Western Maryland companies pitched angel investors and learned about TEDCO’s Rural Business Innovation Initiative
McHenry, Md. (Sept. 22, 2011) – More than 40 Western Maryland entrepreneurs attended the Maryland Technology Development Corporation’s (TEDCO) Rural Business Innovation Showcase and Angel Investor Forum today. This one-day event provided Western Maryland entrepreneurs a chance to pitch angel investors and to learn more about TEDCO’s Rural Business Innovation Initiative (RBI2 ). The event was held at Garrett College in McHenry, Md.
“As an organization committed to inciting business development and innovation, TEDCO viewed this event as an opportunity to introduce the RBI2 program to the Western Maryland business community and connect local entrepreneurs with investors,” said Rob Rosenbaum, president and executive director of TEDCO. “The showcase and investor forum marks the beginning of a strong angel investor community in Western Maryland.”
The morning session showcased the RBI2 program, which enhances commercialization activities and provides technical and business assistance to small companies in rural Maryland. Attendees learned about the services provided by RBI2 and observed presentations from companies that have successfully benefited from the program. During the lunch hour, attendees participated in a special brainstorming session focused on building a technology-sustainable community in Western Maryland.
Companies who presented during the morning session were:
- Beyond Alpha LLC (Cumberland, Md.): produces cloud-based sales forecasting software that provides projections for businesses in volatile industry sectors.
- Boob Tube Inc. (McHenry, Md.): patented a pillow that serves as a décolleté device to help prevent chest wrinkles. This pillow can also aid pregnant women, new mothers who are breastfeeding and breast cancer patients.
- Emerging Science and Technologies, Inc. (Boonsboro, Md.): produces devices that disable IEDs and other explosive devices by contact or remotely (using RF) by rendering detonators inoperable. Of particular interest to the company is the Mitigate Explosive Devices USA (MEDUSA).
- LeftBrain Technologies (Hagerstown, Md.): supplies web site design and management for small businesses and non-profits.
The Angel Investing Forum component of the showcase took place in the afternoon. Andrew J. Sherman, partner at Jones Day Law Firm and a recognized legal authority on small and growing companies, led with a keynote address entitled “Bridging the Gap Between Angel Investors and Entrepreneurs: Structuring Deals that Work.” During the forum, five Western Maryland companies presented to angel investors. They included:
- Ambay Immune Sensors (Hagerstown, Md.): created an immune sensor that detects breast cancer earlier and less expensively than current methods.
- Boob Tube Inc. (See above).
- Chesapeake Green Fuels (Frederick, Md.): produces a water-white biodiesel fuel from feedstock that can include vegetable oils, chicken fat and restaurant grease.
- Garlitz Cycle (Cumberland, Md.): created a water recreation vehicle with a cycle mount on a hydrofoil platform. This vehicle was tested on Deep Creek Lake and Jennings Randolph Reservoir.
- Potomac Wind Energy (Dickerson, Md.): patented the American Classic Wind Power turbine for the production of electricity from ordinary farm windmills normally used for pumping water.