Maryland Student Venture Showcase

The MD Student Venture Showcase & Pava LaPere Innovation Awards is an event/program funded by the Pava LaPere Legacy of Innovation Act of 2024 to provide grants to technology-based start-up companies founded by students from institutions located in the Baltimore-Columbia-Towson MSA. The MD Student Venture Showcase is scheduled for mid-February 2026.

September 17, 2025, 12:00PM

Attend the Info Session at StarTUp at the Armory

All interested ventures are encouraged to attend the session to learn more about eligibility requirements, selection process, and to hear from a previous Pava Awardee.  Register to attend below.  Click here to watch the recording from the virtual information session.

Register to Attend
Interest Form & Eligibility Requirements

Submit Your Venture for Consideration

Ready to submit your venture? Confirm your startup meets the eligibility requirements, read up on the selection timeline, and check out the FAQ’s for more information.

Click Here

A Look Back

February 18, 2025

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

Speakers:

  • Abi Kulshreshtha, Executive Director, Maryland Innovation Initiative, TEDCO
  • Francesca Ioffreda, Chief Innovation Officer, State of Maryland, Office of Governor Wes Moore
  • Frank LaPere
  • Markus Proctor, Executive Director, Innovators of Progress
Check out the SHowcase Photo gallery

2025 Pava LaPere Innovation Awardees

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

Drio, LLC
Institution: Community College of Baltimore County (CCBC)
Founder: Rachel McFadden & Hazel Geary

Elastic Energy
Institution: University of Maryland, Baltimore County (UMBC)
Founders: Samuel Bendek & Juliana Bendek

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

Luminova Beauty
Institution: Loyola University
Founder: Charles Engler

SneakerSync Labs
Institution: Towson University
Founder: Hermes Bunch

Somnair
Institution: Johns Hopkins University
Founder: Anders Sideris & Mitch Turley

Sustainabli
Institution: University of Maryland, Baltimore (UMB)
Founder: Kevin Tu

> Eligible Institutions and Steering Committee Representatives
> Core Advisory Board
Eligible Institutions and Steering Committee Representatives
  • Anne Arundel Community College, Stephanie Goldenberg, slgoldenberg@aacc.edu
  • Baltimore City Community College, Quintin Davis, qdavis@bccc.edu
  • Carroll Community College, Amy Yingling, ayingling@carrollcc.edu
  • Community College of Baltimore County, Dennis Sullivan, dsullivan2@ccbcmd.edu
  • Coppin State University, Ron Williams, coppinallbusiness@coppin.edu
  • Goucher College, Maureen Malomba, maureen.malomba@goucher.edu
  • Harford Community College, Marc Minnick, mminnick@harford.edu
  • Howard Community College, Helen Rose, hrose@howardcc.ed
  • Johns Hopkins University, Josh Ambrose, JoshAmbrose@jhu.edu
  • Loyola University Maryland, Wendy Bolger, webolger@loyola.edu
  • Maryland Institute College of Art
  • McDaniel College, Joan Liptrot, jliptrot@mcdaniel.edu
  • Morgan State University, Danae Stewart, danae.stewart@morgan.edu
  • Notre Dame of Maryland University
  • St. John’s College, Jaime Dunn, Jaime.Dunn@sjc.edu
  • Stevenson University, Dr. Zamira Simkins, zsimkins@stevenson.edu
  • Towson University, Lauren Jan, ljan@towson.edu
  • University of Baltimore, Henry Mortimer, hmortimer@ubalt.edu
  • University of Maryland, Baltimore, Taylor DeBoer, taylor.deboer@umaryland.edu
  • University of Maryland, Baltimore County, Kevin Fulmer, kevinf@umbc.edu
  • If your institution does not have a representative, please contact robbin@upsurgebaltimore.com
Core Advisory Board