COLUMBIA, Md. (Nov. 14, 2011) – Today, more than 350 Maryland entrepreneurs attended the first state-wide Entrepreneur Expo presented by the Maryland Technology Development Corporation (TEDCO) in partnership with leading business development organizations. Conference attendees included entrepreneurs from a variety of industries and those with a vested interest in entrepreneurship in Maryland, including investors, economic development organizations, legislators, research universities and federal laboratories. The expo, “Harnessing the Power of Innovation in Maryland,” was held at the BWI Airport Marriott in Linthicum Heights and served as one of 10 featured events in the country as part of Global Entrepreneurship Week (Nov. 14 – 20).
“Maryland is a power player in the country’s entrepreneurial scene, offering an ideal location and the financial resources for new entrepreneurs to put down roots and grow their ideas into profitable business ventures,” said Maryland Department of Business and Economic Development Secretary Christian Johansson. “Today’s expo was the perfect forum for our state’s entrepreneurs to further the conversation on growing Maryland’s innovation economy.”
The day’s agenda included four programming tracks where attendees learned about topics ranging from mentoring and advising, to technology transfer and commercialization, to financing. Participants also took part in the Innovation Launch Pad session where they heard pitches from some of the region’s hottest entrepreneurs, including an interactive interview between digital lifestyle expert Mario Armstrong and Maryland Chief Innovation Officer Bryan Sivak, as well as remarks from Maryland tech entrepreneur David Troy and Secretary Johansson. Attendees also heard remarks from panelists such as Tom Loveland, founder and CEO of Mind Over Machines and founder of the Maryland Computer Services Association, and Greg Cangialosi, a well-known entrepreneur, investor and former CEO of Blue Sky Factory. More than 50 business mentors were also on-hand for one-on-one business consultations with attendees. “Maryland’s first-ever Entrepreneur Expo was an enormous success,” said Rob Rosenbaum, president and executive director of TEDCO. “Today’s conference provided entrepreneurs from across the state with a rare opportunity to connect face-to-face to share important business best practices and learn about proven models of success. As evidenced by today’s solid turnout and the energy of the event, Maryland has a bright entrepreneurial future.”
The Entrepreneur Expo was led by the Maryland Technology Development Corporation (TEDCO) in partnership with a coordinating group called the Entrepreneur Expo Leadership Team , comprised of the Association for Corporate Growth, BioMaryland, Economic Alliance of Greater Baltimore, Federal Lab Consortium (FLC) and FLC Mid-Atlantic Region, Greater Baltimore Committee (GBC), Greater Baltimore Technology Council (GBTC), Johns Hopkins University (JHU), Mid-Atlantic Venture Association (MAVA), Maryland Business Incubation Association (MBIA), DBED, Morgan State University (MSU), Entrepreneur Development Assistance Center, National Council of Entrepreneurial Technology Transfer, Springboard Enterprises, Technology Council of Maryland (TCM), and the University System of Maryland.