/UBII) - Targeted financial and investment-readiness advising for rural and urban SEDI tech entrepreneurs in Maryland
RUBII provides one-on-one financial technical assistance, including:
• Strengthening financial management systems
• Preparing companies for due diligence and investment processes
• Coaching on financial planning, business modeling, and capital pathways
• Connecting businesses to the broader BRIDGE ecosystem
• Support accessing SBIR/STTR and other funding resources
Under BRIDGE, the program expands from three to five advisors and increases the number of mentors supporting early-stage technology companies.
- BRIDGE Proposal Lab - Cohort-based federal funding and proposal development accelerator for SEDI and VSB firms
This enhanced regional program builds on TEDCO’s SBIR/STTR Proposal Lab and supports businesses in MD, DC, VA, and DE. Services include:
• Training on federal opportunity requirements (BIL, CHIPS, IRA, ARPA)
• Capture strategy, proposal planning, and requirements analysis
• Budget development and cost proposal formation
• Legal and contractual fundamentals for federal submissions
• Proposal writing support including editing, graphics, and structure
• AI-assisted tools and portals to streamline proposal preparation
• Reviewer feedback, outline development, and hands-on workshops
This program focuses explicitly on equipping businesses to compete for federal grants and contracts, not general business development.
- University of Maryland Carey School of Law Small Business Law Clinic (SBC) + Intellectual Property & Entrepreneurship Clinic (IPEC) -
Free legal services for corporate formation, business operations, and intellectual property workshops.
Through the SBC and IPEC, entrepreneurs may receive:
• Corporate formation support, bylaws, governance, and tax exemption guidance
• Contract drafting and contract review
• Licensing, permitting, and compliance assistance
• Employment counseling
• Lease reviews
• Intellectual property
• Legal workshops
Beginning in Fall 2026, the clinics expect to provide more than a thousand hours of pro bono legal TA annually with IP workshops beginning in Fall 2025.
- Loaned Executive Program - Short-term, high-impact advisory engagements with seasoned executives
Businesses are matched with senior executives who provide up to 40-hour engagements focused on:
• Financial strategy development
• Cash flow and financial reporting improvements
• Investment readiness (P&L, balance sheets, projections)
• Risk identification and mitigation
• Growth planning and capital pathway coaching
Under BRIDGE, TEDCO expands the number of engagements, supporting a broader range of industries beyond technology and life sciences.
This project is being supported, in whole or in part, by federal award number SSBCI-21034-0009 awarded to Maryland Technology Development Corporation (TEDCO) by the U.S. Department of the Treasury.
How to Apply
Connect with Us
Join us each month on the third Thursday at 10:00 AM for our virtual BRIDGE Program Open Forum to learn more about the program and get your questions answered.
Check the events calendar for more upcoming open forums.
Contact: bridge@tedcomd.com