COLUMBIA, Md. (November 17, 2015) – Entrepreneurship and innovation was on fine display today as more than 600 of the region’s aspiring entrepreneurs and seasoned business leaders came together to attend the 2015 Entrepreneur Expo hosted by The Maryland Technology Development Corporation (TEDCO). This annual event was held at the BWI Marriott in Linthicum Heights, Md., and brought together top entrepreneurs, small business executives, angel and venture capital investors, federal and state economic development officials, and university leaders and legislators to inspire the next generation of innovators.
“Entrepreneur Expo is TEDCO’s signature event that thrives on creating opportunities for entrepreneurs to find partners, customers, investors and mentors,” said Rob Rosenbaum, president and executive director of TEDCO. “With diverse programming, every year we cater to the needs of entrepreneurs from all stages with influential and successful leaders throughout the state and beyond.”
Entrepreneur Expo participants heard from a variety of industry experts, including the keynote speakers Terry Virts, Maryland born NASA Astronaut and Jennifer Fleiss, co-founder, Rent The Runway.
“TEDCO’s Entrepreneur Expo is a high-energy gathering of tech start-ups, innovators and investors,” said Robin Finnacom, founding member of the Southern Maryland Innovation and Technology Initiative. “TEDCO’s assistance has been crucial to the success of our efforts to galvanize Southern Maryland’s technology community.”
This year’s expo had 7 different tracks focusing on industry verticals with 50 sessions. Three unique components of the Expo included the sessions, “Fast Pitch,” which allowed startups to speed pitch themselves to angel investor groups; “Genius Bar,” which had entrepreneurs meet one-on-one with 20 mentors and experts; and “#ToughLove: Getting Investors To Fight Over You”, a track focusing on investor pitch decks with real life examples from successful startups.
“Network 2000 is extremely excited to be part of such an important event,” said Traci Barnett, President of Network 2000. “Our mission of advancing women in corporate roles and governance positions is in-line with TEDCO’s efforts to support an innovative ecosystem and entrepreneurial activity. It’s only natural for our two organizations to work together to educate, network and mentor women business leaders to build a brighter, stronger future for our state.”
TEDCO would like to thank the companies who sponsored the 2015 Entrepreneur Expo, including Southern Maryland Innovation & Technology (SMIT); Network 2000; Womble Carlyle; Economic Alliance of Greater Baltimore (EAGB); Saul Ewing, LLP; hotDesks; Eric Franklin Entrepreneurial Accelerator; BayBank; CorLyst LLC; Duane Morris; CliftonLarsonAllen; Montgomery County Department of Economic Development; Verizon; SmartLogic; Greater Baltimore Committee and Montgomery County Economic Development.