At the Maryland Economic Development Association (MEDA) annual conference, Startup Maryland announced dates (September 15 – October 3) and the rough route for the Pitch Across Maryland 3.0, the third annual state-wide tour and celebration of entrepreneurship and startup companies.
The entrepreneur tour will again traverse the state all in the name of celebrating Maryland’s diverse communities of venture building. A sampling of details, key data and results from the 2013 tour follow:
- 32 tour stops around the state in 2013; 25 in 2012
- More than 45 “Rock Star” tour sponsors/partners including (universities, economic development agencies, angel/VC investors, incubators/accelerators, affinity brand owners, sponsors)
- Months of active media coverage; more than 1 million press impressions
- More than 475 startups attended tour events in 2012 and 2013; 168 startups “pitched” their idea/business in 2012 with another 161 in 2013.
- Video Pitch Competition winnowed field to Top 3 Fan Favorites and 8 Finalists as Best Candidates for Venture Investment
- Governor Martin O’Malley got in on the action and on the bus rolling up his sleeves alongside Maryland startups.
- Startup Maryland jumped to # 2 in startup density (# of startups per million population) a key metric for Startup America/UPGlobal
- Startup Maryland was invited to the White House and Capitol Hill to brief President Obama’s OSTP team on how to cultivate strong startup communities
“Maryland’s innovation economy is front-and-center in many of the most lucrative industry and innovation categories,” stated Michael Binko, founder|chair of Startup Maryland. “From traditional ‘feds, eds and meds’ (government/education/healthcare/life-bio), to cloud computing, cyber-security, creative/arts, to autonomous systems, Maryland entrepreneurs are breeding innovation ventures that are disrupting a wide array of industry sectors.”
Stakeholders from all categories are already lining up to co-host stops and herald the celebration.
The depth of Maryland innovation, combined with ample startup resources, has been a key theme identified by Startup Maryland entrepreneur Champions as critical in their efforts to forge and inflect strong high-growth companies,” Binko continued.
At each Pitch Across Maryland 3.0 tour stop, Startup Maryland and Tour Sponsors/Partners host rallies sharing information about the incredible entrepreneurial communities across the state. Additionally, entrepreneurs are provided coaching, guidance and support from business mentors and other leaders from TEDCO, DBED as well as active angel/VC investors.
As the tour unfolds, entrepreneurs climb onto the bus and pitch their idea/business in the mobile UpStart Show™ video studio. Videos are uploaded to YouTube® and then open to public viewing/voting. This aspect of the competition allows the entrepreneurs, sponsors and tour hosts to activate social networks for even broader awareness and celebration.
For more information see scheduled Pitch Across Maryland 3.0 tour dates and tentative route locations below and visit https://www.startupmd.org for regular updates:
DATE Tour Stop Location(s)
Sept 15 Coastal: Ocean City/Wi-Wo/Somerset
Sept 16 East Bay: Dorchester/Talbot
Sept 17 Mid-Bay: Kent/Queen Anne
Sept 18 Charm City 1: Baltimore City/County
Sept 19 Charm City 2: Innovation Celebration: w/Balt Innovation Week
Sept 22 Continental: Washington County
Sept 23 Piedmont: Frederick/Carroll
Sept 24 Southern MD: St. Marys/Calvert/Charles
Sept 25 Tour Break — Holiday Observance
Sept 26 DC Metro: Montgomery/NoVA/DC
Sept 29 Central 1: Cyber/Fit. Meade
Sept 30 Central 2: Howard/NASA
Oct 1 North Shore
Oct 2 NYC: w/Maryland Exchange Companies
Oct 3 Capitol: Annapolis/Anne Arundel
Startup Maryland is a regions initiative launched out of the Startup America Partnership. Startup Maryland works to connect innovation communities and rallies entrepreneurs, supporters and other innovation stakeholders around four main initiatives: Connection, Celebration, Coaching, and Capital; while also bringing together entrepreneurs in a community of support to drive greater economic outcomes.
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