Maryland Student Venture Showcase

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Showcase Details

February 18, 2025, 5:00-9:00 PM

Location: 4MLK, 4 Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd., Baltimore, MD 21202

Mark your calendars for the inaugural showcase to celebrate the nine student ventures selected for the first-ever Pava LaPere Innovation Awards.  All nominated student ventures will have an opportunity to expo at the showcase as well.

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The MD Intercollegiate Student Venture Showcase & Pava LaPere Innovation Awards is an event/program funded by the Pava LaPere Legacy of Innovation Act of 2024 where the State of Maryland established the Pava LaPere Innovation Acceleration Grant Program in the Maryland Technology Development Corporation (TEDCO) to provide grants to technology-based start-up companies founded by students from institutions located in the Baltimore-Columbia-Towson Metropolitan Statistical Area.

Learn More about the Pava LaPere Innovation Act of 2024

The funding will allow TEDCO to disburse nine awards of $50,000 to student ventures from postsecondary institutions in the Baltimore Tech ecosystem.

In its first year, the steering committee aims to expand the grant program in the future, and have come together for a multi-year commitment.

Representatives from each participating institution will select up to four (4) ventures to move forward. Awardees will have an opportunity to present at the MD Student Venture Showcase in February.

Student Founders

DegreeMap
University: Towson University
Founders: Andres Londono & Matthew Dibbern


Drio, LLC
University: Community College of Baltimore County (CCBC)
Founder: Rachel McFadden


Elastic Energy
University: University of Maryland, Baltimore County (UMBC)
Founders: Samuel Bendeck & Kevin


Fetal Therapy Technologies
University: Johns Hopkins University
Founder: Selena Shirkin


Luminova Beauty
University: Loyola University
Founder: Charles Engler


RhizeUp
University: Community College of Baltimore County (CCBC)
Founder: Ulysses Matricciani


SneakerSync
University: Towson University
Founder: Hermes Bunch


Somnair
University: Johns Hopkins University
Founder: Andres Sideris


Sustainabli
University: University of Maryland, Baltimore County (UMBC)
Founder: Kevin Tu


Student Venture Eligibility Requirements

1. A member of the founding and current leadership team must be enrolled at an Baltimore-Towson-Columbia MSA college or university at the time of application.

2. The venture must be a tech-enabled business leveraging some innovation in technology. This includes companies that are building/ have built a new technology, or companies that utilize technological advancement to deliver a new product or service.

3. The venture must be incorporated as a business. (LLC, 501c3, or other entities accepted) Incorporation can happen within 60 days of notice of award.

> Core Advisory Board
> Eligible Institutions and Steering Committee Representatives
Core Advisory Board
Eligible Institutions and Steering Committee Representatives